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Free is a good price for a bike. So, as you may imagine, I've got a Surly or two in the basement... and the garage... and the living room. There are, however a couple of other bikes in my herd that are not Surlys - and that's ok. Recently I stumbled upon a 1969 (the year of my birth) Schwinn Suburban with a Sturmey Archer 3-speed hub, a Union generator light set (of course it still works - was there any question), and a Pletcher rear rack (you know, the one with the snappy spring deal - perfect for holding a spicy Gyro in it's enviromentally hostile styrofoam box). I got it for the reasonable price of no dollars. That, plus $10 in 27 x 1 1/4 tires, and I'm good to rock. After a few hours in the basement with a Scotchbrite pad and some metal polish (and a wicked buzz from said fumes) she looks brand spankin' new. And I finally have a bike worthy of my Wald "30 pack" front basket (tip 'o the hat to Stroh's for inventing the 30.) This past weekend I took my new Brown Clown on a few excursions - to the Rainbow for groceries, to BRose's place for meat cooked over fire, and around Lake Calhoun for... well... riding around Lake Calhoun. The moral, if there is one, is to not discount a bike because it's old and heavy and even a little rusty. In that heap, with a little love and some elbow grease, there might be hiding a new friend. Free bikes rock. -----