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In the late 90's I bought my then wife a Trek "cruiser" style bicycle, with a 4 speed sealed rear hub. It was seldom used and spent most of its life outdoors on its side, becoming filthy and gradually rusting. The death knell was when her father dropped a wheelbarrow on top of it. One of the last times I was over at her house to drop off the kids, I saw part of it peeking out from under her back deck. I asked if I could have it, and went around collecting the parts that had been disassembled from the last time they moved. I put the bike back together, soaked it with TriFlow, and surprisingly enough it actually kind of worked. My current wife never had a new bike in her entire life and hadn't ridden in years, but was anxious to join me. She and I rode the local greenways a few times but the bike was in rough mechanical shape and she was almost embarrassed by how it looked.
She and her mother went away for a few days on a trip, so I decided to surprise her.
I had the wheels professionally straightened at a new local bike shop called "Ride 615". I also had the repairman find me a slightly smaller crank gear, because even with 4 speeds the lowest was not a good hill gear. The chain was a rusty mess, so I got a new one and had it sized for the new gears. I got a new seat and grips from the local big box store along with a few cans of primer, true blue, and bright white (satin) spray paint. I even found vinyl decals on ebay.
After a LOT of elbow grease (and more TriFlow lubricant) I now present the UK Trek cruiser. For less than the price of the cheapest discount bike, my wife has a one of a kind top quality bicycle that will appeal to her University of Kentucky fandom. (Talleyrand, eat your heart out!!!)
I have it sitting in the middle of the house where she will discover it when she comes home tomorrow.

I thought UK was United Kingdom and expected to see the Union Jack - live and learn!

Bike looks nice Marty - little elbow grease and some imagination go a long ways. More people should do this.

the elephant wrote:But one question: What is an "uk"? Sounds like some sort of gerbil to me...

I used to pronounce it "yuck".
Used to...

On a related topic, what is a ute?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNZ1O2KTOOg

the elephant wrote:GREAT JOB, Marty! I hope you are showered with the adulation you deserve for your thoughtfulness. And it is nice to see you with someone who cares so much for you. Congratulations again. What a wonderful life change!

But one question: What is an "uk"? Sounds like some sort of gerbil to me...

Among many other things one might say for which it is better known, and of which I have more personal experience, it is my understanding that it was the first university with a full-time tuba/euphonium professor (Rex Conner). FWIW.

[quote="MartyNeilan" I also had the repairman find me a slightly smaller crank gear, because even with 4 speeds the lowest was not a good hill gear.[/quote]

With a double or triple chainwheel on the front, you could make it an 8 speed, or 12 speed. I guess it would need a chain-tensioning arm, but maybe you can get that off an old derailleur gear mechanism ? If you have a local bike-recycling organisation, they can probably sell you some economical used parts.

That's a mighty thoughtful gesture, sir. Hope the bike rides as nice as it looks.

Kudos

Super nice job Marty! I had fun helping my dad once take a garage-sale bike and tearing it apart, bead blasting it and repainting for a niece. Great job!