Stuff I Like
This is the first in a series of posts about things I like. I’m hoping it will spur others to write about things they like. So let’s get started.
1. My bad ass cruiser bike.
I inherited the frame of this Country Roads cruiser bike from an old tenant. It was missing the wheels but was otherwise in most excellent shape. So I took my newfound friend to Bryn the bike wizard and he decked it out with some new wheels, pedals and a tuneup. It was a great bike to ride but the gearing was not so Duluth friendly so I mainly pulled it out for special occasions like the Cruiser Bike Poker Rides we had way back in 2004. Some of you may remember the beating my knee took after a fall I took racing Dusty Olson up a Lakewalk hill.
After that accident my bike spent a couple years in the garage, sadly neglected. So this glorious spring I thought maybe I should get that bad boy out and about. I took it to Ski Hut and inquired about changing the front sprocket to something a bit more geared to our terrain and they delivered in a most awesome way. I am now able to tool up the hills in a seated position for the most part and we have become best friends again.
After a few rides I realized the only thing keeping this from being the sweetest bike in town was a basket. Hello Google! After some searching I found just the perfect thing. The Wald 157.
The Giant Delivery basket is one of the most enduring and iconic products in our catalog. Popular among messengers and paperboys (feel free to ask your father or grandfather about this noble profession), this basket is designed to carry large loads thanks to its stout legs, cargo bands, and heavy duty handlebar clamps. Three holes are provided at the bottom of the legs and spaced at 13.25, 14.25, and 15.25 inches (measured center-to-center of bracket pin to axle mount) to provide multiple mounting options.
No more sweaty backs from my overstuffed backpack, this baby will hold a couple bags of groceries and a 12 pack if you ask it to. Care must be taken with a full load as the steering gets a bit wonky but it is doable. Mainly I am picturing my basket loaded down with some beach towels, a growler, a frisbee and some extra layers for those cool Park Point nights. Man, I love this basket.
So there ya have it, stuff I like, a cruiser bike and a vintage wire basket. Watch out Duluth!
SWEET ride. I am hoping to get my old Schwinn up and running smoothly this spring as well. My basket isn’t quite that huge, but it works. Maybe we’ll see you out there somewhere and our bicycles can hang.
Zowie! That’s one sweet bike.
I’ll share with you something that I like too… I like that you’ve made this post and started my day in such a great way! *cheese, sry
Maybe some day you can fit that cherry ride with some hydrogen jet packs…
I’m really tempted to get that basket for my bike so I can ride my bike to the store and the library for groceries and books without having to stuff it all in my backpack. Very cool, Starfire.
Panniers also work great for hauling groceries, beer, and the like. I love mine.
dang near put the bike itself into the basket…
This is my favorite PDD post in an age.
I love the grey Uggs I bought off of Ebay, they are so damn comfortable! I could live in them!
Yeah, this is a super lovable and much-needed post. You’re the best.
Nice transport. Have a similar fondness for my old 3 speed- ride is so upright, feel like Abe Lincoln on a velocipede. Can’t help but smile. Good post.
Great ride, I’m totally jealous!
Sweet ride. I need to bring mine somewhere for a tune-up. Love your basket as well.
I went for a bike ride around my neighborhood today!
BTW. The basket was cheap $24.
Maple Syrup!
Nice ride! So, was Dusty on a bike too, or was he running?
Dusty was on a 5 year olds bike of course.
Question begs to be asked Starfire: If Bryn the bike wizard hooked you up with the wheels to get your fine red ride going, why didn’t you use him again to fix your gearing?
His shop isn’t open anymore and Ski Hut gave my now closed shop lots of business.
@STARFIRE, you got a sweet deal on the basket, the website now says the price is $41. how’s your balance when you have stuff in the basket? that’s the one thing I worry about, that it would affect my balance.
Claire, check out panniers too. They have a lower center of gravity than the basket, and you can take them off your bike, which is very handy for grocery shopping, commuting etc. (No offense to you basket fans out there).
@Nick, thanks, I will look at both baskets and panniers — I see your point about the lower center of gravity helping maintain one’s balance. I like. Either way, this will help my aching back.
Lacking a rack, basket, or any other appropriate device, I went grocery shopping on my bike once upon a time, relying on my now-wife’s magenta internal frame backpack for cargo-carrying. It gobbled up the various items I put in it reasonably well, and the weight, while substantial, wasn’t too bad. But I hadn’t really given much thought to the center-of-gravity issue, and so when I went to throw my leg over the bike to get on, I nearly fell over.
@ Big E, yup, not surprised. When I was pregnant, my doctor was adamant that I stop riding my bike to work b/c of the change in my center of gravity with the extra weight.