Here she is. My new ride!

[sandra]

Got her together and took her out on the maiden voyage. It is one sweet ride, much lighter than I expected. Shifts smooth, and everything works perfectly except the front right brake. One side doesn't work. I'm sure it is a small adjustment that I just don't know how to do. There are a few scratches, but nothing bad and absolutely NO RUST!

I cruised around the neighborhood and I'm thrilled. I'm in love.

Maybe it is my enthusiasm, but now DH wants one, even if it IS a girls bike. He thinks it is unique. It's perfect for our neighborhood.

These are the before pics. I still need to clean her up, change out the saddle, stem and handlebars. I did take the big reflectors off the spokes. ;)

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb12/Sandradav/IMG_0278.jpg
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb12/Sandradav/IMG_0280.jpg
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb12/Sandradav/IMG_0279.jpg
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb12/Sandradav/IMG_0281.jpg

and finally, with basket. No wine today, just duck and swan food.

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb12/Sandradav/IMG_0282.jpg

[pll]

Wow, I can't blame your DH... I want one, too! It is beautiful and is going to look so nice with a Brooks saddle (are you going to put one with springs?) and all the upgrades you are planning. Congratulations!

And the dogs are adorable...

[skyhand]

(insert wolf whistle here)!!! love it! especially the kickstand :)

[sundial]

Ooooooh, ahhhhhhh, wooooooow!! What a charming little class act. I noticed your poodle in the background. What is your doggie's name? :)

[sandra]

The white male (he's hard to see in the pic) is named BULL! :D (It was between Bull and Cujo. Bull won out). The black female is Sophie.

Still accepting name recommendations for the Lotus too!

This is an awful picture of me. I was trying to figure out what is wrong with the brake, but the poodles love the bike. They followed it all around and out into the street.

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb12/Sandradav/IMG_0277.jpg

[sundial]

What a lovely neighborhood. Are you lucky to live on a cul-de-sac?

Your doggies are tooooo cute.

[sundial]

Your shoes are neat too!

[sandra]

Thank you! Yes, if you keep going at the end of the cul-de-sac you run right into our house. We live in small neighborhood association built around a small lake. We don't have much traffic. This bike is perfect for riding around the lake.

I can't wait to hop up in the morning and jump on it!

[Tri Girl]

That's one pretty bike!!! And I can't believe how you came about it! Nice!
I want one now, too. ;)

[sandra]

It is pretty unbelievable. I posted that I missed by hybrid. uforgot said to consider a mixte. This was the first one I looked at and found on ebay and did a buy it now. I did it so fast, I had second thoughts. Never dreamed it would be this nice. I really got lucky.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Wonderful bike!! Yes, you were very lucky!
Somebody obviously took VERY good care of it, and look how CLEAN the gears are! Just lube the chain and you're off! Great decals and paint.

Hey why not just cal her Lotus Blossom? :confused: :)

[KnottedYet]

<swoon>

What a beauty!

I can't wait to see how she looks when you get the new bars and saddle!

[onimity]

what a lovely bike!!! congrats and enjoy her!
I can't wait to see the changes you make.
Anne

[elk]

Ooooooh, ahhhhhhh, wooooooow!! What a charming little class act. I noticed your poodle in the background. What is your doggie's name? :)

I see 2 poodles there....:p


Sandra...SO HAPPY for the fun you are already having. Love your bike....love your PORCH!!!!

[rij73]

WOW! :eek: It looks brand new... You lucky, lucky woman...

I WANT ONE NOW! :p

[sandra]

The pictures may actually make it look a little better than it is. The scratches don't show up in the pictures. That top twin bar on the left side has got a pretty long scratch. There are others. I'm wondering what I could touch it up with or if that would just make it look worse.

[rij73]

Nail polish or car touch-up paint are the common ways to touch up a bike. That red shouldn't be too hard to match. Might be worth a try on an inconspicuous area first!

[DebW]

Congratulations! That bike is LOVELY. Great lug work. What does the decal at the top of the seat tube say (it will tell you the tubing grade)? Funny that someone removed the cable bridge from the front brake and wired up one side only. Go to a bike shop and ask for a centerpull bridge cable and cable anchor with bridge hook.

[sandra]

Funny that someone removed the cable bridge from the front brake and wired up one side only. Go to a bike shop and ask for a centerpull bridge cable and cable anchor with bridge hook

ahhhhhhhh. so THAT's my problem.

Sad to say, but I wouldn't know what to do with it after I got it. I guess I'll have to take it in sometime, but not yet. I'm still admiring it too much. Yes, she slept inside last night. ;)

[Tuckervill]

The bridge is just like the one on the rear brake. The little cable that stretches between the calipers, to which the brake cable attaches. Youcan tell what to do with it by looking at the rear.

