July 15th, 2006
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Waiting to exhale
Though I’m in the middle of a long and boring post about my storied love affair with bicycles, I’m at work now so I can’t do the whole post justice. However, I can’t contain my excitement anymore so I have to make it public.
I finally bought another bicycle. If you follow my “big plans” soliloquies that I make from time to time, you’ll recall that I’ve wanted one for about two years. But, two large obstacles have always blocked my path: 1) most bicycles in Japan are inherently too small for me, and 2) modern bicycles pretty much suck, as the popular thing seems to be aluminum compact frames and mountain bikes. Touring and amateur racing is dead. The market is not mine.
So, I overcame my inhibitions towards eBay, and bought a bike. It’s not a Miyata 1000, as I’ve often mentioned lusting for here, but that’s probably for the best. I lost an auction on one, but after realizing how hard it would be to get parts, and how much of a pain intercontinental shipping of large objects is, I think things may work out ok.
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I bought a 1982 Trek 728 touring bicycle (page 8), maintained for 24 years by the original owner, in very tidy form and new wheels/tires. I actually won the auction almost two months ago, but it has taken me this long to figure out how to get the bicycle here and not pay more on shipping than I did for the bike. In the end, the shipping is still ridiculously expensive, but it’s a compromise. The only hurdles I have left to clear are customs, and hopefully not a very large duty. Delivery is scheduled for Tuesday at six o’clock at my office. I am employing the aid of a co-worker to assemble my new darling, whom I will lavish with only the finest in protective accessories. This must be like what having a baby is like. I’m almost tempted to put up a big banner at my house that says, “Welcome home!”
But for now, I’ll pass around pictures from the seller, and you can light my cigar.
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Yes, I am seventy-two hours away from finally getting a touring bike. Yes, we are going to ride cross-country.
