OK, so technically, I haven’t done this change, but I am trying to do it. Here’s the deal: I’ve been riding my bike through winter as much as possible, and thanks to global warming it hasn’t been so bad. In fact, there’s been more rain and sleet than there has snow. However, what sucks about this is that while Quentin has a basket on his rear end to protect my behind from getting slushy, Deni’s got nothing. He needs a fender or some mudguards, stat.
I’ve been putting off buying any, though, mostly because I think they look kind of ugly, but also because a lot of them are plastic, which would mean going against my pledge. But then, as I was coming home the other night, I saw this bike locked outside my building with a funny improvised fender — it was basically one of those 1.5L plastic bottles of Evian, sliced vertically in half and fastened to the frame with an elastic.
Genius!
So, this is what I’m trying to do. I don’t have any plastic water bottles, of course, but I rummaged through my recycling bin and found some other things I could use. I tried to cut an old plastic bottle of Cab-Sauv ’cause I thought that could be kind of wino-chic, but it was too tough. Nothing glass will do and my leftover vinegar bottle was too lopsided.
I was thinking of going a little rectangular and using one of my old Tetra Paks of soy milk, but part of me is also scared to slice any of them open, lest any stale soy odours come flying out — I really don’t need more dry heaving right now, thanks. So I might have to wait until another plastic container of something runs out.
My other problem is that I can’t see where I should attach this contraption — how does it not interfere with the back brake cables? I’d have to hook it up to the seat post or something, but that’s really high up.
Ideas? Suggestions? Help?
Posted by gettinggreen