NIIIIce bike. Those lugs are so pretty. You hit the jackpot!

Karen

[sandra]

Congratulations! That bike is LOVELY. Great lug work. What does the decal at the top of the seat tube say (it will tell you the tubing grade)? Funny that someone removed the cable bridge from the front brake and wired up one side only. Go to a bike shop and ask for a centerpull bridge cable and cable anchor with bridge hook.

The decal says: (please translate)
Champion No. 5
Chrome Molyboen Steel
Seamless P. G. Tubes
Tange Industries LTD.

[DebW]

The decal says: (please translate)
Champion No. 5
Chrome Molyboen Steel
Seamless P. G. Tubes
Tange Industries LTD.

That's a grade of chrome-molybdenum steel alloy (chromium and molybdenum are impurities added to the iron to give the steel desirable properties) manufactured by Tange Industries of Japan. According to Sheldon Brown, Champion #1 and #2 are very high end and equivalent to Columbus SL/SP or Reynolds 531, often found on Centurion bikes. Champion #3, #4, and #5 are lower grade, straight-gage (no butting) tubing, not high-end racing quality, but good quality nonetheless. You've got a great bike here.

[sgtiger]

Ooooooh Sandra, that's a lovely bike! <pant,pant> You lucked out big time girl! :cool: :D I'm envious! ;) :p

[elk]

Naughty...last night I was looking at steel frames on ebay....did you see the Peugot mixte...?

one bike one bike one bike

[northstar]

Gorgeous! Classy! Congrats!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

So Sandra......how is your new bike working for you? Is she smooth and fun? Any unexpected challenges? Going on breezy rides around the lake? What's the latest?

[sandra]

I spent a lot of time tinkering with Blossom this past weekend. I could not figure out how to get the chain off, but I did eventually get it cleaned while on the bike. I lubed it with Pedro's Dry Lube (for chains), cleaned all of the components and polished the bike with Pedro's Bike Lust. (Pedro's really is great stuff! The LBS owner says he loves the Bike Lust so much, he buys it by the gallon.)

A few weeks back I got a used Brooks Champion Flyer with copper rivets and put on it. I still lack replacing the stem and handlebars. I'm sure I'll need new cables and the front brake needs some work. I'll do all of that at the same time....eventually.

I really enjoy riding this bike. I rode it around the neighborhood circling back while my DH walked. He said "your bike sure is shiny!"

Here she is so far, resting comfortably in the guest bedroom. I hope this picture comes out smaller.

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb12/Sandradav/IMG_0312.jpg

[elk]

looks great! needs cork grips...:rolleyes:

[sandra]

I have the cork grips, just have to wait until I get handlebars. I got the cart in front of the horse.

[elk]

remind me which bars you ordered? did you get the albatross?

[sandra]

It won't be until a little later on, but I want Albatross.

[pll]

Can't wait to see Blossom all fixed up! Congratulations again.

[nic840]

Saw this on Craigslist today and thought of your new bike and dogs...it is one cool basket for crusing with the pups!!
http://sacramento.craigslist.org/for/456062311.html

European Dog Basket

[sandra]

WOW. That is so cool. I need that. It says "for an animal not to exceed 20 lbs". Both of mine together weigh about14-16 max!

Too bad I'm not anywhere close to go snatch that up! :(

[elk]

http://www.hunterk9.com/site/870877/product/WC100

I have this one for the papillons and it's a bit spendy but really nice quality.

e

[MsBelle]

Oh yes! What a nice lilttle ride! I too love my hybrid even though I'm considering a full blown road bike now... I don't plan to give up my hybrid. She's a Trek FX 7.6 and I "cannot" live without her! Love hearing you missed your hybrid and now you've got a beauty! :D

[mimitabby]

gorgeous lugs on that bike! how nice!

[sandra]

This thread is older and somehow got bumped back up. I varnished my cork grips yesterday. Still need stem and handlebars. I'm thinking of changing out the cables to red like this (sorry, I borrowed someone's bike pic). What do you think? Would black look better? I do have a little black trim on the bike, but am going with the honey saddle, cork grips and basket, so I'm not playing up the black.

NOTE, This is for example only. This is NOT my bike.

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb150/stringbreaker53/100_1098.jpg

[Susan126]

What a beautiful bike! And I just love the color! My favorite! :D It looks gorgeous with the new handlebar and cork tape! Have you been getting out for rides a lot Sandra?

[sandra]

Susan, that's not my bike! I'm just showing how I might do the cable housings in RED. My bike is a page or so back.

[elk]

Here's a vote for red cables.....or purple?!?!?!