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August 29, 2005
The Dumpster Bike Revived
I wrote about my dumpster bike before:
http://blog.lib.umn.edu/carl1236/dailyspirit/024433.html
and now is a good time to bring it up again. Jim http://blog.lib.umn.edu/thil0020/carfreelife/2005_08.html#025834 was writing about the different categories of bicycles and it generated a lot of good discussion. I wondered what category my dumpster bike fit into and my conclusion now is that it has to be an economy bike. So far I have exactly seven dollars invested in this bike for miscellaneous parts to make it run; I replaced the chain, added fenders and a rack. Finally, here is a photo of the Dumpster Bike:
A few weeks ago I had to stop riding it because the chain snapped as I was trying to accelerate. I think the problem was not only an old chain, but my chain line was a little at an angle since I had it on the 42-tooth on the front and the 13 on the back. This time when I put the chain on I put it on one ring larger on the back and the chain is in a straight line now. It’s also easier to pedal uphill.
One of the reasons I decided it was time to get that bike running again was that I rode my mountain bike in the rain and had to go to a meeting at another office. The only way to get there was through an industrial area with a thick layer of concrete-type dust on the road. Imagine that stuff all wet, spraying all over my wheels, bike, bottom bracket, chainrings and getting in my derailers. I thought about my 1971 Schwinn Suburban 5-Speed that I was using for a commuter bike and realized how nice those full fenders were. And it was nice having a bike like that for a ‘beater’ bike. They are solid bikes that can take a lot and are easy to fix. Unfortunately for me that bike was stolen. Then I thought about my Dumpster Bike sitting in my driveway waiting for a chain and fenders. I found some yesterday, brought them home and this morning installed them. I rode it to work today and it was great. The purple frame and blue fenders really make the look too! Haha. But it’s functional! It is an economy-utility bike after all.
I rode it to the bike shop during lunch one day and Terry looked at it and said right away that I should get a can of black spraypaint and paint the whole bike and fenders the same color. Well, yeah I could do that, but it doesn’t really need paint to be functional. That would be a purely cosmetic expense. Don’t purple and blue go together? If I added some yellow bar tape it would be a rainbow bike. But then I’d be back to adding things for appearance, when the old ratty black cloth tape is still functional enough to give me grip.
I am not condemning other bikes, because I have several that I use for different purposes. But I think I am proving a point to myself and maybe others, that utility and functionality don’t have to be expensive. That much of what we say we ‘need’ is not really a need, but a ‘desire.’ Also I’m saying that if this functional bike was being thrown away, we are a wasteful society. To ride a Dumpster bike with a purple frame and blue fenders with the derailer missing does require me to give up some of my notions about what I actually need. It teaches me that what I really need in bicycle transportation is two wheels, a frame, a chain and brakes. The fenders I added were a bonus and so was the rack. I have a backpack after all. And riding this bike is easier on my feet and faster than walking everywhere. For that I would only need two feet and two legs. Maybe I could get by with one of each. Plenty of people get by on less.
The dumpster bike is a teacher and I am a student. What am I able to learn? I can apply it’s lessons to the rest of my life as well: The house I live in, the clothes I wear, the activities I do, etc. What do I really need, how much is enough and what am I wasting that is still functional?
Posted by carl1236 at August 29, 2005 04:48 PM | Attitude
Comments
Very nice John. This reminds me of my own Piggly-Wiggly - the bike I have spent almost nothing on (though it was somewhat more than $7). I can ride that bike and park it anywhere with little fear that it will be stolen or vandalized.
Posted by: Jim at August 29, 2005 10:47 PM
Haha, don't be too sure about it not being stolen. That Sturmey Archer 3-speed hub is worth about 100 dollars.
Hey now that you have your Radical Xtra-Cycle that can carry three hundred pounds of dog food, poor piggly wiggly will be collecting dust.
Posted by: John at August 30, 2005 05:40 AM
I think P-W will be reincarnated for another purpose. But not anything that costs money.
Posted by: Jim at August 30, 2005 07:47 AM
And with that bike Jim you could do this event on September 16, 17 and 18:
http://www.abcetour.com/
I plan on being there. They are nice people and it's fun to talk bikes and other stuff.
Posted by: John at August 30, 2005 02:59 PM