After doing 'net-related scut work yesterday morn, I readied the bike for the first longer-than-around-the-block jaunt of Spring. Roomie, who has been taking her bicycle out for at least a mile every night it hasn't been raining, rode along.
The tires were still full of air, which was good, and Bobbi and I headed down into Broad Ripple proper to go get a fresh kickstand on my bike to replace the broken one. The Bike Line did a friendly While-U-Wait install with complementary brake and shifter adjustment, and we were off to the Broad Ripple Brew Pub for a late lunch.
After lunch, we pedaled to Rusted Moon Outfitters, where Roomie got a chance to try on some of those Vibram Five Fingers shoe thingies. Sadly, her toe geometry in relation to the overall length of her foot is apparently some odd statistical outlier; the ones that fit closest were tight in the toes and slack at the heel. I scored a cool new Nalgene water bottle, though.
After a quick stop at McVan's vidjo game store on Broad Ripple Avenue, we rode back to Roseholme. The Trek rode great the whole day. I'm so glad I bought it; definitely some of the best money I've spent in the last five years.
It wasn't an epic slog, but it was a decent First Real Ride of the Season for me. (Now if it will only stay dry enough for me to do it more often.)
But did you change out the winter air for summer air? If not, you're pushing your luck...
ReplyDeleteThe broken kickstand is a subtle hint that kickstands have no place on real bikes... :p
ReplyDeleteMine's getting washed now... the rain came back.
So, is the new bike the Trek Soho you lusted after some time back? I got one and really like it. Had to have the shop order it, they kept trying to talk me into other models. Some felt big and clunky, others had the annoying slip, chunk, peddle stutter common to all "10-Speeds" as they move from sprocket to sprocket. The adapter for the air fill was a surprise, need to "slime" the tires to prevent leakage. Comfortable, quiet, handles well, I'm hooked.
ReplyDeleteFred,
ReplyDeleteKickstands may have no place on toys, but they most certainly do have a place on vehicles. ;)
Anon 12:11,
Nope. I'm still using the 7100.
Yeah, those things are made of awesome but they don't have a lot of accomodation for variant foot anatomy.
ReplyDeleteMine are tight in the heel and leave space in the toes, which is a much more minor problem...
Don't know why, but the Broadripple Bike Line and the Carmel store are like Jekyll and Hyde. They are wonderfully nice and helpful down in your neck of the woods. Up my way, not so much.
ReplyDeleteAlath
You know, they're making them out of bamboo now.
ReplyDeletehttp://bamboobikestudio.com/
No, I don't have one. Mine's an old Sears Free Spirit from 1979... It's older than some College graduates!
Ulises from CA.
I'm sorry Roberta didn't find the Fivefingers a good fit, perhaps one of the similar products from different brands fit differently? Being able to wiggle your toes is a curiously engaging freedom.
ReplyDeleteJim
Anon 4:27: The say it's bamboo -- but it is priced as if it was gold-plated. I could by a pennyfarthing for what they want -- and have more fun.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.invisibleshoe.com/ These are pretty much like going barefoot, and you can make them to fit any foot.
ReplyDelete