I depend on my hybrid bicycle for most errands. For the past month or more, it has been broken. The rear shift lever stopped working, so the bike is essentially a three-speed. And I had to constantly hold the front shifter in place with my thumb to keep it out of granny gear.
I borrow my son's hybrid occasionally, but it doesn't fit me right and has no odometer or rack for my panniers. So I've been riding my crippled hybrid for most errands.
My husband does all of our bike repairs that I can't do. He's been even busier than usual with work, but there's an additional issue with this repair. My style of shift levers are not available. In fact, Bridgestone doesn't even make bicycles any more. I've seen a few bikes with mustache handlebars like mine, but none with the same type of shift levers.
So, this afternoon Leslie installed one trigger-style shift lever from a mountain bike and I will try it out. If I like it, we'll buy a new set and eventually a whole new drive-train.
I love this bike. It has taken me on several centuries, a bike-camping trip, and most of my errands. I had this bike for many years before I joined Babes on Bikes in 1999. I bought it at the Spokes Etc store in the Lee Heights Shopping Center next to Randolph Pastries. That location is now called Arrowine and you haven't been able to buy bikes there for about 20 years.
In this photo, Leslie is tightening the derailleur cable after he installed the new shifter. This is not the best photo, but it certainly seems appropriate for today. I feel like celebrating!
I look forward to being able to shift gears when I bike to church tomorrow morning. And I'll no longer have a valid excuse for avoiding hills.
Yay, Leslie; I wish I had her skills. I'm curious how the shifter worked out yesterday.... The way the chain carries your eye to the hand's work makes this photo dramatic and interesting. Yet it's clear enough for use in a how-to manual. And it's a bike picture! How could it be more perfect?
