Tomorrow is DGF's b-day, and it's impossible to hide anything in this house, so I had to go out *today* to pick everything up. I hop on my bike w/ backpack and waterbottle, noting that I'm pretty sure my butt's going to dimple before that Brooks saddle ever does but perservere. I make it to the store, pick out a rather expensive '02 champagne and oj (mimosas!) and a dozen roses. Because I left in a flurry, I really hadn't thought about how I was going to get them home, but the wine and juice fit well in the bag, the roses' stems fit in fine, but the flowers themselves protruded 2-3" from the top. It looked pretty, though, and was secure, so I took off. Lots of comments on a bicyclist with roses sticking out the back of her bag!
Had a gent on a green Bianchi coast up behind me and say "Nice flowers!" before I saw him. I said "Wow! Nice bike!" (it WAS pretty nice...) he smiled and coasted on w/o any effort. (hills!) Got home, put more dressing on the saddle and arnica on my bum (any hints on arnica on sitbones) and put everything away. Long story short, 7 miles, all hills, with 4 of them being gravel.