Rocky

Purchased: March 2007 on Craigslist for $25

The guy was recently divorced, selling most all his possessions and moving to Peru to backpack until he didn't want to anymore. He delivered the bike to my house, he was asking $45 for it. He said the bike had been left by his sister years ago and he rode it to the store once in awhile.

The seat was torn up and it was dirty and had cobwebs all over it. I offered him $25 and he took it with a big smile, cause he was leaving the 'normal' life and going to backpack in Peru.


I had sold all my 'nice bikes' a few months prior in a fit of desperation since I was at a low paying temp job, and I was feeling stupid for the way I so frivolously spent my money when I had a great job. To save money I was going to ride my bike to the bus station and ride the bus to my temp job as a construction site receptionist 20 miles outside of the city.

I gave the old bike a bath and shined her up with some Bike Lust Polish, added some stickers and did a cheap fix up job on the ripped up seat with some hot pink electrical tape I found in the toolbox. Then I found this giant basket on craigslist for $20. I looked for a used rack to no avail, so ended up spending another $45 at the LBS for this gem.

I named her Rocky, because at the time we were commuting to "Rockdale" together.
We went places together Rocky and I...

I rediscovered the fun of riding a bike with no 'goals'. It didn't matter how many miles we did, or how fast. I wore whatever I was going to wear that day, no special clothing or shoes were required with Rocky. We were just out there doing whatever we wanted...

taking fun pictures...

sitting and watching the sun rise in the early mornings together.

She had a kickstand so she would stand while I would sit.

To save money on gas, she even became the hauler of our ENTIRE household sustenance.

She was my only bike for three months. We had a lot of fun.

Her poor frame started feeling like a soft noodle with the 40 pound loads.

Then her chain started jumping off and getting stuck like every mile.

Then the brakes were crazy SQUEAKY loud!!! I used to joke that the brakes were like a bell to alert people I was coming.

I tried to replace the pads myself (another $20) as the LBS said it wasn't worth their time on the old beater. The brakes have never been the same since. Like I said I really suck at the maintenance.

I wish she had a chainguard too, but I have never found one.

I got a new bike when I changed jobs and was only 7 miles from my office. Rocky wasn't very comfortable to ride 14 miles a day.

So I have since banned myself from riding her more than a 3 mile distance. See how watching miles ruins things??

She is sitting in our storage room with no front brake now and a really loud SQUEAKY back brake. But she shifts good and the tires are good too.

I miss riding her. I just need to get the brakes fixed....