Yesterday I revived a 47 year old bicycle that spent the last 30 years in somebody’s rafters, or rather I finished it yesterday. Worked on it for a week. Stared at it for a week before that. Never overhauled one of those coaster brakes before, buy it’s in the book, so I was fine. Not the original rear wheel, but old enough to go with the bike. I revived the original front wheel with an axle and two spokes. It’s a Schwinn Stingray. Stem wouldn’t move, but I put a new bolt in it in case it ever wanted to move, it won’t. Original grips and front tire, new sissy bar and banana seat with a velour cover. Man it looked good on the guy’s matching green SUV roof. Then he laid it down and tied it. After he paid and gave me a $10 tip. Not the first tip I ever got, but maybe the biggest. Since I was a dishwasher in the best restaurant in Portland, OR, at least.

Sorry to interrupt all the philosophizing and politicking. This used to be a bike blog. Sort of.