The new bike is coming along. Today I went to Bicycle Habitat because they didn’t have any more one-inch headset spacers. I had a few in my parts box. From them, Hal was able to set the stem up to a good height.
Tomorrow I’m going back for to set the seat and handlebar positions, and Hal will tune up whatever else needs it.
The only disappointment so far is that the chainguard I wanted to use won’t work. It’s beautiful…but, alas!
(The above photo is from a February posting of Lovely Bicycle.)
I guess I’ll be selling that chainguard, or trading it for something. But everything else looks great, so far. I might just do without a chainguard because the only truly effective kind is a full chaincase, which can’t be used with a derailleur.
Other shop employees and customers were admiring the bike. When they found out that it’s mine, they all said, “Lucky you!” or words to that effect.
I rode the LeTour to Habitat, mainly because I didn’t want to change out of the sundress I’d been wearing. It fell to my calves and isn’t tight. But, surprisingly, I had more difficulty mounting and riding the LeTour, which has a mixte frame, than I had in riding on my diamond-framed fixed gear bike in a skirt and boots when the weather was colder. Then again, the skirt was shorter than the dress and, I think, flared a bit more than the dress does. Plus, while the material in the dress is thin, it doesn’t have any stretch or “give.” So I have to "hike" it to mount even the Le Tour.
The dress is a green print. I have a feeling it will look better on the Miss Mercian, anyway. ;-)
