Meet Mick Jagger. The love of my life.
He is a LeMond etape, 2006 (I think). I love him. Sometimes I am embarrassed of how fancy he is, but then I get on and remember why I love him so. I aqcuired Mick when I was just starting to love riding and had to upgrade from my cruiser (too many hills!). I went to the local 'bike guy' and told him what I was looking for. We decided on a 1970's Blue Raleigh, which I was to pick up in about a week. Well, he called me the next day and said he had the perfect bike for me. Needless to say, I went and looked at it immediately. After asking all sorts of super intelligent questions like "where is the kickstand?" and "How do all these gears work", not to mention "can you please spell De-Rail-er for me?", he told me to take it for a test ride.
I. was. sold.
We agreed on a price, I put down a deposit and went to work selling Kevin Bacon, my cruiser. A day later, I called Joel and said "Get it ready, I am coming by tonight". We have been in love ever since.
Picking a name was hard. *side note: how on earth do you have a bike with no name? I don't understand this...*. I went for an hour long naming ride and had it down to Mick Jagger and Marla Singer. For 2 days I debated. Then a friend pointed out that I couldn't possibly ride a woman, so Mick it was. And I can't ever imagine another name.
Mick and I are partners. We know the city and the best ways to get around. He tells me when he is sick and when he needs to be cleaned (which seems to be often!). I used to be afraid of my bike, then one day I wasn't.
I may get new bikes and I may even one day (gasp!) replace Mick. But he will always be my first love.
Mick, meet the internets. Internets, meet Mick Jagger. Tell him hello next time you see us riding around!
nice ride.
ReplyDeletenot that you asked for it, but if you don't mind a little advice:
don't sell mick when you decide to upgrade. he's well put together, made out of a frame material that will last, and your first. you don't want to sell your first, do you?
i've owned probably 20 bikes, and have always sold when i upgraded... and always regretted it. so hang on to this guy. the amount of $$ you'll make on a used-bike sale will be more than offset by the continued enjoyment of having your first still hanging around. and one can never have too many.
jacob,
ReplyDeletethanks! If i recall correctly, the day we were taking these photos, you had something exciting going on. :)
the thought of selling Mick makes me stomach turn, so thanks for backing me up. The sentimental reasons sometimes outweigh the rational.
why haven't we ridden together?
Oh, my bike doesn't have a name. But now I think it should have one. We share so many memories, good and bad ones.. I know exactly what you mean.
ReplyDeleteI call my bike Frankenbike b/c everytime I get money, I replace or upgrade something. I went out today and thought about how much better the ride is than this time last year. I only have the one ride, so it has to work for all occasions. I know it's not cool, but I especially love my derailleur. I probably should post as anonymous for saying that.
ReplyDeleteGreat, great pictures! Who takes them for you? You definitely need to keep Mick should you ever upgrade. I don't intend to sell Pinkie and she wasn't even my first bike (I do believe in girl bikes, though I have a feeling that the Batavus is going to be a boy).
ReplyDelete~Trisha
elisa, you're right -- that was the day i picked up The Ring. and hijacked your photoshoot so TSc could capture it on film in the event i died from the anxiety of my impending proposal and was eaten by wolves.
ReplyDeletethe bit about selling bikes was as much for me as you. i always sell, and always regret it. i had a beautiful yellow & white steel lemond. it was nothing fancy but it was a great riding, great looking, durable, reliable, comfortable bike. i sold it to 'trade up' to a more race-able frame, and have regretted it every day since.
i'd be delighted to go for a ride with you. let me know when you feel the itch!
This is the best little story. It is so funny too. I couldn't speak a word of bikespeak either and would leave a LBS so dumbfounded. 'De-Railer-er' ...ha,ha,hehe, you got me with that one.
ReplyDeleteHi, Mick!!
ReplyDelete-Dottie
What a great blog and entertaining writing. I just found you via bike commuter.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, bikes must be named. My main squeeze is Carmen Tequilo, and she is saucy. Check her out on the blog. She has a whole category devoted to her.