The Single Speed Shopper of Death™ and other shopping bike tales

tallsam pics please.

Here you go:

I picked it up for my lady friend, who wanted a bike for weekend rides and shopping runs. (Well, it is a shopper!) It had been sitting in someone's garden for a few years and had completely perished tyres when I got it.

The wheels were in a bad way, so I applied some Kurust, cleaned and regreased the hub bearings, and stuck new tubes and tyres on. I ran a wire brush over all the chrome, which brought it up pretty well. I also rubbed down and Kurust-ed the caliper brakes and replaced the brake cables, and gave it a new BMX chain. The saddle looks knackered but is actually very comfortable, and the bicycle is really nice to ride.

Although I entertained grand plans for rebuilding it, it has to live outside (there's no more space*, and it's too damn heavy to carry up the stairs anyway), so the stealth appearance is a definite advantage. I might do something better with it in the future.

• Leeww's fancy designer kitchen looks bigger than my entire flat!