I just spent more money...(new bike!)

[Owlie]

...than I ever have in my life, and strangely don't feel too bad about it. :D

Anyway, I am now the proud owner of a shiny new teal Avail 3. I called the bike shop this morning, and they had it put together for me when I got there after work. I'm quite happy with the service I got.
It's sitting in my living room right now, and I keep finding myself looking at it. (It is rather pretty.)
The boyfriend wants to fiddle with it--taking off the wheel reflectors and replacing the pedals with flat ones (the bike came with toe cages). I'll let him replace the pedals. He's being silly with the reflectors.

No more POS bike for me! I'll take it out on a ride Friday.

[ny biker]

Enjoy!!

[Zen]

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb14/zencentury/GiantAvail-3-Teal_Alum_White.jpg

That is pretty! Good for you, Owlie!

[TxDoc]

Congrats!!!
Enjoy your new ride and show us some pictures!

ps: I agree with your boyfriend - reflectors are just useless extra weight on your bike, kind of the same as the dork disc... ;)

[TxDoc]

Wow - Zen you just read my mind, I was asking for pictures :D

[Zen]

Yeah, I knew you would ;)
we always do, don't we?

[Owlie]

Yep, just like that, only with black bar tape and seat. I guess someone somewhere figured out that those are both bad ideas when it comes to looking clean. :D I'll post a proper picture when my camera and computer start talking to each other again.

TxDoc--It turns out that he can't actually get them off, so the Badges of Noobitude (as he calls them) will remain, at least for the moment. I really don't care so much about the excess weight at this point. I'm going to be putting more things on it anyway!

[sgtiger]

Congrats, Owlie! I hope you have many wonderful miles together.

[tctrek]

Beautiful!! Enjoy your new bike and many happy miles!!

[spindizzy]

Pretty nice bike! congrats

[Cataboo]

What does it say about your bf's mechanical aptitude if he can't get the badges of noobietude off?

The bike looks beautiful.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Congratulations!!!! It's so exciting to have a wonderful nice new bike!

[Aquila]

I like my badges of noobitude. If someone fast passes me, well, it's because I'm a rank beginner. And on the rare occasion when I pass someone, it's all the more sweet because I'm a rank beginner. :)

Your new bike is a BEAUTY! I hope you enjoy many miles of happiness together.

[Tri Girl]

Woo hoo- no more danger bike for Owlie! :)
Congrats on your new bike. It is BEAUTIFUL!!!:D


badges of noobitude... that made me laugh.:p

[TrekTheKaty]

GORGEOUS! (Close my eyes--I will not buy a new bike this year, I will not buy a new bike this year!)

We want more pics!

Noobitude is good! My DH just ordered some upgrades for my bike, and I'm worried that people will start to take me seriously and think I know what I'm doing!

TXDoc: Have you met my husband? I was teased for carrying sunblock in my handlebar bag (I know, Gasp!) this weekend because it was extra weight. "Do you want some or NOT?" Of course, later in the day he wanted a clif bar and jelly beans and he had to come to me to get it--I'm the pack horse, that's why I'm so slow :cool:

[TrekTheKaty]

...than I ever have in my life, and strangely don't feel too bad about it. :D


Oh, yeah. Don't feel bad--it's an investment. It would have cost you more in the long run if you compromised and then ending up buying another bike. She'll last you along time :)

[Owlie]

I took it out for a ride today. I love it, even though I crashed it already (I know!) :(
I'm fine, bike is fine. Just cosmetic damage--tore up the bar tape a bit and scratched the plastic ends of the handlebars where it hit the pavement, and a bit of dirt. It's just the adjustment from DangerBike to this new one.

[Owlie]

The computer came in the mail today, so BF helped put that on for me. My camera is finally on speaking terms with my computer, so I have pictures!

(Well, it also helped that my grandmother asked for pictures...)

So, here's the bike:
1 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/96285366@N00/3702182557/in/photostream/)
2 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/96285366@N00/3702989068/in/photostream/)

[Pan Dulce]

My (fraternal) bike twin!

I love it! I'm so jealous of the teal! How is she working out? Getting more used to her vs Dangerbike? :)

[Geonz]

Hey, if they don't like your reflectors , poo on 'em. Unless you're doin that tour de france thing, it really isn't that much weight. It's a status thing. You're so cool you don't need to be cool, right?

[kenyonchris]

Congrats!!!
Enjoy your new ride and show us some pictures!

ps: I agree with your boyfriend - reflectors are just useless extra weight on your bike, kind of the same as the dork disc... ;)

That dang dork disk. I could never get the thing off my Ruby, ashamed to say it is still there. I tried and exacto knife and nearly sliced my hand off. I am gifted that way.

[BabyBlueNTulsa]

Congrats on your BEAUTIFUL new Avail! Enjoy many many happy (crash-free, hopefully!) miles together!

Good thing is.. you don't have to worry about the first little scratch anymore! :) Pre-tested and road-approved! hee hee.. <thumbs up!>

Your pics are great...don't you just LOVE it??? :) :) :)

[OakLeaf]

Beautiful bike! Enjoy! :):)

[andtckrtoo]

Very pretty bike!! Enjoy her!

As for the reflectors - my VP of Support can go out and ride 100 miles without thinking about it. He and his wife are on a tandem tour of the Civil War battlefields in PA/VA and MD and are averaging 70+ miles a day - and having the time of their lives. He can also kick most people's butts on a climb. He says the more reflectors and lights and visibility the better. As he's the real deal, I'll take his word. :P

[Owlie]

I personally don't care about the reflectors. The boyfriend's a "Must.cut.all.unnecessary.weight" type. I just roll my eyes and tell him that if he wants to take them off, he can when he gets around to it; he never will. :D

[Tri Girl]

LOVE the color of the bike. The teal is gorgeous with the white.
Congrats on your new ride. You're going to love it so much!!!:D