During my yearly service on my mountain bike, which involves me putting it in the stand and staring at it before removing it again, I noticed a crack in the chain stay section of the frame. I went through the normal stages:
Smugness – I must really have ridden hard to crack that frame.
Joy – Wait until I tell the guys how hard I rode to crack this frame.
Love – We’ve had some good times together. I’ll miss you.
Lust – Oh, gonna get me some shiny new metal.
Reality – I hope this is covered under the warranty, the boss indoors will never agree to another bike related purchase.
Relaxation – Call to the local bike shop. Should be ok for a warranty claim. Frame covered for 5 years. Bike is 3 years old.
Opportunity – Should I get it put back to standard or have a part rebuild/singlespeed conversion?
More reality – Custom rebuilds cost money. Standard it is.
My situation got me thinking though. Is there really a bike that can do it all?
I love the speed of road bikes, it’s my favourite thing but I find myself in the situation where it’s an occasion to go out on it that involves cleated shoes and lycra and then I worry if I leave it chained up somewhere. It’s too complex too with it’s multiple gears and STI levers.
I’ve got the mountain bike (well sort of at the moment) which could be more suitable for nipping down to the shops on but it’s a bit slow and is always covered in mud and a bit heavy.
I’d like a tourer with a rack and everything so I can ride long distances and live the dream.
A practical everyday bike would suit me, a cheap singlespeed hybrid with V or cantilever brakes and one sided SPD/flat pedals, with a rack on the back. I could ride to the shops, dump it in the high street and not look back, abuse it all winter and the lack of maintenance wouldn’t matter.
But then, don’t I need a singlespeed drop bar road bike too so I can boost my fitness through winter and keep my pride and joy clean?
I’m a bike manufacturer’s wet dream.
