Side Effects

I knew that a last minute rash decision to get out to the States to join Kelv & Bert was going to involve some wallet bashing - what I hadn't realised that it was just the start. Ever since I left them in the Grand Teton National Park, I've been agonising over whether to buy a bike, or if it was just a "phase" that would gradually drift away. I figured that I could just buy a cheap bike and "see how it goes", but then if I didn't get on with it how would I know how much of it was down to cycling, and how much to the bike... All day today I've been trying to justify the vast expense of a tricross, and all the associated gubbins that I, as a non cyclist, would have to buy just to get going - helmet, toolkits, pumps, spare tubes, lights, water bottles, racks, panniers, oils, locks, gloves, glasses, unflattering lycra outfits.

At 16:30 I nipped out of the office early to go and try a Tricross at a local Specialized dealer, who had built one up in my size. One lap around the local park totally sold it - I knew I couldn't go home with out it; negotiations began, loads of cool gear was piled up on the counter, and I finally got away at about 1900 an hour after the shop should have shut.

Unfortunately I couldn't take it for a proper run tonight, as I had guests coming over, but it will get it's first proper outing tomorrow, and I can't wait. Katie already calls it "the bitch", as she says I've been giving it more attention than her this evening - surely competition is healthy??


"The Bitch" looking for attention
A table full of "necessary" extras - I'm sure they totally saw me coming, but I'm chuffed to bits with all of it, and can't wait to be out there on a ride with you all!

Hopefully next time we all meet up I can do better than the 12 miles I managed in the peak district (on the flat) before putting it into the back of the car, and driving back from the pub!