I want to show you my new toy.

No, not the bike. And not the drill press, which I’m itching to use. It was a gift from my wife’s aunt and I haven’t had a project to use it on yet. I’m talking about the bike stand. It’s called the BIKEHAND Cycle Pro Mechanic Bicycle Repair Stand and I got it from Amazon a couple of weeks ago. I’m happy with it so far. It’s aluminum and it folds up compactly when you’re not using it. Though the word “Pro” is in the name of it, I think a pro bike mechanic would want and need something heavier. But for what I do it’ll work out just fine.

Since I got my repair stand I was able to put my Lotus back together. I could’ve done it before, but I didn’t have the urge, but once the repair stand arrived I had to use it for something, right? The Lotus used to be auqua green. I took it apart and had all the paint removed. I live in a small town so my choices are limited. I took it over to a business that carves headstones. You know, grave markers. Apparently they use a sand blaster to spell out those sentiments, and since it can carve granite it can remove paint from a 22 year old bike just fine.

I painted it gold, with spray paint, beause I’m classy like that, put on some cross tires, re-wrapped the handlebars in red, and replaced all the cables and housings. I wanted to get new shifters but dang if they don’t cost 200 times more than the bike is worth. So I put the old shifters back on the drop bar for that vintage look. Besides the cables themselves and the pedals, all the components are original.

So what was the point of all that? I rode in a cyclocross race a couple of years ago and had a blast, and I hope to do it some more. This is the bike I’ll use. We’ll see how it goes. If I continue to like it I may upgrade to a modern cross bike that can double as my rode bike when I’m on the Katy Trail, which is crushed gravel.

Have fun riding this weekend. My wife and daughter are running in a Girls on the Run 5K. I’m working the finish line. Then we have a couple of soccer games. And then there’s the mowing. If I’m lucky I’ll get The Lotus out for a ride this afternoon.