S.O.B. (Save Old Bikes)

You can tell that many people consider bike riding season to be at an end - just check out your local Goodwill store.

Once in a while a bicycle will show up at Goodwill. One. Once in a while. Today I went to Goodwill and found 4 mountain bikes sitting there - waiting for good homes. Granted they all needed repair - and that's why they probably never made it to Craigslist. But I found one - a Huffy 10 speed - that I was able to ride across the parking lot and throw into the back of my Saturn Vue. The derailleurs are a little stiff. They just need some lube. I should probably replace the brake pads. So, for an investment of less than $25.00 (the bike at $14.99 and brake shoes at $4.95 a pair) I have a perfectly serviceable mountain bike that fits me and will last. Later I may even replace the saddle with something a bit more comfortable - but that will be because I WANT to - not because I HAVE to.

I like to keep my big butt comfy - no matter what I ride.

That said, now is the time to start looking for the bike you want. If you are handy, now may be the time to buy the Winter Project bike - get it in, tear it down, clean it up, fix it up, and turn around and ride in style and/or comfort this Spring. Or sell it to someone who needs a good bike and may not have the resources to spend on a 'new' bike.

That's what the name of this post is all about. S.O.B. Save Old Bikes.

That's what I do. If that's what YOU do - then you and I are on the same side.

Ndinombethe.

Let's See What Happens

This is the first of many, I hope, posts in this blog about bicycles and biking in and around the Chicago Suburbs. And the City, too, as far as that's concerned - but from the standpoint of a suburban rider who might ride, occasionally, in the City.

My name is Lou, my signature is 'lceel', and over time I hope to build this into a respectable source of bicycle information - repair, maintenance tricks, trails and events.

I possess several bikes - all of them are old and in some stage of renewal and/or repair. They are always for sale to a good home. Like puppies.

I hope, now that you've found this blog, that you comment, that you come back, and if you have a biking blog, that you list your blog in your comment so I can create a blogroll of biking blogs in the sidebar.

Ride on!!

Ndinombethe. (As I go, I am wearing you.)