Six Weeks After Groundhog Day

Before I get to the point, I want to present this gem:

Just your average college kid polishing off an entire pizza before heading to a meeting. Finding no other surface in my room on which I could place a super hot pan, I unfolded the basket of the Raleigh Superbe and put the pizza on it.  I like having racks on my bikes for this reason.  Not specifically for pizza pans, but it's surprisingly convenient to have a small table always at my disposal.  On a daily basis, I have a habit of tossing my phone, trouser straps, gloves, or any number of those things onto the rack while I unlock and get ready to ride.  In the warmer months, I'll sit on a concrete berm to have lunch and use the rack as a lunch table, keeping the food a safe distance from the creepy crawlies on the ground.  If I remember correctly, the first time I had done that with the Superbe was just a few hours before the photo above was taken.  Fun stuff.

Raleigh Reflectors!

Image from Lovely Bicycle!

As many bike lovers know, almost all English 3-speeds back in the day came with these cute little "Fairylite" reflectors on the rear fender.  Unfortunately, they seem to have a tendency to disappear.

Four-Way Wheel Swap

This post has actually been a draft for so long that plans have changed and it's no longer a 4-way wheel swap.

Four years ago, I got this '70 Oldsmobile 442 W-30, likely inspired by the muscle cars that raced Baja in the '60s and '70s.  It was cool for a while but I kind of wanted to lower it to stock height.

New Shoes for Gwendolyn

Ever since I got a second (and then third) bike, I've wondered whether I can truly call my dependable '58 Raleigh Sports my "daily." Sure, it's not the one that I choose to take out every single time, but I also don't base that choice off whether or not the bike will get dirty or wet.  I've treated all of my bikes as all-weather, all-purpose commuters and they are all outfitted with at least fenders, a rack, and lights.  For better or for worse, I have liked all of my bikes so far to be good for everything.  I fear getting stuck in the rain without fenders and I never again want to walk my bike a quarter mile because there's no other way for me to carry food during Ray's Red Hots' Dollar Dog Happy Hour.  If I look at how I treat my bikes and what I use them for, I guess all three of them are dailies.  They all get ridden at least once or twice a week regardless of weather and are washed only occasionally.  However, they still receive the maintenance and love they need to continue taking me places for years to come.