What’s in the stand…

Not what you’re expecting. That’s what. Sometimes it’s not all Potts and Cunningham and Salsa and … I find it interesting that there exists some bike shops that wouldn’t even allow a specimen like this to enter their door. Granted there are some shops that are what would be called “pro only” and that’s like taking your rusted out ’68 Ford pick up to the Porsche mechanic. No, there are some shops that would see these bikes as too far gone and I understand that.

On the surface, besides the rust, they look to be in horrible shape. But the owner of the two in the stand only wants them to get through the upcoming Burning Man event held somewhere out in the desert of Nevada. Not my cup of tea, but these bikes have been there and back several times. And it appears that’s the only place they get ridden because they were there last year and came to me with the same playa dust they collected in 2010 and probably the same dust under that from 2009.

And actually, with a judicious amount of Triflow and one new chain, they are functioning just fine. Oh sure, one has a front derailleur that won’t shift to the granny, but last I heard the playa was dead nuts flat. Don’t think the granny’s going to be required. So long bikes, I’ll see you next year.

The yeller bike is a different story. No playa dust. Just needs to be resurrected. With all the vegetation and insect like critters on it, it might have been better off seeing an exterminator and gardener first. Spiders and earwigs have made a safe haven for a few years, but they will soon get the eviction notice in the form of a mild degreaser/cleaner and a blast of water.

Yep, sometimes, bike like these keep the ole lights on.

(What’s playing: KWMR Coast Highway Blues)

0 responses to “What’s in the stand…”

1. Guitar Ted says:

   August 18, 2011 at 1:16 pm

   Chain sculpture! ha! We get a lot of bikes like that. Unfortunately, they usually are only a few weeks old and look like those! In many cases, the repairs are half or more of what the bikes cost.

   It's a shame, really.

   Reply
2. Ben says:

   August 18, 2011 at 2:59 pm

   Welcome to my world friend! J/K. I know you get your fair share of these through the door. I always find it satisfying bringing these something somethings back to running order though. 9 times out of 10, their owners are really happy that they are working and are ride able again.

   Here's to keeping the lights on.

   Reply
3. RoadieRyan says:

   August 18, 2011 at 8:49 pm

   I rebuilt an old Sears Free Spirit step through that had a chain just like that. As I "wheeled" it out to the car the rear wheel just skidded along since the chain wasn't going anywhere LOL now its a clean functional, if not particularly beautiful, for a nice young lady. Love to ol Yeller when you are done with it.

   Reply
4. Tim Joe says:

   August 18, 2011 at 11:04 pm

   Looks like a typical job for my Living Room Bike Shop.

   What's that rig behind the crank on 'Ol Yeller?

   Reply
5. blackmountaincycles says:

   August 18, 2011 at 11:05 pm

   Some form of a Bianchi.

   Reply
6. Anonymous says:

   August 21, 2011 at 7:39 pm

   Working on Burning Man Bikes makes me bite my tongue! Way to stay positive. I owned a simular Mongoose chrome bike in your picture back in the 6th grade. I believe it had drilled out rims and of course really nice full finger brake levers. Awesome.-Christian

   Reply
7. irishpunk59 says:

   September 2, 2011 at 3:51 pm

   at least these folks bring theirs home most of them just leave them on the playa. The Reno Bike Project does a pretty good business in "renting" bikes that they then go out and bring em all back again to "rent" them again and usually again

   Reply

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