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April 2009 
New life to an old bike
Posted on Sep 9th, 2008
by 
onyourleft
onyourleft
Why is my picture on Gaia a picture a bike? And who is that bike?
First a bit of history. A year ago I found this bike dumped, abandoned, in an unrideable condition along with a pile of other stuff-that-it's-illegal-to-dump-on-the-condo-grounds. I waited, maybe it's someones bike? And waited and finally thought "well, the bike itself is a POS but the frame is lovely".
I did everything I could to see if it was someones bike; ran ads on Craigs, checked the bike registries, even checked with local PD then finally with no owner found brought it to my LBS, Robinson Wheelworks in San Leandro, CA.
He said the frame is sound, they could turn it into a free-wheel we talked parts and off I went. Life went on, I did another AIDS ride, we re-painted and remodeled the my commuter bike, I met the party who is now my wife, took and passed tests at work I did not think much about the mixte but could always see her in the back of the shop.
Normally we discuss parts at length when I'd say
"well maybe we should do...." he'd say
"It's been decided"
"what about...?"
"It's been decided."
"will you keep the...."
"It's been decided"
So they were having fun at the shop with the project
The guys at my shop have my sort of quirky sense of humor, one of the many things I like about them.
You should see what they do to telemarketers. 
The other thing that was odd is he would never discuss the cost. This has been my shop for about 10 years and we always talk about costs
"I need to do ___ , I want to get ____"
"That would cost you $___ but I could do ____ it would do the same thing"
"But but I've heard _____ is better"
Then he gives me all the pros and cons and ____ would save me the weight of one spoke but cost _____ but if I really want my bike to do ____. So we always talk about the costs and benefits but he wouldn't on this bike.
K. said "that's because he's doing it free" and I said "people don't do that, that's silly." She said "I bet he is." I learned to listen to my wife she is wise.
Finally it was done. My LBS says that all week the bike got oohs and ahs in the shop. One of his clients who I also know from Aikido is inspired to bring in an old Massi he has. Who knew Robinson Wheelworks he could do single speed conversion? I knew 8-)
She is a puhrty puhrty bike.
So I go in there and whip out the credit cards cause I know what bikes cost and say "what do I owe you?" He says "nothing" my jaw drops.
I insisted, he says no, back and forth this goes, he picks up a broom I grab a handlebar the fight rolls out to the alley ... just kidding about this last bit. I'm pretty close to tears by this point and I'm a tough gal so that does not happen often (ignore the hysterical laughter in the background) I tell him I really never cared how long it took, this is a fun project bike and not my major mode of transportation after all and he should get paid. He insists. He's at least 6'2", he wins.
Folks, support your LBS, and buy 4 bikes get one free. But seriously it's all about service, box stores do not do this. Over the years I know my shops advice has saved me many times what I've spent there.
When I brought the bike home could not resist a short ride.
Wellgo platform pedals are supportive and surprisingly grippy. I know K. rides platform pedals. I felt that I could stand in the pedals even wearing sandles!
Must work on that oh so fashionable trackstand while holding cup of coffee.
The shop chose Salsa Delgado Cross wheels, black spokes and rims with Continental Ultra gatorskin tires. Surly single speed hubs. Apparently he agonized about the color choice; black, chrome, black, chrome .... he picked the right one. It looks striking with the tea-green of the bike and more important they handle as well as they look.
Nitto Dynamic stem, cork wrapped mustache bars with Cane Creek 200TT brake levers look clean and simple. Did you say TT
? Yeah, I did. 
They face forward, counter of "normal" brake levers. He thought up achieved this look by using the same type of levers he was putting on the aero bars of a Cervello TT bike when I was in.
They are positioned juuuust right. If they were straight down my wrists would be a little awkward. They are turned ever so slightly in, perfect!
The brakes are Tektro R556 verrrry long reach brakes.
And to cap it off just a perfect little brass "temple bell"
I did everything I could to see if it was someones bike; ran ads on Craigs, checked the bike registries, even checked with local PD then finally with no owner found brought it to my LBS, Robinson Wheelworks in San Leandro, CA.
He said the frame is sound, they could turn it into a free-wheel we talked parts and off I went. Life went on, I did another AIDS ride, we re-painted and remodeled the my commuter bike, I met the party who is now my wife, took and passed tests at work I did not think much about the mixte but could always see her in the back of the shop.
Normally we discuss parts at length when I'd say
"well maybe we should do...." he'd say
"It's been decided"
"what about...?"
"It's been decided."
"will you keep the...."
"It's been decided"
So they were having fun at the shop with the project
The guys at my shop have my sort of quirky sense of humor, one of the many things I like about them. You should see what they do to telemarketers.
The other thing that was odd is he would never discuss the cost. This has been my shop for about 10 years and we always talk about costs
"I need to do ___ , I want to get ____"
"That would cost you $___ but I could do ____ it would do the same thing"
"But but I've heard _____ is better"
Then he gives me all the pros and cons and ____ would save me the weight of one spoke but cost _____ but if I really want my bike to do ____. So we always talk about the costs and benefits but he wouldn't on this bike.
K. said "that's because he's doing it free" and I said "people don't do that, that's silly." She said "I bet he is." I learned to listen to my wife she is wise.
Finally it was done. My LBS says that all week the bike got oohs and ahs in the shop. One of his clients who I also know from Aikido is inspired to bring in an old Massi he has. Who knew Robinson Wheelworks he could do single speed conversion?
I knew 8-)She is a puhrty puhrty bike.
So I go in there and whip out the credit cards cause I know what bikes cost and say "what do I owe you?" He says "nothing" my jaw drops.
I insisted, he says no, back and forth this goes, he picks up a broom I grab a handlebar the fight rolls out to the alley ... just kidding about this last bit.
I'm pretty close to tears by this point and I'm a tough gal so that does not happen often (ignore the hysterical laughter in the background) I tell him I really never cared how long it took, this is a fun project bike and not my major mode of transportation after all and he should get paid. He insists. He's at least 6'2", he wins. Folks, support your LBS, and buy 4 bikes get one free. But seriously it's all about service, box stores do not do this. Over the years I know my shops advice has saved me many times what I've spent there.
When I brought the bike home could not resist a short ride.
Wellgo platform pedals are supportive and surprisingly grippy. I know K. rides platform pedals. I felt that I could stand in the pedals even wearing sandles!
Must work on that oh so fashionable trackstand while holding cup of coffee. The shop chose Salsa Delgado Cross wheels, black spokes and rims with Continental Ultra gatorskin tires. Surly single speed hubs. Apparently he agonized about the color choice; black, chrome, black, chrome .... he picked the right one. It looks striking with the tea-green of the bike and more important they handle as well as they look.
Nitto Dynamic stem, cork wrapped mustache bars with Cane Creek 200TT brake levers look clean and simple. Did you say TT
? Yeah, I did. They face forward, counter of "normal" brake levers. He thought up achieved this look by using the same type of levers he was putting on the aero bars of a Cervello TT bike when I was in. They are positioned juuuust right. If they were straight down my wrists would be a little awkward. They are turned ever so slightly in, perfect!
The brakes are Tektro R556 verrrry long reach brakes.
And to cap it off just a perfect little brass "temple bell"
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