Bob transported his bicycle to Hollyloft Bike & Ski today. He wanted to obtain an estimate to get his bicycle tuned up and find out how much the shop would give him for a trade-in. The end result of the tune-up vs. trade-in discussion was that Bob became an owner of a new Specialized “Crossover” bicycle. He accessorized the bicycle with fenders, rack, mirror, and computer. He also purchased a bike helmet. Bob’s new bicycle replaces a 30+-year-old Univega Rover Sport.
Tag: Jamestown NY
Jamestown Riverwalk
Bob and I went for a bicycle ride in Jamestown, NY this evening. We rode a portion of the Greater Jamestown Riverwalk.
We parked across the street from Friendly’s Restaurant for the first part of the ride. The Main Street Bridge is under construction and the portion of the sidewalk at the bridge was closed. We began our bicycle ride alongside the Riverwalk Medical Center. We rode through the Friendly’s Restaurant and Jamestown Cycle Shop parking lots to get back on the Riverwalk. We rode over both pedestrian bridges that cross the river. My trip odometer read 1.86 miles, when we returned to the car.
Here are a few photographs from our bicycle ride on that portion of the trail.
Although we could have ridden our bicycles to the 8th Street parking lot, the beginning of our second part of the ride, we choose to drive there. The Riverwalk trail between 8th Street and Clifton is new and quite nice.
All total we rode 4.67 miles.
New Bicycle
This past Saturday Bob suggested that we go look at bicycles. My current bicycle is a 26″ Huffy ladies bicycle that we purchased in July 2006. My agility is not the same as it was 10+ years ago (or even the same as it was a year or two ago!). I can’t step easily into my bicycle. I have to swing my leg over the seat to mount and dismount. Doing so causes me hip pain, as I mount and dismount. I had been looking at low-step step-through bicycles online. I didn’t want to purchase a bicycle on line, though, as I felt it necessary to ride the bicycle to determine whether or not it met my physical limitations and was comfortable to ride.
Our first stop was at Walmart to see what, if any, step through bicycles were available. We found one step through bicycle. The step through portion of the bicycle was still too high off the ground. I couldn’t lift my leg high enough to step through.
Our next stop would be in Jamestown, but we were hungry. We stopped at Sheetz for a light lunch. We each purchased a meat and cheese package with beverage. We ate our lunch, at Sheetz, at an outside table.
After lunch we drove to Hollyloft Ski & Bike, located in Jamestown NY.
Upon arrival at the bike shop, I asked if they had any step-through bicycles. The salesman, whose name was Tom, showed us a bicycle manufactured by Specialized. In the showroom I determined that I could comfortably step through and mount / dismount the bicycle. The salesman suggested that I take the bicycle for a test drive. Tom fitted me for a helmet. I have never worn a helmet, while riding a bicycle. I rode the bicycle, first, in the parking lot. Tom watched. When I completed my ride around the parking lot, Tom adjusted the seat to fit me.
It was time for a longer test drive. There is a dead end street next to the bike shop. I rode the bicycle to the end of that street, changing gears along the way. The bicycle has seven gears, with gear 1 being easier than gear 1 on my current bicycle. I liked how I sat upright on this bicycle, how the gears operated by the click of a lever, and the big tires that seemed to give me more balance.
You guessed it. We purchased a Specialized Low Roll bicycle. We accessorized the bicycle with fenders, rack, mirror and a computer. The computer is about the size of a watch. It records trip statistics–average and maximum speed, time spent on trip, and miles ridden. I now have a clock in front of me, while riding. I can erase each trip’s statistics. The odometer, however, maintains the total miles ridden. Oh, I purchased a bike helmet as well. We had to return to Warren for the bike carrier. While we were gone, the bike shop installed the accessories and tuned up the bike. Great service all around!
We returned to Hollyloft and picked up the bicycle around 3:30 pm. We transported Bob’s bicycle with us from Warren.
Why did we bring Bob’s bicycle with us to Hollyloft? We wanted to take my new bicycle for a ride; that’s why! See my next blog post for where we went for a bicycle ride.
Bicycling the beauty around us 