nothing like a new ride

It finally came!!!

Man oh man, the anticipation has been building for a long time. But once I raised my first $1000 I could go down to Providence Bicycles to get fitted, and then I could start the Bike & Build office/Zane's Cycles phone and email tree, and finally I could officially place my order....and wait.

Other Bike & Builders said it would take two weeks, but mine came in a week and a half, delivered Wednesday afternoon by a very cheerful UPS man. Or maybe it was just my excitement that rubbed off on him and made him seem cheerful. Anyway, I was pretty psyched.

But it was already 4:00 and I wanted to get out for a training ride before it got dark so I hopped on the old clunker and put in another 35 miles to Bristol and back. It was a good ride, but a little chilly and the East Bay Bike Path Microclimate decided to be mean and give me a headwind for about 25 of those 35 miles. By the time I got home a little after 7 I was exhausted, due to my lack of sleep the previous night, the vicious headwind, and the general ridiculousness of riding 35 miles on a 10+ year old mountain bike that doesn't work in half the gears. So I laid down to take a little nap...and woke up Thursday morning at 8am. Guess I needed the sleep...

Thursday's project: put together my new bike!


I was a little daunted at the idea of it, but it turned out to be very easy. I just had to attach the saddle, handlebar, pedals and front wheel, and I was good to go!


...and it's now Friday evening, and I still haven't ridden the damn thing. That's right, I've got a shiny new bike calling my name every time I walk in the house, and the tires have yet to hit the pavement. You know why? FUNDRAISING! I've been running around like a crazy person for the last day and a half doing FUNDRAISING! So, if you haven't donated yet, pleeease go do it now (click on the link in the top right corner of the page) so I can spend more time riding and less time asking people for money!

It just seemed wrong that the inaugural ride on my first brand-new bicycle since the early 1990's should be a two-block hop to the library, or an unromantic trip to the grocery store. Not to worry, though, there are plans for a nice long ride on Sunday. (Cross your fingers for decent weather.)

By the way, certain people have expressed concern at the pinkness of my bike, its so-called "girly" nature. Now, I would first like to rebut with the motto of my wonderful roommate Paran, who has often wisely reminded us, "pink is punk."

If that doesn't convince you, then all I have to say is, who cares if you think my bike is girly! I could swathe myself in pink tulle and lace and glue a rhinestone tiara to my helmet and I'd still be way more hardcore than certain color/gender discriminating naysayers, because I'm going to ride this thing across the entire freaking continent.

Still, if I wasn't so secure in my hardcoreness and nonconfined gender identity then I would be slightly offended that when you order the bike with the women's seat, the manufacturer throws in some pink flower designs for good measure. But instead, I relish the irony of the situation, and I'm seriously considering buying some pink tires to complete the look.

Suggestions and pink bicycle accessories are welcome.