Eddie_Boy
Wore out three sets of tires already!
A couple of months ago, I bought a bike for my wife. I was talking with Mike @fordmike65 about this bike last Fall. She was advertised on Facebook Marketplace. Being that the bike was in Cleveland, I thought no way. Three months later, this same bike shows up on DOND, and sold for a much more reasonable price compared to the Marketplace ad. I was bummed I missed it. Another three months after the DOND post, I saw the bike for sale here on the CABE. I contacted the seller and she was bought.
I wanted this to be a surprise for my wife for Mother’s Day. The bike was already in SoCal, we had planned to be in the area for our daughter’s Graduate commencement, and the Orange ride happened to be on that same weekend. Just seemed like everything would line up for the big surprise. I asked the seller if he would hold the bike for me until the Orange ride in May. No problem. Now, my concern was making sure the bike rode okay, or at least nice enough for a typical monthly Orange ride. I thought of several members/friends if they could help, then finally I asked Tony @The Hat. After explaining my plan, Tony said, “Whatever you need.” How wonderful is that? I was touched. The bike was delivered to Tony, and I asked that he just make it ridable for that day’s ride. “Don’t spend a lot of time,” I told Tony. But then Tony being Tony, he wanted to make sure she rode nicely, otherwise she won’t like it he explained. Made sense. So Tony goes through the bike, straightens the wheels, checks and lubes all the mechanical, cleans and lubes the chain, and replaces the tires and tubes with new ones. Tony wanted to give her a good cleaning, but I told him I wasn’t sure where I was going with the bike just yet, leave “as is” or thorough cleanup later, until I see her. It was difficult for Tony; I think he wanted her to be more presentable for my wife. I wanted to replace the cosmetically bad bars and stem, so I had purchased a better, conditioned the same prewar ladies Torrington bars, and added a deco Torrington stem. We then dropped off the bars to Tony’s place a couple of days before the surprise. My wife had no idea. She just thought I was delivering parts from NorCal.
So while we were getting ready for our 4 day trip south, my wife asked, “Why are we bringing only one bike? What bike am I riding?” I explained that because this is a Colson featured ride, (thanks Sparky @tripple3 for organizing) and we only have one Colson bike, I will ride our DBR, and Tony will bring a Colson bike for you to ride I told her.
I have been looking for a prewar in green for a year plus. Why green? Because green was my mother’s favorite color. We had lost my mom not long ago, so I wanted to find a green bike in her honor. There were several candidates, but either I was too slow, missed out, or others wouldn’t work.
It was the morning of the surprise. I couldn’t wait. The plan was to surprise her at the Old Town Orange Plaza circle. Tony would drop off and park it with the rest of the bikes. I had already placed a green tape with it saying “In honor of mom, Happy Mother’s Day Mi Amor” Talking up this green girl’s bike, she reads the message on the rear fender, looks at me with a startled look on her face , and I say, “Surprise, Happy Mother’s Day.” Weeks in the planning, I thought, what better way to surprise my wife with a green bike in honor of mom on Mother’s Day. It was perfect.
Why this bike? It’s green, prewar, and it’s in reverse color. Also, what looks like yellow to me (I’m color blind), but Tony corrected me with what Colson calls “straw” color. Other than the original battery tube handlebars and front Delta Hornlite, this girl’s bike has that simple look, no tank, no rack, yet elegant with the deep wide fenders and the drop stand model that I love. Nevertheless, it’s a shade of yellow and yellow is my wife’s favorite color. It’s meant to be. We finally have a green bike for mom and my wife’s first girl’s prewar bike.
My surprise message for my wife
Favorite colors of two of the most important women in my life
Looks like she's happy with her surprise
A huge thank you to Tony. After lunch at Wahoo’s in Orange, we hook up with Tony again and stopped by his place. Not only did he get the bike ready for us, but also gave us additional items for this green Colson. Tony and I are both fans of riding old tires, and I'm a fan of Carlisle tires. So he gave us rare Carlisle snake belly tires to use on this '36 bike. I’m so thankful to Tony and for all that he has done to make this happen for my wife and me. Thank you my friend. We are both grateful to you as this means a lot. Also, I can’t forget Sparky @tripple3 too, who was in on this surprise from the beginning, and for Santi @Rust_Trader for holding the bike and delivering to Tony.
