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Start Cruisin'
With a little dough and a lot of style, you can turn your old rig into a hip-yet-utilitarian wonder ride.
By Brian Fiske
Can't bring yourself to get rid of your beloved old mountain bike? Don't relegate it to a future of catching dust in the basement. With some creative thinking, you can give your old bike a new life as an all-purpose cruiser that's perfect for short trips to the post office, the pool, the farmer's market, you name it. Here are a few key urban upgrades to get you started.
Slop Busters: Nothing says utility like fenders. This is one spot where it pays to go big, because coverage is key--you don't want to sport the road-spray rear-end stripe while standing in line at the Cappuccino Cafe. Perfect example: Planet Bike Road Freddy Fender. Stuff Sack and Rack: Without a rack, your utility bike is just a cruiser--a testament to your individuality that doesn't let you carry groceries. But with an easily removable seatpost-mounted rack, you retain that just-a-cruiser option, if you're into that. One righteous rack combo: Topeak's MTX BeamRack with the quick-release MTX Trunk Bag DX. It can hold eight 16-ounce cans. Smooth Rubber: The whir of knobbies spinning on pavement is the sound of slowness. Switch to smoother rubber and you'll go faster with less effort, less noise and more stability, because more of the tire is in contact with the road. Cheap workaday treads abound, but we prefer longer-lasting options such as the Michelin Transworld MTB Tire and the Forte GT2 Road Tire.
Bright Lights: Front and rear lights guarantee visibility on that midnight ice cream run. We like the sturdy connection and small size of the handlebar-mounted ViewPoint Flare 5 LED Headlight, plus the go-anywhere Cat Eye TL-LD170 Taillight. Theft Deterrent: A cable lock will do for quick in-and-out stops, but a U-lock, such as OnGuard Bulldog DT Lock, offers better anti-theft protection. Reflective Glass: A mirror adds an "I live for danger as long as I can see it coming" mystique to your around-town ride. Plus, it lets you check for helmet-vent hair. A one-lens-fits-all choice: the Blackburn Multi Mirror Over-The-Top Adds Kickstand: The Greenfield Stabilizer rear-mount kickstand has an extra-wide rubber foot that won't sink into summer-hot pavement. Basket: Front racks and panniers are for touring, not for town. Baskets, however, are quick, easy and funky. TransIt Grocery Bag Pannier is a fine example of this ultimate town-bike feature. Comfort: Sit back and enjoy the sights with an inexpensive rise stem and bar combo...and maybe a wide, padded saddle. Ask your local shop to hook you up with what suits you best. Personality: Beyond meeting your needs, your bike also has to make you happy. Upgrade only with items from yard sales. Add an upswept cruiser bar instead of a straightforward riser. Go singlespeed. Sport tassels. Bolt on a cup holder. This article reprinted courtesy of Bicycling Magazine and Rodale Inc.
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