There's plenty of life left in this tyre.
It came as a shock the other day when I caught a glimpse of the worn out state of the rear tyre of my bicycle. How did this happen? It was brand new just the other day, wasn’t it? It’s the same as the household tootpaste tube. You never actually witness it emptying. A death by 1000 squirts. It all happens impercetibly. And its not just the tyres on the bike that this happens to. Brake pads are always needing replacing, it seems.
The first time a spoke on the rear wheel broke, I recall feeling rather delighted. Of course, I wasn’t happy that I was going to have to spend money getting it repaired or to go through the inevitable hassle of taking it to the bike shop. But it was confirmation for me that my bicycle was being used as I had originally intended. It had become a daily work horse. Getting me to my place of work and back; day in, day out.
Postponing bicycle maintenance is an art I have learned to perfect over the years. I love my bicycle to bits, but for me, its beauty is in its ability to do its job. To transport me from A to B, cheaply and easily, flat tyres and all. The novelty of breaking spokes or having to replace brake pads has now worn off.
12 years ago I spent $1000 on a bicycle. It was a big step in many ways. Deciding to give up 4 wheels for 2. It really stretched the budget and transport sensibilities that prevail in a city with no obvious cycle culture. But I now see that my hestitation to invest in a bicycle instead of a motor vehicle, all those years ago, was unnecessary. It has resulted in a very reasonable capital outlay over the past decade and a bit. And that’s only one of the many personal and social benefits that have been realised as a result of my decision to incorporate a bicycle into my daily life.
In another 10 years or so I will probably aim to treat myself to something new. I may want to consider an electric bike by then, or one of those stylish European jobs. But there is no rush. There are plenty of tyre changes left in my bicycle still.
Cycling-the non-vehicular way.
If that's a Vittoria Rando, you've got another layer of black rubber, then enough stitching for three whole wardrobes before it's gone!
Thanks David. I hope it is. I will check it out (with fingers crossed).
Because I use my bike both for everyday transport AND the odd racing event (something the hardcore racing crowd would probably find mind-boggling
) I am not that comfortable with putting off bike maintenance (brakes or gears failing at high speeds? shiver) as I would be from my own attitude normally (which is pretty similar to Mark's).
But somehow, I still seem to save 90% of the cash other people spend on their cars. Now if I could only get around to changing my spare car park into a public bike parking area for my apartment building – does anybody know a place that sells good cycle stands?
I must admit to one of my most embarrassing bike moments when my (t)rusty steed was picked at the cycle trainer course for a bike check. Bald front tyre, (when exactly does a Swalbe marathon plus actually get a puncture- my own private 3 year experiment), Brakes needing a little bit more adjustment than those black twiddlers can give, Homemade child’s pillion seat, homemade child’s gumboot mudguard extensions and rust- lots of Waiheke ferry induced rust and mud- lots of Waiheke gravel road induced mud too. One two many cable ties too on just about every likely place.
I got over the embarrassment pretty quickly as soon as the police instructors had moved on. Save a brake tweak, it’s just the same bike, two months and hundreds of Ks later! I get lots of strange “she’s an old beauty” comments even though under all those personal mods it is a standard Avanti blade!
At least I haven’t resorted to quarter cut house spouting pop riveted into a kind of angled semi circle mudguards as I saw recently on the rock. Hmmmm then again……..
Tom
Does your avanti bike have the internal hub gears? I love the idea of hub gears in order to have a chainguard due to not needing a derallieur.
Yep Mark, I have four bikes now- All with 8 speed internal hubs. Cant see me going back now. My bike regularly wins the "heaviest steed on the ferry" competition though. Lift that back wheel on one and you will see what I mean!
Hope to see you at 350 Hope to bring an electric cargo trike over.
Internal geared hubs for the win!