So I finally did it. I replaced my bicycle.

[politicat]

It only took me three years of complaining, six weeks of dithering, two weeks of looking in every shop and on every site I could find, and four solid hours of shopping to get it right.

It's ordered from a local shop. It will be here next week.

I hate my stump-jumper. Even with more shocks than my car has, it's uncomfortable to ride, and it makes my back and arms hurt. But my ex was big on the mountain biking thing, and when my last bike bit the dust - frame cracked in an accident - I just replaced it with an equivalent model. Stupid move.

What I always wanted was something that was hard to find three years ago and is now becoming ubiquitous: the street cruiser. I need a bike that does well on pavement, has few gears (because I don't use them anyway), can deal with panniers and baskets, fenders, rain and lets me sit up straight. Something that goes slow and steady and that won't make me worry that I'm going to hurt myself if I have to put my feet down suddenly.

And when I was a little girl, I always wanted a pink bicycle with streamers and a basket. (Never got it - military brats usually have disposable bikes, because shipping them is a pain.)

Here's a bike that's a lot like my new one:

[Delphinus]

1. Is there a name for this?

I've had nothing but problems with my bike and this one sounds like it would be ideal.

[politicat]

3. I responded, but replied to myself. Duh. See thread. NT

[politicat]

2. The one pictured is called a Kahuna Luhi

(It's available through amazon... and has free shipping, which, if it stands up to even a couple of years of use, makes it a true bargain.) http://www.amazon.com/gp/amabot/?pf_rd_url=%2Fexec%2Fobidos%2Ftg%2Fdetail%2F-%2FB000DZRU5A%2Fref%3Dpd_kar_gw_3%2F102-9306972-9460938%3F%255Fencoding%3DUTF8%26v%3Dglance&pf_rd_p=160889901&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_i=507846&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0GMSMH11BKFRH6GTJYD6


The one I bought uses a 24 inch womens' Schwinn frame (I'm short), Wald wheels and handlebars, a pretty high end crankshaft (name is escaping me right now). If I'd been about 2 inches taller, I would have just bought the Amazon bike because it would serve my needs perfectly. But because I'm so short, I really can't deal well with 26 inch bikes, and so every bike I've owned since I went to university has been a custom bike. It means I don't pay as much now - I trade 'em in - but they aren't cheap up front.

I rode the shop model (which is a 24 inch frame, but with slightly different wheels, seat, crank and handlebars) on Friday and it brought back all of the ease and joy of riding I had as a child. Riding my stumpjumper was a chore and a duty, but this will be pure pleasure.

Now to get my husband to do the same, because he doesn't like his stumper, either.

We're adding a front basket and a rack and panniers as well as lights and and security to mine.

[Delphinus]

6. Thank you!

This looks like a good bike and ideal for what I would need.

I bought a "mountain bike" last year but I swear, from the moment I had it, it's been one problem after another. I got to ride it twice! I had a minor accident with it, where my foot slipped off one of the pedals and the back of my ankle got ripped apart pretty good. Looking at the scars now, I guess I should have gone to the doctor, but, having no insurance I couldn't justify it. {sigh}

Anyway, thank you for sharing this. Enjoy yours!

[politicat]

7. Ouch. I'm sorry!

I'm kind of in the same boat - the last time I used the jumper was when I had the accident with the big farm truck that left me with a broken ACL and an emergency room visit. We have insurance of the pray-you-don't-need-it type. That little game of dodgeball with the truck cost us about $4500, all told.

I hope your ankle is better - there's a lot of soft tissue in there that can be damaged pretty easily. If you're scarred up, get some Vitamin E cream (especially if you find E and Aloe) and rub it in after every bathe. I think it runs about $2.50 for a big bottle of the store brand at any big box - you don't need something fancy. Keep it covered and out of the sun - sun exposure makes scars worse, not better. Get used to a farmer tan. It will take a few months, but the scarring will fade.

And you might consider dumping the bike you have on Craig's List if you really hate it. I put mine up for trade, but didn't take anyone up on their offers because they were offering road (what we used to call ten-speeds) bikes, and I like those even less than the jumper. Describe it, figure out how much you want for it, and note that you're amenable to trades, too.

[BrklynLiberal]

4. That's a BEAUTY! Use it well and long.

[politicat]

5. I'm so looking forward to it.

I haven't felt this way about a material thing since the Christmas I turned seven and I knew I was getting a Cabbage Patch Kid for Christmas.

It will even be getting a new shed to keep it nice and sheltered. (Our garden shed is a wreck, so it's pretty much coincidence that we're replacing both at the same time, but...)