January 21, 2009

There's really no such thing as a free lunch, or in this case, a free bike fit. At my bike fit yesterday, I confirmed what I have long suspected, my current bike is too big. And not in a fixable way, the top tube is too long, so my handle bars are too far away. I compensate by riding 2" in front of my hoods (where my fingers can't reach the brake quickly) or by riding in my hoods but having my back out of position. I've been talking about a new bike since last summer, but never seriously looked. So, now I'm beginning the search more seriously.

The two bikes I'm looking at right now are a Trek Madone 4.5 and a Specialized Ruby Elite, both of which have put a lot of research into women specific designs. I think that WSD was just starting the 10-12 years ago that I bought my current bike. And the good news is, bikes are a bit like computers apparently, as the technology progresses you get more for the same price. So for the same price that I got my aluminum Cannondale, I can now upgrade to carbon fiber. I just want to make sure that I nail the fit this time, and get the best gearing for the riding I do.

So today, after I took Ariel to school and did a quick grocery store run (at a different grocery store, how I hate that! They never have exactly the same brand/size/whatever!) I went to U Bikes with my bike gear and pedels and tried out a bunch of bikes (and as another aside, U Bikes is very trusting, they let me take the bikes out for 15 minutes without any collateral or ID. I asked if they needed anything, and he just asked if I was planning on stealing the bike). I rode the two above, and then for fun rode the Madone 4.7 which is a $1000 more for full Ultegra. And sure, it's nicer, but $1000 nicer? That's hard to quantify. Unless you throw in the new snowboard I've also been trying to get this year. So I left without buying anything. Tonight I need to go over with Jeremy all the gearing to see how that's changing from what I currently have (though all the bikes, including the compact double could do the 4th street hill that I used as my testing spot). I am still looking at the triple chain ring, but I don't think I'll have that massive granny gear that I currently do. So yeah, I might have a new bike soon, like a birthday present or something.

And back to Ariel, Ellen brought her home again today, which is very nice. I was passed out on the couch. I seem to have catch mom's cold and am not sleeping well this week. Ellen wanted me to blog that she gave Ariel a granola bar, which Ariel called an Orge Bar. I can kinda see that. Anyway, Ariel went down for a nap pretty soon after she got home and I didn't hear from her again until her pick up.