The bikes I owned or desperately wanted to own.
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Jan
16
2005
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Sunday, 16 January 2005 |
Why?
 One sunny July afternoon my Bianchi Veloce had decided it was
time to quit. The first thing to give way had been the clamp on the 105-s,
and replacing it had been a major problem. So I started looking at
alternatives.
I knew what I needed: a sturdy, yet light bike; some better
components than the 105-s, whose shifting shifting had annoyed me
beyond means on uphill struggles; overall, something that could
withstand both the perils of a daily commute and the pleasure of a
century on a weekend (and the nut-case that would do both).
Where?
Two weeks later, I was casually browsing through Palo Alto Cycles,
a store that always left me ambivalent because of the widely diverging
skills of the staff. The last experience was with the guy that gave me
the clamp for the Bianchi for free and even offered to install it.
I checked the single-racked (i.e. expensive) bikes, and this beautiful
Titanium Lemond coyly looked back. It was beautiful, with the cool
shimmer of titanium, the minimalist look of the Bontrager wheels and
the mechanical accuracy of Dura Ace components.
It was on sale. Someone had ordered it, but had ultimately chosen to
wait for the 10-speed 2003. It was my size. I turned the pedal arms
once, twice, and they cooed in unison, the ball bearings clicking ever
so softly.
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Jan
16
2005
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Sunday, 16 January 2005 |
It's All About Love
 All foolish things are born of love. But
fortunately some fun things are, too. In this case, I was head over heels,
and one of the conditions for the love to be successful was to spend a lot
of money on a bike.
Some of you snobs will think that Bianchi Veloce is nothing
expensive. But to me, the investment was enormous. After all, I had a
perfectly functional bike (a twenty year old Nishiki of unspeakable
incompetence)!
City Bikes
I went to the bike shop in the maniacal mood of the freshly-in-love,
and was told to go to City Bikes in the Marina. A small store on the
richer side of the city, CB now specializes in custom frames for the
wealthy. Still, the owner (?) is a really nice guy that genuinely loves
cycling. Not like the other ones for whom cycling is a pain they have
to endure: this one smiles all the time, always has a cheaper option if
you start panicking in front of your loved one, and constantly chats
about his weekend rides.
We started at Seven. No, not the number, the manufacturer. He had
such a beautiful custom Seven with a Chorus gruppo. The only thing I
understood was: "$5.000." We swiftly shifted down to the choice whether
I wanted my Bianchi in aluminum or steel. I tried aluminum, found
quickly it looked ugly (yes, I am ashamed of myself now) and went for
the steel frame.
From there on my only choice was color (baby blue or yellow?).
Everything else was decided by a quick confabulation between my eternal
idol and the City Biker. Two weeks later I picked up a yellow bicycle
that cost more than all my other six bikes combined.
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