Saturday I spent the day huddled in my parents basement scrapbooking my honeymoon pictures. Ugh, don’t ask. Chad came over mid day to wash his car and we both stayed for din din on the patio. Since he has a date with boys in the evening, I decided to hang out with the rents and join them on a bike ride around Stanley park. The last time I did that was 4 years ago and Dario joined us. We saw hippies with really long armpit hair. Remember?
I have an old mountain bike that my parents bought me years ago second hand. I think I’ve had it since I was 14. A few years ago my Dad took it apart, cleaned and painted it and then put it back together. It still works and all, but the thought came to me that I should maybe try and sell and get one of those cute retro cruiser bikes. I know I don’t bike very often, but I hope to do more in the future, and I see myself cruising more then riding up mountains or through traffic. Biking is also one of the only sports Chad and I can do together that his knees can handle so I would really like to try and do more riding.
While discussing this plan with my Mom she offered up her old bike.
Even in Italy they can’t spell her name right!
As some of you know, my Mom was born in Italy and immigrated here with my Grandparents at the age of 5. When she graduated high school she went back to visit all her relatives and her Grandfather gave her a bike as a grad present. Well, lucky for her, the bike actually folds up and she was able to stick it in a suite case and bring it back home to Canada!
I remember this bike when I was a kid. It was something of a novelty that my Nonna kept in her garage and would sometimes use to ride along side us when we road our bikes in the back lane. Mom didn’t use it anymore so it was kept purely for nostalgia.
I hadn’t seen it in years, so I really didn’t know what kind of state the bike was in, let alone if it was ride-able! Nonna had it all folded up in the closet. The wheels had lost air, there was rust in places, and power generated lights no longer worked. I took it home, Dad pumped up the tires, and I took it for a spin.
It was magic!
I would love to take it into a bike shop and get it all cleaned up. Get rid of the rust, paint it up, fix the lights. I’m just a bit apprehensive as I don’t really want to ruin the bike. I want to make it look exactly the same, just nicer, cleaner. I want to keep my Moms stickers, but I want them to look better. I also have no idea what a job like this would cost. A lot of the chrome is rusted, the lights need re-wiring, and the breaks need to be re-done too. Maybe I will investigate a company that could help me next summer, when I have more time and money to play with.
How cute would this look, all shiny and new, with some streamers and a basket?
OMG
on August 19th, 2010 at 7:15 pm
Easy enough to do and she will look divine!
on August 19th, 2010 at 8:11 pm
It already looks super-duper cute! I didn’t notice any rust. And I love the colour. That bike definitely suits you!
on August 19th, 2010 at 8:11 pm
Jake did that to a bike. It was a pain in the butt, and he was only doing one colour. You can’t get the stickers back on. Plus getting someone else to do it is super expensive. It would probably cost less to buy a new bike.
But, you could buy another cruiser so that you wouldn’t have to worry about the orange one getting wrecked or stolen…
on August 20th, 2010 at 7:22 am
That is definitely the cutest bike ever! Collapsable bikes are the best.
on August 26th, 2010 at 8:17 am
Manuela and Emanuela are two different names in Italy ;)
So, the name is spelt right.
See you soon over here! :)
on August 26th, 2010 at 12:25 pm
Valeria! How are you!? I actually had no idea that Manueal & Emanuela were two different names. I guess thats why Moms name is always mixed up. See you soon!
on August 27th, 2010 at 11:55 am
I’m well thanks, a little tired because the high season is always very busy here.
The pictures with your bike remind me when I was a child. My cousin Luigi also had a bicycle like that one. I was very jealous of him, because he had the beautiful red bike, which I never could ride because -according to him- I was too little!!!!!
Anyway, we are looking forward to seeing you soon here!
Have a nice fly and a great trip!
To soon!!!!! :)