Fine Craftsmanship

As some of you know, my bike was stolen while DW and I were on our extended camping trip last summer. At first, I felt a little lost and violated, but then I came to recognize that the thief may have done me a favor.

I've never been real picky when it comes to things like this. I just wanted something to get me from point A to point B as easily and inexpensively as possible. Now, that's not to say I was willing to take some piece of junk. Doing so would most likely not have achieved my goal. But I had no problem with buying a bike at Walmart for $75 rather than spend hundreds at a bike store. It was good enough for me, I thought.

The said stolen bike had fallen into this category, but almost from the first week of purchase, I had been dissatisfied with it. The back wheel possessed a decided wobble, which replacing the tire and even the rim did nothing to eliminate. Regardless what adjustments I made, the front wheel disk brake system would either not stop the bike or would rub and force me to fight the friction when I rode. The gears changed roughly and sometimes would not change at all. And the list goes on.

But since I did actually have a bike that worked, I would not allow myself to buy another. So when some person in Vancouver decided he or she liked my bike enough to cut the lock and make away with it, I was actually liberated in some ways.

This week, I broke down and visited some of the numerous bike shops in our small city. I had determined that if I was going to spend my hard-earned money, I might as well have something I liked. And after some browsing and talking with knowledgeable sales people, I purchased a rather expensive Trek street bike from one of the stores.

I have seldom been so happy with a purchase. This bike has an amazingly smooth ride, and it has everything I ever wanted on a bike. My commute to work is sheer joy now. I guess the old saying is true, you do get what you pay for.