If you own a car you’ll be familiar with the painful experience of having to take it into the shop, where a mechanic will look at it, shake his head, and start muttering about large numbers.

 

Alas bikes need maintenance too.  Mine hadn’t been into the shop for 18 months.  The gears were making bad noises, the brakes just wouldn’t set right on the wheel - it was time.  Saturday morning I took it round the corner to my local bike shop.  The bike goes up on the rack and the mechanic immediately spots that the rims on both wheels are cracked.  Eeek - that’s something you definitely don’t want to fail when you’re speeding down a hill!  So two new wheels, in addition to the new chain and brakes I knew I needed - with labor a grand total of $300, even with the bike coalition’s 10% discount.  Ouch.

 

But now it has shiny new wheels and rides like a dream.  And I have full confidence in the brakes again!

 

I think my bike now consists of only about 30% of the bike I originally bought five years ago.  The frame, both wheels, the saddle and the chain (more than once) have all been replaced at various times now.

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