Helped my "niece" purchase her first road bike today!

I had a wonderful shopping trip today with my "niece"- the daughter of a long-time friend who considers my kids her cousins and me as an aunt. She is a college student who joined her school triathlon club and did not have a road bike. Her budget allowed for a decent aluminum bike with 105 components.

We planned to visit 4 shops (there are actually 7 shops within 4 miles of my house!) but did not get too far. We did not see anything suitable at Performance (the closest) and quickly headed out to the LBS that is supporting my "team". It is a smaller shop that only sells road bikes with 105 components or better. He had a Felt Z85 and a Bianchi Impulso, both 2012, that he was willing to discount because they were 2012 models. We never got the other two LBS's (including the shop that sold me my current bike) - she tried and like them both.

I brought my bike and went with her on test rides around the park next to the shop- it was a difficult choice but she succumbed to the Italian romance of the Bianchi. I didn't think to get a pic, but here's a link: http://www.bianchiusa.com/bikes/road...o/impulso-105/

I don't know which one of us enjoyed the trip more!

Beautiful bike! Helping someone else bike shop is almost as much fun as shopping for yourself. I'm currently helping a friend shop for a MTB. Tomorrow we're test riding a couple bikes....well, she's test riding, I'm coming as company :-)

That is a gorgeous looking bike! I'll bet bike shopping for some one else can still be tempting! Even when you don't really need anything new!

Gorgeous bike and cool story to read. My niece is still a little young (9), but she's really athletic, and although not really into bikes, you never know.

That's beautiful! I'm so excited for any new rider. My BFF's kids are like nieces and nephews to me, too. If they ever wanted to get into cycling I know she'd have them come talk to aunty Kirsten and uncle Derek. :D

Thank you for sharing this wonderful story, it was a very good thing you did for her :) There are a few kids in my parish who feel like family to me, and I would love to take any of them bike shopping someday :)

It was really great to be able to share this with her. Her mom told me over and over how much it meant to her and how she never could have figured out which bike to get.

AZFiddle - you rock! Isn't it great to share our sport? Now you can show her how to ride & get into good habits.

Unfortunately, she goes to college in Phoenix so I don't know how much we will get to ride together.

Very pretty bike!

Part of why I love my job so much is that I can help share the sport, It's great. :)