Bike Sadness
So I finally got around to taking my bike to Broadway today. I figured with a quickly deflating (slow enough to get me through a couple days of riding without becoming unfortunately low if I didn't fill it everyday) and my shifters giving out I really had to give in and take it in.
The mechanic fiddled with it for a few minutes, asked me questions about it, fiddled some more, and pretty much told me I should give in and get a new bike. *sigh*
From checking out various bikes though, it looks like to get something as light as my current bike I'm going to need to shell out some cash. Needless to say that's not really an acceptable option and I *need* a relatively light bike. The one I have is already pushing the limits of what I can carry up the stairs on a so-so/bad-back day. :-\
Milo suggested getting a cheap bike at Target. It wouldn't solve the weight issue, but it would be "cheap enough" that I wouldn't freak out that much about it being exposed to the elements over the next few months. Unfortunately, every bike I've seen/owned at/from Target has been heavy enough that it'll screw my back up if I try to pick it up. A bike is awkward enough that there's no way I can get around using my lower back to lift it.
The mechanic suggested Bikes Not Bombs, but also warned finding a used bike right now is going to be hard and even then, from a place like BnB it's still gonna be $300 at least.
I'm not mechanically inept, I just don't know anything about what parts I would need. Nor would I want to do this on my own.
UGH!!!!!!!
So I have to ask, what Fate did I piss off and how do I get back into her good graces???
The mechanic fiddled with it for a few minutes, asked me questions about it, fiddled some more, and pretty much told me I should give in and get a new bike. *sigh*
From checking out various bikes though, it looks like to get something as light as my current bike I'm going to need to shell out some cash. Needless to say that's not really an acceptable option and I *need* a relatively light bike. The one I have is already pushing the limits of what I can carry up the stairs on a so-so/bad-back day. :-\
Milo suggested getting a cheap bike at Target. It wouldn't solve the weight issue, but it would be "cheap enough" that I wouldn't freak out that much about it being exposed to the elements over the next few months. Unfortunately, every bike I've seen/owned at/from Target has been heavy enough that it'll screw my back up if I try to pick it up. A bike is awkward enough that there's no way I can get around using my lower back to lift it.
The mechanic suggested Bikes Not Bombs, but also warned finding a used bike right now is going to be hard and even then, from a place like BnB it's still gonna be $300 at least.
I'm not mechanically inept, I just don't know anything about what parts I would need. Nor would I want to do this on my own.
UGH!!!!!!!
So I have to ask, what Fate did I piss off and how do I get back into her good graces???