Eek, I just bought a new bike

[frightened]

It's not new. It's, ah, 'vintage'. But it's a racing bike and it's a brand I've actually ever heard of, which are two advantages over my current beast. I was getting a bit sick of checking triathlons to see if they actually allowed mountain-style bikes, and of worrying if Meg was gonna get through the safety check.

Plus it's only £60. Always nice. Reading between the lines, I think I'm gonna have to replace tires and saddle, and I don't trust elderly inner-tubes not to disintegrate on me, but that's not bad going. It's only got 5 gears, but I only use 6 of the 18 on the one I've got, so that's not necessarily much difference.

On the down side, it's pink. Can't win 'em all.

Comments

[meatina]

Pictures!
(Will comments about baskets on the front or tassles on the handles get me killed? Hope not...)

[frightened]

Oi, missy, it's a racer, not a shopper :p

There's a lever-shaped gear-shift attached to the handlebar post. I find this backwards and unnatural. I'm used to grip-shifts attached to the handlebars. Also the drop-handlebars that put you in a perfect faceplanting bum-in-the-air aerodynamic riding position.

[meatina]

That sounds curious. I need to get back on my bike, I bought it, rode to work twice, then after we moved house I didn't use it. We've been in this house four years now...

[frightened]

Replace the inner tubes first. Rubber degrades :) I discovered this when I retrieved my old bike, Bird, from my parents' shed. I couldn't understand why I kept getting flat tyres...

[meatina]

Ah, thanks for the hint :) I should name my bike. Might help me use the thing more. I think Mildred (was going to suggest that for your bike, but then decided to keep it!)

[frightened]

My mountain-bike-shaped-object is called Black Meg, after the ill-tempered goat in A Hatful of Sky. My new-old racer is called Gloria.