...y'all probably already know that I love my Bike...she's over 20 years old...purchased at a
Cycle Logic in Raleigh...I love the Bike Shop's name (I still have a water bottle with their logo on it)...and that it has managed to remain in business all those years...it seems like bike shops struggle sometimes...the one in Columbia where we bought Our Airman's first "Hard Bike" is now defunct...
...anywhoo...bicycling is my exercise of choice...and unfortunately for any other project I 'ought' to be doing...I will spend WAY to much time riding...haha...
...my bike actually came with a 'flat' mountain bike handlebar that was black...it was a pretty straight bar... (the Man and I were mostly riding off road - safer that way - usually along the power line clearances in and around Apex and New Hill)...but I didn't like that hand placement and the way you had to sit forward and lean into the handlebar...so pretty quickly after we bought it...I took it back to the shop and had the handlebar switched to the more 'regular' one that's on it now...I think it was called a mountain bike riser bar...still kept you forward in your seat and leaning into the bar...just not quite as much as the flat bar...
...but that's about to change...because this new 'Cruiser' handlebar just arrived from Amazon...
...I don't ride on trails much at all anymore...and the ones that I do ride on are pretty gentle ones in State parks...
...so I unwapped it's scanty padding...I guess handlebars are hard to pack...and gathered some tools...
...this is the current handlebar and basket on my bike...
...I loosened everything...Man! what a chore to get that bar off...
...and obviously...you can't take the shifters and brakes off without removing the grips...and that was seriously the hardest part...who knew...I finally got the hairdryer out to warm them up and make them easier to remove...and it worked...finally...
...grips...light and mirror removed...
...and then I labeled the shifters and brakes...because...I know myself pretty well...and it would be just like me to put them back on the wrong side and have to do it all over...
...so finally everything was removed...and here...side by side you can see the difference between the two handlebar styles...
...the new handlebar installed...it was a little bit fiddly to get the gears and brakes on the wider bar...but I was happy that once in place the leads were all long enough...
...and I used the hairdryer again to get those pesky grips back on...
...and there she is...I really...really like it a lot better for the type of riding I do now...because I sit up a lot straighter with this type of handlebar I may need a more padded seat...we'll see...
...those bungees in the basket have been there for years...and I use them to strap things onto the back of the bike...usually recyclables going over to the recycle bins at Church...haha...
~Have a lovely day!
How cool to see your bicycle! Cute basket and that's a really cool looking seat.
ReplyDeleteI would also say that cycling is my favorite form of exercise, though I mostly ride as a commute back and forth between the library and home. Since I go home for lunch, too, it ends up being about ten miles of cycling five days a week. Matt's favorite exercise is walking so we do more of that on the weekends than cycling.
Happy riding with your newly improved grip! Happy Friday.
Thanks Beth,
Delete...I'd love to be able to ride 'somewhere' like you do...to actually use my bike as a vehicle...but we live out in the country and the two lane roads are just too dangerous for biking...for me anyway...I'm sure there are daredevils who would do it...
~Have a lovely day!
Im c9onsidering doing this to my bike, same story sits me too far forward, great job!
ReplyDeleteHi Sondra,
DeleteThanks for stopping by Affectioknit...I love the bike so much more now...if that's even possible...I hope your changeover goes well!
~Have a lovely day!
That handlebar does look more comfy. I,too, like to sit up straighter when on a bike. I didn't think about it being that complicated. I'd probably ask Duane to do it, haha. Love, K
ReplyDelete