Fahrradsozialismus

A long time ago in a place far, far away, not so much in absolute terms, relatively speaking, I was taught to love one’s country, one’s people & the Communist Party. Looking back, as surreal as it seems today (though perhaps most people feel that way about their childhoods), there is something to be said about having had some absolute ideals to look forward to – if it could be perpetuated. People deal with disillusionment differently. In addition to the inevitable bitter cynicism, I reconciled myself by embracing further the ideals regardless of the ironic reality under which they were propagated, along with the imageries associated with it.

Indeed the notion that morality exists only because of immorality, that the seemingly dichotomous values simply could not exist without one and other can perhaps be regarded as a limitation of language, but unfortunately it also means that it is something innate in human beings. Same reason why I adore so many things anachronistic perhaps, for the harsh realities represented is dampened by the passage of time, and it is easier to have fanciful notions about, no matter how erroneous, for it is all introspective. I suppose it is like religion in a way, only without the reassuring conviction of things will certainly get better, but what good is wool-gathering if one can’t fool oneself.

But this is supposed to be about my current commuter bike. One of the first I stripped & built up again from bits & pieces. There’s nothing even remotely prestigious about its pedigree, nor is it an exemplar of Chinese workmanship (sadly an oxymoron these days). but I still love it, that’s what silly sentimentalism is all about, right?

Started off as an old roadie I scored off eBay for $10, the frame is rather small even for my Lilliputian stature, making it a perfect conversion to an upright commuter, as the stand-over height is lower.

The paint job is nothing to write home about, I simply stripped the top coat and a few minor rust spots off with a hand sander, skipping random hard-to-get spots & whenever I got bored of sanding. First a spray of undercoat white, then topped off with glossy black. Of course it doesn’t compare with sandblasting & a proper paint job, but it doesn’t seem to chip easily and much easier to recoat if it does.

The components came off a few different bikes, the only new part being the bottom bracket, as you basically don’t have to worry about sealed bottom brackets once there are mounted. The great thing about bicycles is its serviceability. Even a mechanical retard like myself could get most parts onto a bike without too many expletives simply by looking at how it is mounted on existing bikes. Along with internet guides like Sheldon Brown & Parktools, most tuning can be performed at home if you have the right tools (easily the most expensive part of putting together a bike from old bits & pieces).

Being my main utility bike, its cargo capacity is of great concern, I have experimented with many configurations, and finally settled with the current setup. I dislike most modern panniers simply because of their deliberate “outdoor” appearance – though admitted there are some nice canvas & leather ones to be had albeit at a considerable price. I also wanted something that’s permanently attached to the bike so I don’t have to lug it around. The two baskets can handle most things I carry around on a daily basis, but in the rare occasions when more space is needed, I adapted one of those pensioner’s trolley bags by removing the wheels & clamping it to the rear rack.

And the pièce de résistance, “subtle” communist propaganda reading “East wind crushes West wind” as a head-badge. Politically incorrect in so many ways but nevertheless an attractive design radiating that conviction so common in socialist contrsuctivist art.

It still lacks the traditional full chain guard for that classic look, but they are hard to come by. Perhaps it is just petty attachment to classical aesthetics, but I can’t see why utility bikes such as these are no longer readily available in Australia. The decline of the bicycle as a mode of transportation here is certainly a factor, but there still are bikes called “commuters” or “hybrids” which seem to be the closest thing most bike shops would actually stock that fills this niche market - though these usually do not come with mudguards, racks or lights as standard, and since they are such “specialised” units, the final price bracket is closer to the low-end racing bikes than the K-mart specials. It is hard to imagine these would cost more to produce & import than the cheap mountain bikes which dominate the mass market, and are infinitely more suitable for urban riding, especailly as commuters.