Anyway, recovery is in progress. I successfully introduced proper food to my stomach yesterday after three days of tea and dry biscuits, and all going well, I should replenish my muscle glycogen stores and rehydrate my body enough to get back on the bike by Tuesday.
But back to this post that I started last weekend and then didn't get to finish.
Only three of my four bikes have been ridden these past two years. There is plenty of use for my Time Edge and the Fixie takes me to work and home once (or sometimes a few times) a week. Even my mountain bike has seen trails in the past 12 months. It's only my trusty old Trek 1400 that's forgotten.
Last weekend I pulled it out of the garage and gave it a good clean. While I was working, touching all parts, getting inbetween to remove the grime, all the wonderful rides came to my mind: my first ride up the ranges in Cairns, this immense feeling of conquest and pride, my very first race, where I got third (beginner's luck), my first ride with clipless pedals.
December 2004 while warming up for a Cairns Cycling Club race at Yarabah
The dent on the top tube reminded me of that crash in a criterium at Murrarie a few years ago. I still have the scar where the road rash was. I wrapped new white bar tape around the handlebars and noticed the damage on the levers. Another crash, this one a training ride, and it had been entirely my fault.
Murrarie criterium in May 2006
But most fondly I remembered the very last time we road this bike during our trip through California in 2009.
It has been sitting in the garage since that holiday, used only a few more times on the windtrainer. This week it leaned against the lounge room wall, all shiny and clean right behind the dinner table. I looked at it every day, thinking how proud I was when I wheeled it out of the bike shop in Cairns all those years ago (I bought it in August 2003), a bike that, back then, was way to expensive for what I could afford and what would have been sensible to spent. I mean, it wasn't even clear whether I would stick with the sport and I certainly had no intention to race.
Alberto said I could still use it as a training bike on bad weather days, or as commuter.
My mind is made up. The bike is ready to be sold. Usually I'm not the one to hold onto things. If I haven't worn it in two year... you know the wardrobe clean-out rule!
But I find myself procrastinating, haven't put it up for sale on the local forum. I don't even know what price to ask! What's it worth?
So little... so much...
11 comments:
What's it worth... may I suggest, what you make it worth....seems to me, that means a smile or two...
As you do. Or. You can call me ;-)
Sorry I had a repeat post thing....Miff
Hi Sandra! I haven't dropped off the planet, but I have been pretty quiet of late.
My first roadie was a Trek 1200, what an awesome bike! I really loved it, it went everywhere with me - up Alpine Ascents, Round The Bay a couple of times, all over the place.
It did die a fairly undignified death, going underneath a car (while I went over the top of the car) - but I still have the frame hanging up in the shed.
As the saying goes, you never forget your first.
Is Tour of Bright on the calendar for yourself or Alberto this year?
I sold my first road bike to a Post Doc at the Uni several months ago, and when I see her riding it my heart squeezes tight with sadness and joy! A good bike deserves to live and be loved, so set it free.
...sending you healthy thoughts, my friend & hoping you get out for that tuesday (& more, of course) ride...
...ah, yes...how subjective the owning of these wonderful machines, huh ???...
...some stand the test of time & we wanna keep 'em around no matter how often they'll be ridden & others, no matter how cool our thoughts of them were "...in their time", the time comes when we can easily let 'em go...
Miff - What's it worth? What someone's prepared to pay. A smile. Worth more than anything. :-) Will call you.
Ant - So good to hear from you! My first was actually a Cannondale. It was 1992 (I think) and it was matt black, oversized alloy tubing... I wish I had a photo of it. I sold it less than two years later because I couldn't cope with skinny tyres on Berlin's cobblestone roads and always worried it may get stolen one day because I commuted to Uni. And you are right, I will never forget this bike. The Trek 1400 was my first in Australia after a several year hiatus from cycling. Bright! I would love to go but AMR and I are heading overseas in October and we don't think we will be anywhere near race fitness (and race weight!) when we return.
Dee - You are speaking my mind. It would be much better to know the bike gets ridden and enjoyed by someone rather than sitting in a shed rosting.
bgw - Thanks for the well-wishes and you are perfectly right. I can't see myself ever letting go of the Peacemaker. And it doesn't necessarily has anything to do with the initial price tag of any bike whether it will remain an all-time-favourite or be replaced by better, newer, shinier ones.
hmmmm,what's the bike?? something about 'one out, one in' ;)
Kate - Guilty as charged! Damn, how do ou know me so well? LOL All will be revealed soon... ;)
Hi Groover, how are you going? Hey are you riding the Tour of Bright this year? I was entered but have withdrawn as I have just quit racing.......:(......I had been going really well but long story I had to quit.......I am just catching up on your blog and your news.....you make sure you look after yourself and keep your energy and your fluids up.......talk again soon...:)
Buttsy - I'm heading over to Germany to see my folks in October. With all the German cheese cake I'm going to eat, I don't expect to be anywhere near race weight on my return to Oz. Tour of Bright is therefore not on my race calendar this year. Hope you are well! Quit racing? Surely not forever? You are just having a little break, right?
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