New bike!

[Ann G]

I am a recumbent rider because my back hurts after a few miles on an upright bike. My previous bike (Bacchetta Giro 20) had fat tires with rather low pressure (60 lbs. psi), and I'd been thinking about switching to narrower tires with higher pressure to see if I could improve performance. RAGBRAI went through the town where I bought the bike, so I stopped by the shop. About 80% of me was thinking about tires, but I'd have to admit that about 20% of me was thinking bike. The bike shop had a brand new Bacchetta Strada in ferrari red. Very sweet. So I went for a short test ride, traded in the Giro on the spot, and finished RAGBRAI on the Strada. I had a few compliments along the way, mostly from other recumbent riders, but even from a few upright riders. I've never tried posting pictures on a message board, but I can try doing it if anyone is interested.

[Mr. Bloom]

Yes to pictures - It's a tradition!

I think that's cool how you traded it on a major ride...that would have made me nervous!

[Andrea]

I'd love to see it!

[Ann G]

I'll see what I can do about pictures. By the way, about being nervous, there is a long hill down to the Des Moines River valley a few miles outside of Ogden, where I'd traded bikes, and then an equally long climb to get out of the valley. When I was about at the bottom of that hill, I found myself alongside another Strada rider, and we got into a conversation. He said, "What, you mean you just did that hill a few minutes after buying the bike without much experience at handling it? That would have scared the poop out of me." Actually, I hadn't given it a thought until afterward. I was glad to find the rider, though, because I discovered that my front derailleur wouldn't shift into granny, I was going to need it to climb out of that hill. I'd left my tool kit in my duffle bag (good place for it), but he brought his along, so I was able to climb that hill and not walk my new bike up the hill.