Specialized: My New Toy

Three weeks ago I completed a 35 mile charity bike ride.

It was rough and not the thing I typically spend my Saturdays doing. Nick's dad suggested it as a family event and how do I say no to that? When he first emailed about the ride I saw that there were three distance options: 14, 35, or 52. I was really hoping for the 14. Nick and his sister commented enthusiastically that they wanted the 35 and Nick's dad quickly concurred and signed us up.

We started at 9:00am. It was a hot, windy day. The first 22ish miles were not so bad. The last five were awful. I got off and walked steep inclines twice. My bike was a top of the line road bike from 1975. It is Nick's uncle's old bike and much too big for me. It was free and had always done the job. Up until then, the job was never 35 miles in 90 degree heat.

I finished and that is the most important thing. It was not a race. There was no real finish line, which made for a severely anti-climactic finish. We just sort of slowed down and got off our bikes. I stumbled to the closest tree and stretched out onto my back. I would have stayed there all day if Nick had not suggested going home to have a beer on the deck.

We were not even done with the race before Nick started suggesting that I get a new bike. My initial thought was that I did not want to spend the money. Miles 25-35 slowly changed my mind. My gears were so slow to shift and as Nick's dad pointed out, I had to work twice as hard as everyone to go half the speed.

Last weekend, I bought a new bike. I rode four different bikes before deciding on the same one Nick's sister bought earlier this year. It is a Vita Specialized base model from 2011. I love it. When I first sat on it, I felt like I was a kid again. It brought me back to sitting on my bike when I was ten. I forgot that feeling. I forgot how much I like riding. How fun and easy it used to feel. Before you can drive, a bike is your freedom.

I got nervous about my bike because right as I was about to make my purchase, I read this article. What if I was buying this for Nick? He is the real cyclist, well he dresses like a real one. He wears the clip-on shoes, the bright colored riding shirt, and the bike shorts. Hottie!

I do not pull off the look nearly as well.

Well it's the beginning of summer and I have an awesome bike so here's to new adventures....

My bike. Black with pink detailing.