a very cherry bike
2012
I think this cherry red number may be my sweetest ever thrifted find! Can you tell what it is? (you dolt lily, you’ve given it away in the title!)
It’s a vintage exercise bike!
It’s also the only hard rubbish that has ever truly excited Julian. The weekend after I carted it home, he had it out the back, cleaning, polishing and repairing it. There were a couple of parts needed to be replaced – the kotter pins (they hold the pedals on) and the chain ring. The original items had been worn out. Oh, and the pedals – there was one original pedal and one dreadful one.
The kotter pins we had to buy new from Richmond cycles, but the other parts came from Julian’s stash. Yep, he has a MIGHTY stash of bike parts and frames. I believe 40 frames came with us to Melbourne. Mmmhm! Good thing our backgarden is lined with funny little old sheds :-)
The only addition I wanted to make was a basket on the front. Not that I shall be riding this sweet bike to the shop any time soon – but for reading. See, it’s sitting near the window in the front room and I hop on once a day for a 30 minute ride – it’s a good work out and awesome way to get warm – and in my wee basket sits our iPad for reading! I have to admit – an iPad is a far easier read on a bike than a traditional book – absolutely no probs turning the pages.
I bought a cheap little basket at Ikea and, to protect my iPad from scratching (what a spurious claim made for Julian’s benefit – what I really mean is, taking advantage of another surface to decorate with fabric!) I made it a wee lining. I used a very pretty strawberry tea towel mum gave me to line the inside – looked pretty with the bike’s cherry red paintwork – and added a red striped border with a little bit of applique to the outer edge.
And the bears? Do you remember that wonderful book by Audrey Wood – The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry and the Big Hungry Bear? So funny and wonderful. Abby received a copy for her first birthday and it was a huge favourite that we can still remember the words to! Well these are two wee bear cubs who’ve found themselves a red ripe strawberry and there’s no wily mouse to eat it! The bear silhouettes were drawn from a cookie cutter.
So early each morning, no matter what the weather, I can pedal away. There’s no cars, no slippery tram tracks and I can read … perfect!
p.s. I had thought to decorate the basket with crocheted flowers, but Julian insisted that should any appear, he would dismantle the bike. He feels very firmly about bikes and crochet.
6 comments
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Oh Lily, I want one. It is absolutely gorgeous. I love the little basket as well.
What a great way to keep fit and do a spot of reading as well. I must admit I would need the reading to distract me from the exercising, however a bike ride down a quiet country lane now that the ticket. Have a great weekend and keep warm.
Blessings Gail
My first thought was “now you can knit, seeing you don’t have to steer” but I think the pedal rate would go down if you were concentrating on knitting.
What a good find, such a beautiful, cheerful colour, and a safe and warm way to keep fit.
Oh I love it!
I am certain that once we find somewhere to settle down Liam will end up with a bike parts collection much like Julian’s. Poor man had to part with all his bikey bits when we first moved in to a small, shedless place together all those years ago.
I think you are the only person on this planet who thought to put a market basket on an exercise bike. Such whimsy, I love it!
Multi-tasking at its best!
I am nearly speechless. This is the bike of dreams. You certainly do inspire! Hats off to you and thank you :)