First I've got to tell you all that I'm just back from the first real ride on my new bike and I'm
fully psyched!
OK, you all wanted details.
We show up at the house as it is getting dark. We know it's the right house 'cause he told us about
the VW bug for sale in the front yard. Was surprised that the seller is a heavier older man. He
takes us around back to his walk-out basement and we enter bike heaven. There are 7-8 bikes around
the place. He told us his son left last week for grad-school and took 2 as well. In the middle of
the basement is my new bike, the 1996 IF Deluxe.
Yes, it is 7 years old and it looks like it has been ridden 7 times. It's fire engine red and has
what BF calls the "new bike sparkle". BF looks it over for signs of neglect but the thing is
pristine. He finds clear stickers on the top tube, seller shows how those were to protect the finish
from the bar ends (not included). While he's looking it over I get to look at the card that was
hanging on the handle bars. It is the original card that has the signtures of all the makers of the
bike and indicates that mine was built in Somerville, not New York.
We take it out for a spin. BF goes first and I learn from the seller that it's up for sale because
he wants to buy a new road bike, lose 40 lbs, and get back into road racing. He bought the IF to
bike with his son but now his son is more into road racing. He then tries to interest me in his 2001
VW bug. He just got a mini, so the 2 year old bug has to go. As far as I can tell this is a
used-stuff buyers dream - technoweenie clearance.
I get on the bike and it's like driving a Ferrari. I always felt like I was "pushing" my Hard Rock
to get it to move. This bike feels like every bit of effort translates immediately into forward
movement. It feels really light and stable. The strangest thing was falling in love with the brake
levers. I *love* these brakes. He smiled when I said that and started pointing out how nicely made
they are - details that are lost on
me. Other things he mentioned were that it's a Chris King headset(?) and some piece of the bottom
bracket is titanium, and the cranks were hand-made in England.
BF is about ready to cry now. This bike is SO MUCH nicer and better cared for than his Fat, for only
$100 more. He's trying to talk me into selling him some of my components. We'll see. I think this
bike fits perfectly. He's about .5" taller than me but my legs are longer for my height. The frame
is exactly the same size as his. From the center of the bottom bracket to the center of where the
top tube joins the seat tube is 15.5". We think the seller was trying to make it sound bigger with
his "imaginary point" measurement.
The only problem with this bike is that it is so pristine and perfect that I will have a hard time
messing it up. We went out on an inaugural ride today (took pictures!) and I got mud all over it! I
felt terrible but I'll get over it.
Have I mentioned that I'm thrilled? -Charlotte