Martine (industrious_ant) wrote, @ 2007-04-23 10:16:00

Bike Check
After leaving my bike out all winter on our front stoop I finally unlocked the poor thing and took her downtown for a test run. I discovered that:

-The chain is rusted.
-The gear wires are rusted.
-My spokes are rusted.
-The kickstand is rusted.
-Everything else, including the frame and handlebars also seem to have rusted.

Aside from the rusting (a sure sign of neglect and disdain) someone stole my bell.
That really pissed me off.
The batteries in my rear and front lights still worked after months of Toronto coldness.
Duracel really does kick ass.
All the brakes need tightening.
The front one is ok. The rear one barely works at all.
Not a good thing when your commute includes 1 or 2 km's of Bathurst's devil hills.

I've been seriously debating leaving her unlocked on the corner of Sherbourne and Queen so i'd have a good excuse to buy a new bike this summer. But after my ride downtown, I discovered that the wheels didn't pop off the frame and that i'm still alive after climbing her back home in the dark.
Plus, who can deny the freedom of knowing how undesirable an item she is to local thieves.
Nothing beats peace of mind.
My rusty little vehicle just might have won herself one last summer on the roads of T.O.

m.

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