BITD my wife had a 1991 Marin Bear Valley; she loved it, and rode hundreds if not thousands of miles on it, on the Brecon Beacons, the Mendips, The Quantocks, FoD long before the trails were all there.
Unfortunately, she was not too good at cleaning and maintaining, and even with my occasional intervention the poor thing finally got to the point where repair was going to cost more than a new bike and so I persuaded her to get rid of it and get something new. She had several new bikes, and hated every one of them, they were not her Bear Valley.
Last year, when I got back into cycling, the flame was rekindled and although she could not find a Bear Valley, she did find a Palisades Trail, which I dutifully rebuilt and which she has ridden from time to time, but you know how it is when your heart is set on something and the Palisades is not a Bear Valley.
Two weeks ago, she rather coyly asked if I ever went up to Reading on business, I said yes, could I get to Wokingham? Yes. " I've found a bike on preloved, can you pick it up?" Yes. And so yesterday I picked up a 1991 Marin Bear Valley that apart from some riser bars is absolutely bog rock standard and which, by the looks of it, has covered somewhere in the region of 40 to 60 miles, if that.
One new chain, a couple of gear cables, a quick fettle and a service and Hey Presto!
Wendy and her new bike.
Please take note of the Plus Four (work) trousers, the soft step cycling shoes (slippers) and the Big Hair Helmet :facepalm:
To say she is pleased is a complete understatement, and she will now be pestering the poor man who sold her the bike, until he locates the original handlebars, which he still has... 'somewhere'.
I'll post some more detailed pics once SHE has finished cleaning it up
Unfortunately, she was not too good at cleaning and maintaining, and even with my occasional intervention the poor thing finally got to the point where repair was going to cost more than a new bike and so I persuaded her to get rid of it and get something new. She had several new bikes, and hated every one of them, they were not her Bear Valley.
Last year, when I got back into cycling, the flame was rekindled and although she could not find a Bear Valley, she did find a Palisades Trail, which I dutifully rebuilt and which she has ridden from time to time, but you know how it is when your heart is set on something and the Palisades is not a Bear Valley.
Two weeks ago, she rather coyly asked if I ever went up to Reading on business, I said yes, could I get to Wokingham? Yes. " I've found a bike on preloved, can you pick it up?" Yes. And so yesterday I picked up a 1991 Marin Bear Valley that apart from some riser bars is absolutely bog rock standard and which, by the looks of it, has covered somewhere in the region of 40 to 60 miles, if that.
One new chain, a couple of gear cables, a quick fettle and a service and Hey Presto!
Wendy and her new bike.
Please take note of the Plus Four (work) trousers, the soft step cycling shoes (slippers) and the Big Hair Helmet :facepalm:
To say she is pleased is a complete understatement, and she will now be pestering the poor man who sold her the bike, until he locates the original handlebars, which he still has... 'somewhere'.
I'll post some more detailed pics once SHE has finished cleaning it up
