I know, I know..all I post about any more is bicycles. Guilty. But I’ve been busy w/ my bikes lately. I’ll post about something different soon, I promise.
For now: here’s the few upgrades and a brilliant little hack I’ve done on the used Electra Amsterdam I picked up awhile back. The bike itself was in fantastic shape. The only problem so far is that the paint is flaking off of the cranks. Not enough to bother me at this point, as this bike is my daily junker/commuter, even though it’s a great bike.
When I bought it, it already had full fenders and a built-in rear light added, and a Reelight added to the front. I use both daily, and I was happy to have some basic lights already installed. Here’s what I’ve done so far:
MKS Touring Pedals
Japanese brass bell from Velo Orange:
Swobo super-big basket, w/ a little hack: I wanted a small, waterproof bag or pannier for the bike. Everything made for this purpose was very expensive, so I went to the Army surplus store and picked up this Swiss Army rubber satchel. It’s waterproof, and has metal tabs on the back that fit perfectly onto the basket. It’s incredibly secure and holds all the junk I need to bring w/ me on my daily commute:
I’ve also added a Planet Bike rear light b/c the one built into the fender isn’t that bright, and I added a leftover Cat Eye light on the front. It’s hidden under the handlebars so my dashboard is still clean and minimal, which I really like.
Next up: a huge springy Brooks saddle, and I need to put my Woodys grips on it. Once I take those steps, I think this bike is complete. Also, Winston says hello.
