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10/22/2011

Yesterday, on my way home from work ...


There's this place in Joliet, Dave's Bikes, that I've been using to get parts for bicycles I'm working on.

It's a bit unique. For one thing, if there wasn't a sign hanging over the road announcing "Dave's Bikes", you'd never, EVER, know that the rather innocuous looking brick building was actually a bike shop where new bikes are sold - and bikes are repaired.

Anyway.

I stopped in at Dave's on the way home from work to purchase some parts - I have this 1971 Murray Spectra, a 10 speed Men's Road Bike that I want to begin to "Dutch". I needed a set of handle bars, a saddle, and brake levers with new cables.

I bought the parts I thought, at the time, I needed. And, as it turned out, I was exactly right.

The handlebars fit and were the right type, the new saddle is perfect for upright seating, and the new brake levers are perfect.

Next will come a basket, fenders and a carrier for the rear - and when I'm done, I'll have perfect "Dutch" bike.

It's a 30" step over, so it's not too tall for me - but it's a 21" frame, so it's a reach from the seat to the ground. That said, I test road the bike, briefly, last night and it's very, very, comfortable.

Let's RIDE!!!

Ndinombethe.

6 comments:

Lisa said...

Sounds great! I wish I could ride-I know HOW to ride, but it's not an ideal situation for my back and knee...Brian love bikes-he's done a ton of cross country rides.. It'd be so nice to be able to ride together.

Maybe someday!

Big Mark 243 said...

A bike shop like that opened up not far from me... not a lot of signage and if you weren't looking for it, you would miss it. He handles bikes like yours, so don't feel alone in reclaiming your nifty old bike... it is a niche market...

Enjoy riding..!

Myst_72 said...

Hope you are going to post some photos when you have finished :)

G
xxx

Kelley @ magnetoboldtoo said...

meant to be I say.

Safe riding.

x

Tara R. said...

It's great to see you so excited and happy about this renewed joy of biking.

PattiKen said...

It's great to see you so enthused about your rediscovered hobby. I wish I could bike, but I have two strikes against me. My knees would never permit it, and even if they did, my lack of any balance at all would bring a little too "up close and personal" with the pavement.