{"id":2404,"date":"2025-02-20T19:52:23","date_gmt":"2025-02-21T03:52:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ga2so.com\/blog\/?p=2404"},"modified":"2025-02-20T20:21:51","modified_gmt":"2025-02-21T04:21:51","slug":"this-is-my-favorite-bike","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ga2so.com\/blog\/2025\/02\/20\/this-is-my-favorite-bike\/","title":{"rendered":"This is my favorite bike"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ga2so.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/img_6931-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"My bike. A Surly Long Haul Trucker. The frame fades color from yellow to orange. The handlebars are wrapped with multicolor bar tape. the frame has a U-lock and a cable attached to it.\n\nThe bike is in a park on a clear day, leaning against a cement bench. A trash can and a sign are visible in the background. The bike is sitting on a dirt circle with very short yellow and green grass around it. There are trees and cars in the distance. The sky is clear blue. Power lines overhead recede into the distance.\" class=\"wp-image-2398\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ga2so.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/img_6931-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ga2so.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/img_6931-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ga2so.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/img_6931-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ga2so.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/img_6931-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.ga2so.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/img_6931.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<span hidden class=\"__iawmlf-post-loop-links\" data-iawmlf-links=\"[{&quot;id&quot;:34,&quot;href&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.tesa.com\\\/en\\\/consumer\\\/repairing\\\/sugru&quot;,&quot;archived_href&quot;:&quot;http:\\\/\\\/web-wp.archive.org\\\/web\\\/20251011114508\\\/https:\\\/\\\/www.tesa.com\\\/en\\\/consumer\\\/repairing\\\/sugru&quot;,&quot;redirect_href&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;checks&quot;:[{&quot;date&quot;:&quot;2025-11-02 08:59:41&quot;,&quot;http_code&quot;:200},{&quot;date&quot;:&quot;2025-11-11 08:23:13&quot;,&quot;http_code&quot;:200},{&quot;date&quot;:&quot;2025-11-20 20:13:47&quot;,&quot;http_code&quot;:200},{&quot;date&quot;:&quot;2025-11-29 19:34:19&quot;,&quot;http_code&quot;:200},{&quot;date&quot;:&quot;2025-12-04 12:25:41&quot;,&quot;http_code&quot;:200},{&quot;date&quot;:&quot;2025-12-08 18:52:52&quot;,&quot;http_code&quot;:200},{&quot;date&quot;:&quot;2025-12-14 07:06:46&quot;,&quot;http_code&quot;:200},{&quot;date&quot;:&quot;2026-01-11 03:41:42&quot;,&quot;http_code&quot;:200},{&quot;date&quot;:&quot;2026-01-18 22:42:30&quot;,&quot;http_code&quot;:200},{&quot;date&quot;:&quot;2026-02-27 05:25:47&quot;,&quot;http_code&quot;:200},{&quot;date&quot;:&quot;2026-03-19 07:12:15&quot;,&quot;http_code&quot;:200},{&quot;date&quot;:&quot;2026-05-01 14:40:10&quot;,&quot;http_code&quot;:200},{&quot;date&quot;:&quot;2026-05-10 11:06:33&quot;,&quot;http_code&quot;:200}],&quot;broken&quot;:false,&quot;last_checked&quot;:{&quot;date&quot;:&quot;2026-05-10 11:06:33&quot;,&quot;http_code&quot;:200},&quot;process&quot;:&quot;done&quot;}]\"><\/span>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many years ago I was getting on the freeway near my apartment when I saw a bike hanging on a fence near the on-ramp. I thought \u201cif that bike is still there when I\u2019m coming home, I\u2019m going to go check it out.\u201d  I was gone all day, so I knew it wouldn\u2019t be there that night. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But it was. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I drove home, then walked back to the bike. It was originally olive green, but someone had half-sprayed parts of it blue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ga2so.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/img_6939-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Closeup of a cable guide on the frame of my yellow bike. The guide is silver, with blue paint partially scraped off.\" class=\"wp-image-2399\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ga2so.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/img_6939-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ga2so.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/img_6939-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.ga2so.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/img_6939-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/www.ga2so.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/img_6939.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A little legacy blue on the cable guide. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was probably abandoned or stolen. There\u2019s also a pretty deep dent in the top tube, so it might have simply been thrown away. I didn\u2019t know anything about the model but it looked nice. I took it home to either figure out who it belonged to or, if it was the right size, repair it and keep it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I tried finding the original owner. Lost and found, Craigslist, even contacting the manufacturer to see if they had a record of the purchase. No luck, but I did figure out that it\u2019s an early 2000s Surly Long Haul Trucker. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since I couldn\u2019t find anyone it belonged to, I started fixing it. I am not a mechanic, so a lot of \u201cme fixing it\u201d fixing it was \u201cme taking it to a bike shop,\u201d but I did manage to paint it. It looks really cool if you don\u2019t look too hard. After I painted it I found a helmet that matches. It\u2019s supposedly a woman\u2019s helmet, but the only difference seems to be a slightly larger gap in the back to let out a ponytail. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ga2so.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/img_6937-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"My bike. A Surly Long Haul Trucker. The frame fades color from yellow to orange. The handlebars are wrapped with multicolor bar tape. the frame has a U-lock and a cable attached to it. \n\nThe bike is standing up in a cement gutter. A yellow, orange and black Specialized helmet rests on the handlebars.\" class=\"wp-image-2400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ga2so.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/img_6937-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ga2so.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/img_6937-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ga2so.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/img_6937-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ga2so.