Whirlwind
It’s been a really busy week, but really fruitful, too.
Finally bought a bike this week, a 1983 Schwinn World Tourist. I found it on Craigslist and got it for eighty bucks. It’s in great condition, except for the original tires, which are starting to curmble. As soon as the next paycheck comes, I’ll get a new set. Here’s a pic of my new ride on the library mall at UNT:
The coolest part about this thing is the very strange and rare Shimano Front Freewheeling system. When coasting, the chain continues to move, allowing you to shift gears. I didn’t have any problem shifting the gears on my ’71 Varsity, but this is a really cool feature that does make shifting gears while coasting to a stop at an intersection a breeze.
On another topic, I have finished my five-week summer course on Nutrition, everyone’s least-favorite required blow-off class. After the final grade was computed, I ended up with a mid-B. It would have been an A, if it hadn’t have been for an assignment that was due immediately after a test that I forgot to submit. Oh well, I’ve got the credits, so I’m good.
The weekend brings the weekly ritual of returning home to wash clothes, probably watching a movie with my friends, and a Sunday afternoon fish-fry at my uncle’s. Should be nice.
Searchin’ for a Bike
My commute is all of ten minutes long. My vehicle of choice at the moment is a 1971 Schwinn Varsity in a scratched and rusty Campus Green. I have a cheap-o Mongoose bike back home, but since it’s of Wal-Mart vintage, the gears quit working six months after purchase and the brakes are frightfully awful.
The Schwinn’s brakes aren’t that great either, but that’s mostly because they were installed in the early-1980s and attempt to create friction on slick chromed steel wheels. On a rainy day, I virtually have no brakes. In other words, I need a new bike.
My parents are telling me that they want to purchase a bike for me for my birthday next month. They were thinking somewhere along the lines of a slightly-better-than-Wal-Mart selection, probably less than $200. That benchmark was obliterated when I told them I was comparision shopping high-end Schwinns, low-end Giants and super-duper-low-end Treks. A compromise will most likely have to be made. This is what I’ve been looking at so far:
This model is from the high-end line of Schwinns, only available at local bike shops. These have nothing in common with their Wal-Mart and Target brethren except for the facts that they are Schwinns and made in China. This model has everything needed for commuting in the city, such as fenders, a rack, and a bell. It also allows the rider so sit more upright than they would on a normal road bike. I could also go for the World S, the lower-end World starting at $429.
I do have a budget of under $500, but if I could just pick a bike by how good looking it was, this would be it. I especially like the crome fenders and color. Maybe my local shop has them on sale.
I won’t bother adding the other one’s I’ve looked at, since they’re way over my budget. Those others would include the Specialized Vienna Deluxe and the Trek Allant.
Here’s to hoping I make a decision…or reach a compromise.
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