Electra Townie. Same as my first bike that was stolen. It rides slightly different. I’m getting used to it. One more speed and no more coaster breaks. I think the seat is slightly smaller. Otherwise just fine tuning the adjustments.
Entries Tagged as 'electra'
Lunch. Bike. Pool. Barbecue.
July 27th, 2008 · 7 Comments
Erin got a new job and she works from home now. Since her home is a 5 minute walk from my home, on Thursday we made plans to lunch on salads from Robey’s while sitting outside in the sun. Nice time. Erin had her bike in at Roscoe Village Bikes and while we were waiting for it to get done we shopped around a bit at Roscoe Village stores. While in the bike shop I talked to them about my bike and what sorts of cruiser bikes they have. RVB doesn’t sell Electra bikes but told me about some other brands I could look into. I made note of them and thought I’d looked them up online, but ended up not doing it. I’d like to support RVB, but they didn’t have any of the bikes in stock and would have to special order what I wanted and I was afraid I wouldn’t like it or how it rides.
Hamlin Park, Lakeview, Chicago
After lunch I went and sat at our neighborhood pool for a while. It was pretty packed! I couldn’t get a lounge chair so I just laid my towel out on the cement and enjoyed the weather.
On Friday I went to the bike shop where Dallas and I originally bought our bikes, On The Route. I talked to John there a lot about replacing my Electra Townie and realized something I didn’t know before. I had a 7-speed bike and the 2008 models of the 7-speed bike don’t have all the bells and whistles my bike had, which is why my bike was so much more expensive than the 7-speeds available now. I had the internal hub shifting and a shock system and fenders, all things that the 2008 model 7-speeds don’t have. So, to get those things I’d have to downgrade to a 3-speed or upgrade to the 8-speed. I decided to upgrade. It was more expensive, but the money I’m getting from insurance will take a bite out of the price. OTR had to order my bike, which I wasn’t nervous about since John told me that the seat and the body of the bike haven’t changed so it should ride just like my old bike. The bike will arrive in a week or two and this is what it will look like:
Friday night we had a barbecue at our house. A lot of people came, about 15 or so. It was fun and I’ll admit I drank too much of the Summer of Rachelle official drink. On Saturday I was SO sick. I mean, I don’t even think it was hangover sick. I maybe was coincidentally having the stomach flu? I was still getting sick at 9 p.m. last night. There’s no way that was still a hangover. I couldn’t even take a sip of water. What a waste of a day. I don’t know what happened, but I missed Colleen and Justin’s going away party, Margaret’s Golden 26th birthday and a chance to see an afternoon showing of the Dark Knight at the IMAX with Liz and Killian. I need to remind myself that I’m almost 33, not 23.
Tags:batman·bbq·bike·birthday·colleen·dallas·dark night·electra·erin·hamlin park·imax·justin·killian·liz·margaret·on the route·pool·robey·roscoe village·roscoe village bikes·Sickness·summer of rachelle·townie·vodka·vodka lemonade
I Have a Bike!
July 14th, 2007 · 16 Comments
Electra Townie, my new bike, Roscoe Village, Chicago
Over a year ago, before I started at FeedBurner, I decided I wanted to get a bike. Then I began working at FeedBurner and my first week Chris and John were building a bike from scratch: First sign that these guys were serious about bikes. Then I started getting worried about what bike to get, which was the right bike for me? And would it be cool enough for the guys at work. I resolved that if I ever got a bike I wouldn’t tell anyone. And then I decided I didn’t care, I was just going to get a bike. And then Jessica got a bike from a nice guy on Craigslist who restores old bikes. I decided I wanted a vintage cruiser bike and started emailling him but he didn’t have the right bike for me. Then I worried about how much I’d spend. And then. And then. And then. And then this weekend I decided that was it! That I was going to go to a bike store and I was going to get a bike!
On The Route, Lake View, Chicago
Justin and his wife recently got new bikes at On The Route bike shop on Belmont & Lincoln. Justin said that they just walked in and said they were newbies and asked to have someone help them figure out what they needed and that they had a great experience. So, that was where I decided to go. I did also consider going to Roscoe Village Bikes (love their logo!), but it seemed like On The Route had a larger selection.
I walked over this morning, met Dan the bike sales guy, and just basically told him everything written above. He showed me a couple Electra bikes and a Trek that was more of a cruiser style. After taking each of them out for a spin, I realized that the Electra bikes were definitely what I was looking for. They sat upright and the pressure wasn’t on my shoulders or wrists, which I was concerned about since I already have issues with my back, shoulder and hands. The ride was smooth and and comfortable. The Electra Amsterdam was kind of a classic, old style 3-speed. The Electra Townie had 7 gears and some shocks. One of these was the bike I wanted. But the price! It was about double what I thought I’d be spending. I told Dan I’d have to think about it and left.
Then I called Dallas 3 times, texted Matt , and wandered around the streets going back and forth about why I should or should not get one 
of the bikes. On the one hand I’m frugal and have a hard time spending money on myself, a bike would help with my exercise program and help with transportation problems, my free lunches at Google would pay for the bike in no time (by not going out for lunch), it’s equal to a few rounds of Dallas’ golf, biking is fun, I haven’t had a car or car payments or insurance payments for about 6 years, and dangit I just deserve it. On the other hand I’ve been trying my hardest to pinch pennies to save up to buy a condo and pay off credit and loans. So what to do?
I went back to the store. I asked Dan if I could please ride each one more time. I went on for about 20 minutes on each on the same route so I could really compare. I liked the Electra Townie better because it had shocks and more speeds. The only thing I was sort of on the fence about was that “Hazy Lilac” wouldn’t have been my first choice for color, but it would have taken four weeks to order another color and by then I was so psyched I couldn’t wait. Plus I was afraid that if I didn’t walk out of there with a bike today that somehow another year would go by without having a bike. Outside the shop, though, there was a couple that was literally just waiting for me to not want to buy the bike. Dan said they’d been looking at it and came back but he told them they’d have to wait because I was test riding and had first dibs. 
Yay, Dan. So, then I just went for it. I got the Electra Townie. And I’m so happy! On the way home I was honestly so excited and having so much fun that I didn’t realize I rode right past my street until I was to Western.
Somewhere in the day my phone totally died and my charger was at work… something I’ve done a few times in the month that I’ve had my new phone and charger. Time to get a new charger and, more importantly, time to run an errand on my new bike! The closest TMobile retailer was on Wellington/Ashland which would normally be a long walk or a walk to the train and a walk. What a pain. With my new bike, though, this was just a short ride. And fun! And exercise! I quickly got a glimpse into the new freedom my bike would provide. And when I left the store I was unlocking my bike and someone walking by was like “Great bike!” and I was so happy! Everyone loves my bike 
And now I need to get Dallas to get a bike, which he’s been thinking of doing, too. And I guess it means that I should finally let him spend that money he wants to on an flat-screen TV.
Tags:amsterdam·bike·Chicago·chris·dan·electra·feedburner·jessica·john·justin·lakeview·on the route·roscoe village·Sports·townie