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/img_6937-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.ga2so.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/img_6937.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pretty good unplanned match!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once I had it in running condition, I rode it. A lot. It\u2019s exactly the right size. It\u2019s designed to carry lots of stuff for long distances, so it\u2019s incredibly comfortable. It has old-school bar-end shifters to stay out of the way of anything you might load on the thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ga2so.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/img_6932-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"A close-up of a bar-end shifter. The shifter is scraped and worn, and has a lumpy gray blob covering the shift handle.\n\nThe handlebar (wrapped with multicolor bar tab) and the front of a yellow bicycle are visible. Out of focus in the background are a park with an electrical tower, some trees, and some cars.\" class=\"wp-image-2401\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ga2so.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/img_6932-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ga2so.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/img_6932-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.ga2so.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/img_6932-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/www.ga2so.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/img_6932.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Bar end shifters with custom lumpy <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tesa.com\/en\/consumer\/repairing\/sugru\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sugru <\/a>replacement grips.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2016 I rode my first century on my 50th birthday on it. It reminded me how much I love riding. I moved up in features (and price). My current road bike weighs about half what this one does and has lots of electronic doodads. This bike ended up neglected in a closet at work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Today I took it out for a ride at lunch. I had forgotten how great it feels to ride. Smooth and easy. The new bike is fun and fast, but this really is a bike I could sit on all day. It&#8217;s like it was waiting for me to find it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I apologize for neglecting you, bike. I promise to ride you more often. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ga2so.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/img_6935-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"The handlebar (wrapped with multicolor bar tab) and the front of a yellow bicycle are visible. Out of focus in the background are a park, some trees, and some cars.\" class=\"wp-image-2402\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ga2so.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/img_6935-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ga2so.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/img_6935-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.ga2so.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/img_6935-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/www.ga2so.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/img_6935.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">This bike isn\u2019t afraid of whimsical bar tape. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ga2so.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/img_6934-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"The top tube of a yellow bicycle, shot from above. The tube has two visible stickers: the bottom half of a drawing of Porky Pig, and a red stick with a white portrait of Joe Strummer superimposed with a partially visible quote from Henry Rollins - the edges wrap around and hdes the first and last last letters of each line.\nThe full quote is:\nTHIS IS NOT A TIME TO BE DISMAYED\nTHIS IS PUNK ROCK TIME\nTHIS IS WHAT\nJOE STRUMMER\nTRAINED YOU FOR\nIT IS NOW TIME TO GO\nYOU'RE A GOOD PERSON\nTHAT MEANS MORE NOW THAN EVER\n\nWhat's actually visible is:\nS NOT A TIME TO BE DISMA\nS IS PUNK ROCK TIM\nIS IS WHAT\nE STRUMMER\nINED YOU FOR\nNOW TIME TO GO\nRE A GOOD PERSON\nEANS MORE NOW THAN EVER\" class=\"wp-image-2403\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ga2so.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/img_6934-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ga2so.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/img_6934-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.ga2so.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/img_6934-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/www.ga2so.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/img_6934.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Joe Strummer is a new addition. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a rel=\"tag\" class=\"hashtag u-tag u-category\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ga2so.com\/blog\/tag\/bicycle\/\">#bicycle<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It&#8217;s heavy and slow and wonderful.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2398,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"activitypub_content_warning":"","activitypub_content_visibility":"","activitypub_max_image_attachments":10,"activitypub_interaction_policy_quote":"anyone","activitypub_status":"federated","footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[239],"class_list":["post-2404","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bike","tag-bicycle"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ga2so.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2404","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ga2so.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ga2so.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ga2so.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ga2so.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2404"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.ga2so.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2404\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2422,"href":"https:\/\/www.ga2so.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2404\/revisions\/2422"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ga2so.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2398"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ga2so.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2404"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ga2so.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2404"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ga2so.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2404"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}