They say it's all about the fit...But is it?

Dave and I are on our way to being fully inaugurated into the Cyclists Club! We just had our first roadside mechanical emergency! I'll save the details for another post when I can actually compare and contrast what you should and shouldn't do on the side of the road ('cause right now I only have expertise in what shouldn't be done) -but to whet your appetite to keep you coming back for more of the Cycling Newbies, I can let you know it involved a gashed tire, reading directions on how to use a CO2 cartridge, an exploding tube, frightened pedestrians, a broken tire lever and lots of "Try this." "No, Try this." "Leave me alone I know what I'm doing." "Why did you do that?" "Cause you told me to." Well I don't know how to do this, why did you listen to me??"

(We could've used this guy's help a few weeks ago!)

Anyhoo, before you get the pleasure of standing on the side of the road in the 110 degree heat (or freezing rain or gusty wind or pick your weather condition 'cause you know it won't be a pleasant, partly cloudy 72 degrees the first time it happens) trying to figure out what to do about giant holes in your tube and tire, you need to actually buy a bike - which is an endeavor and adventure in and of itself.

The bike buying journey reminded me a bit about going through the whole bureaucratic process of applying to grad school years ago (in Ancient Times Before The Internet and E-Mail) - filling out application after application, writing essays, tracking people down for recommendations, making copy after copy of all the application packets -- at times I would think, "My god, I've worked so hard to try to get into grad school I don't see how the actual program can be as hard as this." "HA HA HA HA HA HA HA," laughed the universe, "Your work has only just begun!"




Decide what kind of bike you want before you hit the bike shops - do you want a tri bike or a road bike? Tri bikes and road bikes have completely different geometry - so as you begin looking for a bike and going on test rides, stick with one or the other and have a good reason for picking the kind of bike that you want.

Example Right Reason: Pick a road bike if you think you someday might want to compete in triathlons but just aren't sure - you'd like to just get used to riding a bike first.

Example Wrong Reason: Pick a tri bike because you "like the way it looks."



Sigh. As you might have already guessed, Dave wanted to get a tri bike because of the Wrong Reason.

Go out to the bike stores (we've already established that while they can be intimidating you will survive) and ride lots of bikes to find one the one that "fits" you best. Bike Shop Guys (BSGs - includes both men and women) will help fit you and help determine what size frame works best for you.

Do NOT buy a bike because of the color.

Sigh. You know what's coming. Dave called me up at work one afternoon. Yup, he was at the bike shop and yup, after several days, multiple test rides, and lots of conversations with BSGs, he found The Bike. "Well," I say, "What kind is it? Is it the Trek? You found a 52 cm? You know that's what you need."

"Ummmmm......It's red, white and blue."

"Okaaaaaaaay - but what kind is it?"

"Ummmmm....Its red, white and blue."

"Aaaaah....honey............"

"I like it. I'm getting a good deal. I'm gonna get it. Let me check on the rest of that stuff."

To be fair, Dave reaaaaally loves the red, white and blue combination. Dave likes George Hincapie as a rider and this year George was the U.S. Professional road race champion so he was decked out in Red, White, and Blue splendor at the Tour de France -- which I think made Dave admire George even more. While watching the Tour, on one occasion he saw George tuck his gels in the bottom of his shorts rather than in his jersey pockets - so what does Dave do now? He does what George does! (The first time he did this he forgot where he put them and got all upset as he swore that they fell out of his jersey - but that's another story).




Luckily, the BSG took good care of Dave and before he presented him with the red, white and blue bike, he did make sure the bike actually fit him.

I didn't have it as easy as Dave. I went to almost a million different bike shops and got information overload. None of the bikes fit me right due to my freakishly long legs and freakishly short torso - which many a BSG commented upon -- (thank you Eastern European farming ancestors)! I definitely got frustrated - ladies, it felt like I was shopping for jeans! The only thing that kept me from drowning my stress in chocolate was the looming prospect of having to put on Bike Shorts! I finally figured out what I needed after spending some time in the bike shop poring over the Trek top tube geometry (let me tell you, when I decided to buy a bike I never pictured myself doing that activity) with a very helpful BSG.



Unfortunately, the bike frame size that we decided I needed was nowhere to be found in the metropolitan Phoenix area. I was going to have to order a new one and no one seemed interested in cutting any deals.

I can always count on Dave to come through in a pinch (he once found us a hotel room in San Diego when the entire city was sold out because of the half marathon and a bunch of other events - we paid 200 bucks for a room at the Motel 6 but at least we weren't sleeping on the beach the night before I was supposed to run the half) and he came through yet again.

"I found your bike!" he told me. I confirmed it was the the size I needed. "And," he said, "I'm getting you a heckuva deal!"

FINALLY! I found the perfect bike at a great price. I was relieved and grateful and happy - I was going to have a bike. Of course, I said none of the things when I heard the news. I didn't express my relief, my gratefulness, my happiness. What were the first words that popped out of my mouth? Not "thank you"........ Not "when can I pick it up"........ Not "My dream is coming true"........ After all the research and searching and work, the first thing I asked Dave, the first thing that popped out of my mouth was.....

"What color is it?"

Note: Next post coming September 28th.....stay tuned!