Pic 1 is the day I got the bike from the used shop near me, a Lemond Croix de Fer with SRAM mechanical shifters.
In the time since, I've fallen in love with not just biking but repairing/tuning (thank you Park Tool youtube!!)
Pic 2: well first, I needed a better seat that fit me more comfortably, and then I upgraded the tires to the more durable and faster Conti GP5k AS TR.
I also noticed my feet would slip off the plastic pedals and they'd bend when I applied any decent amount of force, so I upgraded the pedals to the metal Shimano flat/clipless–what a difference that made!
Pic 3: The final 2 installments were 1. Kool Stop brake pads, which have been nothing short of amazing compared to the chattery ones that came with the bike; and 2. New handlebar tape which is soft and tacky unlike the cheap foam/cork I had before. It was very fun learning how to wrap the handlebar.
All in all, it's been an awesome journey, learning so much and applying that knowledge to my maintenance routine. I love riding to and from work and flying by traffic I used to sit in. I can confidently say I'm here for the long haul–please drop any advice you have on winter commutes as I'll definitely need it!
Note: I do have fenders I just only put them on when needed!!
by uninformed_citizen