So, let’s say you find the spark you once held for it has faded. Suddenly, the bike feels sluggish, not as nimble. And it’s not as shiny as you remembered either. And worst of all, that seat that you hated when you first met it, is still there. All of the idiosyncrasies you thought would change, never did. Now they’ve gone beyond pet-peeves and are full fledged issues.
So you have a decision to make: Do you sell the bike you have and look for love in a shiny new model or do you try to rekindle the spark in what you have? As a mechanic, I’ve been the counselor in these relationship struggles many times, and it’s rarely pretty. Here are 3 things I’ve learned along the way:
It’s OK to seek help. Find a counselor (translation: mechanic) who you trust and listen to him or her. Don’t go alone, bring your bike. Remember, it’s a relationship issue and relationships take work. Don’t be afraid to do the regular maintenance on your bike — it can keep it ticking for years to come.
Don’t blame your partner. Bikes don’t go fast, people on bikes go fast. Left to their own devices, bikes will just sit there. So if your love affair is strained because you’re not going fast enough, you might want to talk to the person pushing the pedals.
Know when things just aren’t working. When you start talking about paint jobs or adding more gears, or getting new shifters, you should probably be talking about finding a new bike. This level of upgrades tends to open Pandora’s Box. Do these only if you are madly in love with your bike and will never leave because it will probably cost you what a new bike would have. After all, a lot has changed in bikes in the last 10 years. If the upgrades go beyond getting a good saddle and a few extras, it probably qualifies as irreconcilable differences.
Finally, if you do decide to look for a new 2-wheeled love, be realistic with who you are and what you want. Whether you only have time for the occasional Saturday ride with the kids for 3 miles or you get up at 5 a.m. to go for a 20 mile ride before work, either is fine. Just be honest with the person who is going to introduce you to your future mate so that he or she can find a bike that fits what you really do, not what you wish you did. There are more racing bikes hanging up collecting dust because of this mistake than you might think. Believe me, I know because all of those bikes are 10 years old and their owners come in asking for upgrades.
Erik West is a certified bicycle riding instructor and mechanic, who teaches alternative transportation for the Greater Portland Council of Governments, the Bicycle Coalition of Maine and The Bicycle Workshop. He generally has his nose in most things related to promoting pollution-free transportation in Maine. To learn more or make yourself heard, check out www.thebicycleworkhshop.com or e-mail him at ewest@gpcog.org.