Requiem for a stolen bike
author: Peter Post
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A brief requiem for a Trek, and some memories
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Requiem for a stolen bike
June 21st. Summer Solstice. The longest day of the year, in more than one way.
At first I thought of calling this article, "Watermelon day at Safeway." But this is about a stolen bike, not about Safeway.
The bike in question is a red Trek 7200, a kind of hybrid bike—cross between a road bike and a mountain bike. Some might call it a "cruiser"—I think I've heard that term used before. A tall bike, so tall that it was a little too tall for me, and I'm 6' tall. Lowering the seat might help accommodate whoever's riding it now. I could never figure out how to lower the seat. (more description: the front tire was a unique Schwalbe tire, (unique to me) that's about ½ the width of the back tire. It's like double-thick rubber so will last for a couple years perhaps. The crankshaft chain rings are worn to nubs in places, particularly the middle ring. Seat fabric is just beginning to fray. Back rim is bent. No back brake.)
Was stolen on Wed. The 21st, between approx. 3:25-3:40 pm, from in front of Safeway on Mill Plain, (and 136th Ave.) Regrettably, it wasn't locked to anything, though it was leaning against a "no parking" sign in front of the store, (no parking—ha ha). I figured it might look like it was locked up—why else would anyone just lean a bike against a sign? The actual conventional bike rack-like object is about ¼ block away, down by Office Depot.
Over the years I've developed an attachment to the bike, similar perhaps to the attachment people form to pets, but not quite so intimate. After all, my bike isn't a living thing. But over the years I've considered how it's always by my side, or how I'm always on it, or lugging it up stairs, etc...This year I've lived in a place with stairs, and so I'd lug it up the stairs everyday on my side, as if it was attached to me.
On the other hand, I've considered that at times I've taken the bike for granted, not doing enough maintenance on it, not getting new parts for it, (which I can't afford in any case), and so on. For the first six months after I bought it, it sat in the place I was living, in the living room, collecting cobwebs. As if it was a piece of furniture, or a decoration, like the bike that hangs up in Seinfeld's apartment.
But that was years ago, and back then, I had a car...
After 9/11, my car broke down, so I began riding my bike much more. It seemed like a novelty at first—I'd never intended to become dependent on a bike, and I was never determined to not drive a car.
So over the years, the bike grew on me. We were like two entities thrown together, for some reason, that eventually formed a bond. And many people have complimented me about the bike over the years. I can't say that the bike was a conversation starter, (well, maybe in one or two instances), but there were many compliments.
I recall one day in Portland, it must have been a warm day, downtown, and I turned onto a street, I think it was Everett, maybe, and I had the feeling that the bike was really attuned to my body that day, almost as if me and the bike were one. The warmth of the day must have had something to do with it, loosening up the bike a little. I turned onto the street, and quickly got over to the right with a gesture that made me think the bike was acting of it's own accord, or anticipating my movements. Like it was "thinking" for me, or at least helping my body make the maneuver. Truly, it felt as if the bike was more like my arm or leg, and not detached from me.
That moment made me think of the Segway machine, and how it's alleged to have a bio-anticipatory mechanism which anticipates the directions people want to go, or how fast, or if they want to stop. And I thought, "I don't need a Segway, since me and this bike can essentially perform the task of human transport, almost unconsciously."
The main thing that gave me this sense was a quick lateral movement, to the right, just after the turn. It almost felt as if I'd made a little jump to the right, without even trying to, in my haste at getting over to the right. AS if the bike, sensing I needed to get over further, kind of hopped a little. There was no vehicle bearing down on me, so it's not as if the movement saved my life.
Theft!
The bike was stolen at Safeway, as noted. It was the day of the summer melons, (and pineapples) in front of the store. There's been no word back from the police as of yet concerning the bike. It's an expensive bike, worth about $300, but with sentimental value as well. It's a sad day when there's a felony crime right in front of the local Safeway store, right in front of everybody, (actually, it's theft 2, a misdemeanor).
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Also consider getting a sit up and beg 1950's 'roadster' with just the three gears and 26x13/8 tires. Nobody steals those, and it is much better to outclass people on such a more sensible machine. Who needs suspension when a laid back position with springs in the seat will do nicely? They don't make them like they used to, and instead of chewing gum aluminium and plastic, the old ones are 'steel is real' - made when the ores were good, and sometimes 'stainless' instead of chromed. Power to weight ratio of such a machine and rider might not seem promising, but have you weighed any of those Toy China bikes recently? None of them are using the good recycled car bumber no more, and no longer can a fair product be bought at the low price point, either get a posh bike and lock it up properly, every time, spending every moment away utterly paranoid, or outclass such machines with a clunker that needs no more than a 'bit of string' for security...
Bikes - modern classics or clunker classics - all need maintenance, and the best thing you can do with a bicycle (other than to ride it) is to take care that the tyres are inflated to the pressure given on the sidewall. Next, keep all clothing away from fast moving parts - the chain, and get that lubricated. This simple recipe works on 99 out of 100 bikes, resulting in instant gratification and speed bonus!
Brakes are also important, give the rims a good clean of any residue to get proper stopping power. Alignment and cables is best left to the bike shop if you have no aptitude for that - but, stopping distances matter for speed, even on a bicycle.
Regarding the seat, having that adjusted is vital for correct weight distribution on the bike, and to avoid injury from using the wrong muscles for the stroke. Having the seat wrong is not big or clever, and if you get it spot on you will wonder how you ever managed to have a power stroke beforehand.
Always ride assertively, not disgracefully, and show willing when it comes to stopping at lights. Obviously you don't want to be breaking up your exercise too much, so scan the horizon and 'pace' the lights instead of jumping them. Should you encounter stationary automobiles, complete with lone occupants 'sitting in traffic' do not hesitate to sail past - those people have no right to block a busy highway, particularly when they may have set off knowing that this is inevitably intended. Show no remorse with learner drivers, should during their instruction they get to get wise about cyclists then that is a good thing.
P.S. Helmets are purple! More for soccer mums to get their kids to wear,on their Chinese bikes!