A Mother’s day weekend to remember thanks to the remarkable hospitality of SoCal CABErs.
That's Tony @The Hat
I wanted this to be a surprise for my wife for Mother’s Day. The bike was already in SoCal, we had planned to be in the area for our daughter’s Graduate commencement, and the Orange ride happened to be on that same weekend. Just seemed like everything would line up for the big surprise. I asked the seller if he would hold the bike for me until the Orange ride in May. No problem. Now, my concern was making sure the bike rode okay, or at least nice enough for a typical monthly Orange ride. I thought of several members/friends if they could help, then finally I asked Tony @The Hat. After explaining my plan, Tony said, “Whatever you need.” How wonderful is that? I was touched. The bike was delivered to Tony, and I asked that he just make it ridable for that day’s ride. “Don’t spend a lot of time,” I told Tony. But then Tony being Tony, he wanted to make sure she rode nicely, otherwise she won’t like it he explained. Made sense. So Tony goes through the bike, straightens the wheels, checks and lubes all the mechanical, cleans and lubes the chain, and replaces the tires and tubes with new ones. Tony wanted to give her a good cleaning, but I told him I wasn’t sure where I was going with the bike just yet, leave “as is” or thorough cleanup later, until I see her. It was difficult for Tony; I think he wanted her to be more presentable for my wife. I wanted to replace the cosmetically bad bars and stem, so I had purchased a better, conditioned the same prewar ladies Torrington bars, and added a deco Torrington stem. We then dropped off the bars to Tony’s place a couple of days before the surprise. My wife had no idea. She just thought I was delivering parts from NorCal.
So while we were getting ready for our 4 day trip south, my wife asked, “Why are we bringing only one bike? What bike am I riding?” I explained that because this is a Colson featured ride, (thanks Sparky @tripple3 for organizing) and we only have one Colson bike, I will ride our DBR, and Tony will bring a Colson bike for you to ride I told her.
I have been looking for a prewar in green for a year plus. Why green? Because green was my mother’s favorite color. We had lost my mom not long ago, so I wanted to find a green bike in her honor. There were several candidates, but either I was too slow, missed out, or others wouldn’t work.
It was the morning of the surprise. I couldn’t wait. The plan was to surprise her at the Old Town Orange Plaza circle. Tony would drop off and park it with the rest of the bikes. I had already placed a green tape with it saying “In honor of mom, Happy Mother’s Day Mi Amor” Talking up this green girl’s bike, she reads the message on the rear fender, looks at me with a startled look on her face , and I say, “Surprise, Happy Mother’s Day.” Weeks in the planning, I thought, what better way to surprise my wife with a green bike in honor of mom on Mother’s Day. It was perfect.
Why this bike? It’s green, prewar, and it’s in reverse color. Also, what looks like yellow to me (I’m color blind), but Tony corrected me with what Colson calls “straw” color. Other than the original battery tube handlebars and front Delta Hornlite, this girl’s bike has that simple look, no tank, no rack, yet elegant with the deep wide fenders and the drop stand model that I love. Nevertheless, it’s a shade of yellow and yellow is my wife’s favorite color. It’s meant to be. We finally have a green bike for mom and my wife’s first girl’s prewar bike.
My surprise message for my wife
Favorite colors of two of the most important women in my life
Looks like she's happy with her surprise
A huge thank you to Tony. After lunch at Wahoo’s in Orange, we hook up with Tony again and stopped by his place. Not only did he get the bike ready for us, but also gave us additional items for this green Colson. Tony and I are both fans of riding old tires, and I'm a fan of Carlisle tires. So he gave us rare Carlisle snake belly tires to use on this '36 bike. I’m so thankful to Tony and for all that he has done to make this happen for my wife and me. Thank you my friend. We are both grateful to you as this means a lot. Also, I can’t forget Sparky @tripple3 too, who was in on this surprise from the beginning, and for Santi @Rust_Trader for holding the bike and delivering to Tony.
A Mother’s day weekend to remember thanks to the remarkable hospitality of SoCal CABErs.
That's Tony @The Hat
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