RMM Gets His Shopper

After a 6 hour training ride, or even worse after a hotly contested race, the last thing that I want to do is throw the leg over a race geometry bicycle to get a cup coffee.  Many would argue that my bicycle stable was already full, but I knew that they were wrong.  Sure I already have: 

1.       Steel Independent Fabrication Crown Jewel for road racing

2.       Wilier for track racing

3.       A crappy Gary Fisher for mountain biking (soon to be replaced with a race worthy bike)

4.       An Igleheart for cyclocross

5.       Lugged steel Basso Loto for winter road training

6.       Team Fuji Fixed for urban/fixed riding

Missing from the list is the shopper, the coffee bike, the bike with the basket and the bell.  I have been craving the comfort of a slow, upright bicycle with a basket.  In fact, I posted about it a couple of weeks ago, hoping that my readers would keep their eyes open for me.  I got a few emails about super commuters with pedigrees, wooden fenders and fancy hubsets.  I was grateful for the effort, but I was looking for something simpler, heavier and more, well quaint.  Honestly, I wanted a British three speed.   The problem is that very few British 3 speed frames are big enough for me.

One day late last week, I walked into Cambridge Bicycle and Jason seemed especially happy to see me.   He said that he had a bike in the basement for me.  He brought me downstairs and showed me this gem.

It is exactly what I need and it fit perfectly.  Sure it is not British, but the hubset is. 

Highlights include:

Phil Wood Bottom Bracket

1972 Sturmey Archer 3 speed Hub (S3C) with coaster brake

Dia Compe center pull cantilever brakes

Sugino Cranks

Nitto Stem

MKS pedals

Continental Touring Tires (28c)

Fancy polished lugs

 

To get the bike on the road, I recabled the brakes and shifter, swapped out the handlebars for the pictured Wald steel bars and installed a basket and a ding ding bell.   With these improvements the bike runs flawlessly and is the perfect local errand bike. 

While I certainly am not fast or nimble on this bike, I have already been called “dapper”, “dignified” and “relaxed looking” while riding it.  That is a large improvement over the “depraved looking sweaty pig” comment that I got while on my fixy a couple of summers ago.   I am perfectly at home riding this bicycle in my tweed jacket while the leather patches on the elbows (you think that I am joking). 

If you have the opportunity to get a shopper, I highly recommend it.  

A special thank you to Kip, Bud and Jason at Cambridge Bicycle for setting this aside for me and making it affordable.  

Things I Want: A Basket Bike

As you all know, I ride my ride my bike alot.   I train, I race, I commute and I run errands.  I have a bicycle for each race discipline as well as a winter training bike.  My commuter is my beloved Team Fuji that was formerly a road race bike and has been converted to a fixed gear.  

In recent monthes, I have noticed that I am riding my commuter much more slowly than I used to when doing errands.  In fact, I get dropped by my little woman whenever we are riding somewhere together.  I simply don't feel the need to dash in and out of traffic if I am only riding a short distance.  

My commuter is set up to ride fast.  It has bullhorn handlebars that put me in a fairly aerodynamic position and 46 x 16 gearing, which comes out to about 75 gear inches.  In short, this bike is great for fixed gear training and fine for long commutes, but it is simply unacceptable for riding slowly around town.

I have been considering this problem for some time.  My solution is to find an upright 3 speed for my around town use.  




I am thinking fenders, baskets and balloon tires.   You know, the kind of bike that you'd expect your aunt Gertrude to ride, if she were to ride a bicycle.  

If you know of anyone who has such a bike that would fit me, send them my way.  

Oh, and as a preemptive measure, I already got a "shopper" for the little lady so perhaps she will stop dropping me on the way to the movies.