Editor’s Letter
Recently, a fellow cyclist
and I were joking about how some riders treat their new bikes as such precious objects. You know the type. The newness of the machine makes the rider a little more timid on the road. He or she emits a do-not-touch vibe. “But then the rider hits that first bump,” my fellow cyclist said, “and they’re like, ‘Oh, it’s still good.’” After that point, the bike becomes the practical, and enjoyable, riding machine it was designed to be. I said that before the bumpy epiphany happens, the machine is treated much like my grandmother treated a new couch, with a plastic cover over it to preserve its newness. I think my conservation partner must have figured my grandmother’s practices were passed down. “So what bike do you have under plastic right now?” he asked me. I confessed. I did have a new bike. Sure it was winter and I hadn’t had a chance to ride it yet. But we knew as the weather cleared, I would be very particular about when I would take it out. I will cringe a bit when it sees rain. But of course, it will survive and continue to work great.
After this chat, I thought of the other bike, or bikes, we cyclists have in our arsenals that are there to preserve the new bike a little longer: the beaters. My beater is an old department store Free Spirit 10-speed. And by 10-speed, I mean 2x5. I got it for deep-winter riding. It’s something for which I wouldn’t have given a second thought in snow, salt or slush. But something happened this past season. The bike in the position above the beater, the commuter, found itself pressed into winter duties. Regular maintenance before and after rides kept it running smoothly. I used the beater once; its rear axle snapped; and now it’s probably been disassembled by the local guy who works with used parts. The hierarchy among the bikes is a fluid thing.
To help you make a new addition to your stable – whether it’s your first ride for your first gran fondo or your new machine for experiencing the trails – we’ve put together our annual buyer’s guide ( p.73). It’s a collection of some of the most compelling bikes and accessories of 2013. Dig in. I’m sure there’s something there that you won’t want to get dirty, but will be happy when you do.