Bike Obsession

Hmmmm.... we seem to be amassing a lot of bikes in our garage lately.  We have 11 of them on one side right now, including a unicycle that I picked up a garage sale for $2, and then a 10-year-old mini-van in the other bay.  I would really like to get that van out of there so I have more room for the bikes.

One new addition is an electric bike.  We were loaned one for a trail period to see if we liked it and, lo and behold, we do.  Living in the Rockcreek valley, it is sometimes a struggle to motivate ourselves to bike up to Gerbes for a late night milk run or to get the Red Box DVD back on time.  The return trip is easy because it's all flat or downhill, but that muscles-are-not-yet-warmed-up climb to Broadway can be a killer.  Put a little power boost into the pedaling and it's a no-brainer (or no-whiner) now.

One other cool bike in here is a lovely, old Raleigh 3 speed with an internal hub that we are foster-biking for the time being.  Needs new tires and some TLC, but it won't be long before she (oh yes, it's a she) is on the road again.

The Raleigh--if I name her I'll become too attached.

Speaking of bike genders, all of my favorites seem to be girls.  Trixie used to be the most feminine of the crew, but her amazing performance during the PedNet Bike Move has given her a tougher edge than I knew she had.  The Raleigh will be taking her place as the girley-bike of the fleet.  La Wayne, my Fuji road bike, has always been a bad-ass and she knows it. 

Trixie--dear, sweet Trixie

We do have some masculine members in the group.  Steve's Trek and Tate's Schwinn are hardy souls that put up with a lot of abuse.  In fact, the Schwinn may be heading for retirement this weekend.  Considering that we picked it out of a trash heap many years ago, I feel like it should actually end up in a hall of fame somewhere instead of being gleaned for parts like its current fate.  It also survived a few years with Tate at its helm.  That alone proves it has merit.

I think of the bike carts as male as well.  Those workhorses that first hauled our kids and now our groceries, hardware, garage sale finds, coolers of beer, and whatever else we decide to trek across town.  We have two and consider them essential equipment for any bike-living family.

Tomorrow the fleet will get its' monthly spa treatments, which are a bit overdue.  That's the day the manly bikes will gleam for a few minutes before rolling themselves in the grass and mud to get the clean off and the girls will purr with pleasure from a fresh polish.  Maybe they will all start getting amorous in there after the garage doors go down and well wake up one day with some new trikes.