Very Odd Ride report

[SouthernBelle]

I have an old Bianca Nyala, Old Blue, that I have finally gotten around to tricking out with a rack and grocery Panniers. Today was her maiden voyage as my errand bike.

I discovered when I got home that I was out of yogurt. Can't live without that. I haven't ridden her much of late. I aired up her tires, stuck the Garmin in the back pocket, stuck some money in my pocket and set out.

She feels so funny now! Platform pedals. Flat bars. Upright. & she weighs a ton. Also need to futz around with the panniers, my heel brushes them. Something is messed up with the rear brakes too. They need adjusting.

But she went right up the hill. I found her a parking spot inside the door. Hey, powerade is on sale. So is catfood. Need some mayo. Checked out. Let the bag boy carry my bags. Told him he needs to balance the weight. He grinned and did.

Headed home. Did a massive 2.67 miles with a big climb of 139 feet.

[mimitabby]

sometimes riding on your old bike just feels good!

[uforgot]

How cool! I also grocery shop on my bike. The clerks always want to know if I rode my bike and how do I want them bagged for that. I bought a 1976 Schwinn Suburban for $25, put my Trek grocery panniers on it and I guess you know that you can get a lot into your panniers! Upright, women's, so I can even ride in a skirt to the store from school. (with shorts under of course). Got that idea from Xeney. Heavy as all get-out, but I figure it's more exercise if I have to work a little harder.

I find that everyone smiles, honks and waves, too.

[Fredwina]

Switching bikes is good. I was think about this since I was planning on doing the ride of silence tommorrow on my Bike Friday, which is defintely a "correct posture"(you will sit bolt upright and spin) bike.

[SouthernBelle]

I love Old Blue. She's what started me with all this. BTW, that pic is clickable.

[limewave]

I have the same Bianchi Nyala! I want to trick mine out too. I like to ride her around the neighborhood with DD and take her on the bike paths. But she is in desperate need of tuning up. Now I have some inspiration to get me going on the project.

[pooks]

Fantastic!

I haven't tricked out my bike yet, even though I bought the panniers. I just haven't adjusted to the idea of having them on the bike all the time and so haven't done it.

But I'm almost there!

I love your Old Blue.

[Zen]

I wish I lived close enough to the store to do that

But then again, it does curb cravings.

[SouthernBelle]

I have the same Bianchi Nyala! I want to trick mine out too. I like to ride her around the neighborhood with DD and take her on the bike paths. But she is in desperate need of tuning up. Now I have some inspiration to get me going on the project.

Is yours blue too? Do you know how old the bike is? I bought mine 2nd hand off of a bike shop owner, so it was, and still is in excellent shape mechanically. She got a bath and lube before I put the rack on. The decals are rather rough, but the paint job is pretty good. Need to find some touchup paint in that color.

[rij73]

That's just adorable! Enjoy!

[limewave]

Is yours blue too? Do you know how old the bike is? I bought mine 2nd hand off of a bike shop owner, so it was, and still is in excellent shape mechanically. She got a bath and lube before I put the rack on. The decals are rather rough, but the paint job is pretty good. Need to find some touchup paint in that color.

Well, I can't say for certain how old she is. My bianchi is the first bike I ever bought for myself. I cleaned hotel rooms every weekend, making $3.75 an hour to save up for it (they didn't have to pay me minimum wage because it was a family business or something like that). Anyways, that had to be back in the early 90's.