[add]iction

so....it's official.

i'm addicted.

since i've started hanging out with the bike guys, i've had an itching to get another bike. i love my current bike, but i wanted something a little older, and a little nicer. i wasn't taking it too serious, just occasionally checking craiglist, and newspapers. however last spring, my schwinn started having troubles braking, which i've learned is an important part. i took it to a shop, where it would eventually sit for two months while they tried to find a part for it. during these two months i sat in my apartment, thursday after thursday, not being able to ride, while bikes cruised past me down douglas.


then a craiglist posting was sent to me about an old bike, a 1948 monark! a real "fat tire" bike! checking it out, i was thrilled, it was exactly what i had been looking for. i called a minute later and said i'd be by to check it out.

once at the house, i recognized the owner as a fellow bike club member! we chatted a bit, looked over the bike, bartered a bit, and finally struck a deal. however before i left i got a personal tour of his collection. i was blown away! it was like a bike museum! he had three garages filled with restored, customized, original, and parted out bikes! there must have been close to 100! i was in awe. here i was giddy over my second bike, and this guy had a small army of coasters! he was a serious addict, probably doing this since the 60's, and now he was dealing to me.

i loaded up my new wheels and anxiously awaited thursday night! seven o'clock came and i headed out. however i didn't make it far, a few blocks from my house my tire disintegrated and the balloon tube came out! a little disappointed but not out, i waked over to a gas station, bought a roll of duct tape and patched it up. this allowed me to ride one more block, before the whole tube popped, and deflated my dreams of riding that night. i walked my bike over to a spot where i knew the club would stop and waited.

when they arrived, the duct tapped tire spurred questions and apologies were sent my way. after conversing a bit, i figured it was time to walk home, grab the truck, and pick it up, when another member spoke up and insisted that i keep riding! he could fix it! not really knowing what he meant, i explained that it was alright, i'd catch them next week. to which he said,

"nope, we're going to get some tools!"

i hoped into a car with him and headed to his shop, however during the process of finding the right tools, he thought,

"why fix it! just borrow another one of mine!"

...another addict,

i was now borrowing bikes, to continue to ride...

we loaded up the bike and headed out to meet the rest of the group. it ended up being an amazing night with over 70 bikes cruising the streets and sidewalks of wichita. also later that week, the new bike, eventually got new tires!

but now to the point. with gas prices approaching 4 dollars it's no surprise that bikes seem to be getting more and more popular. even in car-happy wichita, i'm seeing more and more bikes on the road, which is exciting. i'm finding that riding around thursday nights with a bunch of bike bums and addicts is quickly turning into a highlight of the summer.

so...now to the point.

if you happen to find yourself in downtown wichita this friday, and you'd like to get a peek into this weird and wonderful show, the go away garage is hosting the "art of the bicycle"! a show celebrating bikes and bike related art! see poster here!