well, sad story; it now looks like this:

it had been on the way out for quite a while, but i had been putting off and putting off the day i would retire it. that bike has seen nearly four years of couriering; i had grown more than a touch sentimental about it. but after it broke down yesterday, i realized that it was finally time to euthanise it. anything else would just be cruel.

so yesterday afternoon, after getting off work, i went crawling around the various places one can buy used bikes in this city and came across this beat up old bianchi.

she was in barely rideable condition, but i was able to see through the smeared lipstick and tattered dress to the beautiful, unmarked, double-brazed and butted 23 inch frame beneath. i forked over the $50 and took her home.

when i finally got those heavy wheels, tacky decals and terrible components off of her and cleaned her up, she was as lovely as i had imagined:

and, with a manicure and some new clothes (including a couple of pieces that used to belong to the old bike (shhh... don't tell)):

i am in love.