I am sorry to report that my faithful steed, Champ, won't be hitting the road any time soon. The cost to replace the worn out/broken parts (front and rear derailleurs, one shifter, bottom bracket, etc.) would have been about 75% of his original cost. I decided to put the money toward a new commuter bike. When I put Champ down in the basement, my son could tell I was saddened and asked if I needed a hug.
See you Champ, you served me well.
My new bike is a 2007 Bianchi Volpe. It is a Cyclocross bike, meaning it is sturdy and very versatile. I like to call it the Land Wolf. What's that you say, Wolves only live on the land? Well, then, you are forgetting the television series, co-starring Ernest Borgnine, about the super cool disguised military helicopter "Air Wolf" flown by Stringfellow Hawke. Indeed, the bike is not named after the animal but, instead, the helicopter (if it was on the land rather than the air).
