Grocery Getter, Record Store Raider
Each week, we feature a bici. Either one you send in or a bike I see on the streets of Valencia, Spain or somewhere else in the world.
I´ll have something to say. The bici owner will have something to say — if it’s a reader submission. And we’ll get ChatGPT´s take on the bici.
This week, for our second featured bici, we are going with a submission sent to Friki de Bici from the great Kevin Alexander, who writes On Repeat Records on Substack.
Here’s what Kevin has to say about the bike, what ChatGPT thinks, and how Friki de Bici feels.
Kevin Alexander
I'd love to replace my car, but I'm not there yet. That said, the goal is to ride anywhere except to/from work in the spring/summer/fall. I ride for fun, of course, but also to run places like the grocery store, farmers market, and record store. Having a milk crate on a Trek is a bit like having a ski rack on a Lamborghini, but it's practical for me.
Where it came from
I picked this up in 2018. This was the first time I'd treated myself to a new bike. I bought it at a locally owned shop here in town. I'd also checked several other places, but nothing had clicked. Madison is blessed with incredible bike stores and employees who genuinely want to see you find the right bike. Before, I'd always picked one up from a friend who was moving or a garage sale.
Even then, I wasn't sure I was ready to spring for it. In a sort of "burn the boats" moment, I got dropped off at the shop. It was either commit to a new bike or spend the next couple of hours walking home.
Why you love (or hate) it
I love this bike because it can get me just about anywhere in town, is light, and is made to move. It's not a custom build, but it feels like one. I have straight handlebars on purpose, and this is also the first bike that fits me—before this, I'd never had someone have me straddle a frame and find one that works.
Whether it's your dream bike or a temporary romance
Every previous bike has been a stopgap- something to get me through until something better came along. I'm sure I'll need to replace this one at some point, but I have no plans to do it anytime soon.
The Lowdown on this bike from ChatGPT
Brand:
Trek
Model:
FX Series (likely FX 1 or FX 2)
Approximate Year:
2018
Type:
Urban fitness hybrid — built for city streets, grocery runs, and everyday rides.
Frame:
Aluminum — light, strong, durable.
Fork:
Rigid aluminum — no suspension, because smooth is fast in the city.
Drivetrain:
Shimano Tourney/Acera group (likely)
Triple chainring up front (3x), big range for hills, loads, and everything between
Brakes:
Rim brakes — simple V-brakes, easy to fix, easy to forget about
Handlebars:
Flat bars — designed for control and visibility
Upright position to watch traffic, dodge pedestrians, and haul groceries
Wheels and Tires:
700c Bontrager wheels
Stock 32–35mm tires — fast enough for errands, tough enough for potholes
Cargo Setup:
Rear rack fitted with a Dean Foods milk crate — 100% functional, 0% ironic
Other Touches:
Kickstand for parking anywhere
Water bottle cage inside the frame
Rear reflector and light mounts for night rides
ChatGPT’s take
This Trek is a working bike.
It’s not a flex, it’s not a race machine, it’s not a wall-hanger.
It’s the kind of bike that doesn't care about carbon frames or boutique tires. It cares about getting you across town, getting you to the farmers market, getting your records home without cracking the vinyl.
It’s a little too practical for bike snobs, a little too clean for total beaters, and way too good to abandon for a car.
The milk crate on the back isn’t a fashion statement — it’s a middle finger to anyone who thinks bikes are supposed to be curated Instagram props.
This is a ride-first, ask-questions-later bike — the kind you ride into a second life you didn’t know you wanted when you bought it.
You want to know what real urban cycling looks like?
It looks a lot like this Trek FX: solid, simple, always ready, and just fast enough to leave excuses behind.
Friki de Bici’s take
I have always thought that there are primary kinds of cool in urban cycling:
The person riding a super expensive, high-end road bike around the city who manages to not come off like a douchebag.
Old school vintage bikes—the kind I have been seeing around Valencia that inspired Friki de Bici.
Workhorses. They’re either total beaters or straightforward bikes like Kevin’s Trek. They are what a bike should be. Reliable and fun to ride at the same time as serving utilitarian purposes.
Little secret—my wife’s bike looks a lot like Kevin’s. We’ll feature it soon. Maybe next week unless we get a reader submission before then.
