Just Put a Deposit on a New Bike

[Python]

I only went to the cycle shop to get another pair of shorts

Anyway, had a look at the WSD bikes and liked two - a Trek and a Specialised Dolce Elite. Both were last year's colours so were reduced in price. The Trek was £500 ($1000) and the Specialised was originally £1000 reduced to £799 and the guy reduced it further to £660 ($1321). What got to me most was compared to my Raleigh (which I thought was fairly lightweight), the new bike is soooo light I couldn't really believe how light a bike can be. A shopping bag weighs more!

Being a bit hard up for cash at the moment I told the chap I would have to save up for it (or sell my car) and I didn't want credit. He told me they do a scheme there where you put down a deposit of whatever you want and just pay the bike off. No set payments just whatever you can afford. They keep the bike in the shop until the last payment, then you take your bike to it's new home

Now, how could I refuse an offer like that?

More about the new bike. She has 27 gears, and the gear shifts are incorporated into the brake levers - great for my small hands. She's shades of blue and blue is one of my favourite colours.

My Raleigh only has 5 gears - of which I'm just getting the hang of now. Need some of you experienced ladies to explain how to use 27 gears, which combination is best for hills etc. The thing that really gets me is I can't believe how lightweight she is. I lifted her up with one hand

I know this is a really silly question but should I be able to climb hills easier with the new bike?

I've now got to explain to hubby why I went to buy shorts and bought a bike instead... He'll shake his head and smile indulgently (he's a gem really )

Here's pic of my new bike. Apologies for the poor quality and bad pic but was taken on my mobile phone and the bike had been put back in the rack with the rest.



Just need to think up a name for her. Any suggestions?

[missymaya]

Hills should be alot easier with the gearing you have compared to what you had before. As for the hill climbing part, there are different ways to go about it and it also depends on the hill. Here in Florida, we don't have much for hills, so changing gears while climbing is a cinch, just have to pedal hard a couple of times to get the momentum going so the chain won't jump off. But, if the hill has a steep incline, it might be best to be in the gear you want to climb in.
Congrats on the new bike!!

[roguedog]

Python, congrats on the adoption!! How long until she's "weaned"?

Woo hooo .. nothing like a new bike to make ya smile!! Sounds like a decent shop to work with ya. They going to fit ya and everything too and exchange parts as needed?

I think this is your baby? I found this so you can put on your desktop to drool over Sorry best I could find.

[Python]

That is she

I've only ever ridden step-throughs (or my mixte frame which is step through, but isn't if you know what I mean) so am going to have to get used to "getting my leg over" (in the bike sense that is).

There were some absolutely beautiful bikes in that shop. Some were £3000 and £4000. You can pay less for a car Most of the very expensive ones were mtbs, with a few top-end road/racers, mostly mens bikes.

My bike caught my eye as soon as I went in the shop, probably because I liked her colour but she had a small frame - just perfect for little me

I hope to take her home in a few weeks, or less. I've been sitting here debating in my mind whether to keep my car or sell her. My car is a Daewoo Musso TDI 4x4 (SUVs I think you call them?) The price of diesel is getting astronomical here plus our wonderful (not) government whacked up the price of road tax just recently. To road tax my car for a year now costs £440 They've got a vendetta against 4x4 drivers. What I'll probably do is sell my car, buy the bike and buy a small car to just runaround in now and again. I still need a car because my son is waiting for a kidney transplant and if my husband is out working with his car, we have a 40 mile dash to the hospital. I can probably pick up a cheap runabout car for a few hundred pounds.

I'm itching now to get my new bike and try her out

[pooks]

And if you ditch the SUV and get a small gas-economical car, you will be contributing to the saving of the world. You will be a SUPER-HERO!

I think you need a cape to match your gorgeous new bike.

[Python]

I think you need a cape to match your gorgeous new bike.

LOL. You don't see many people on bikes with capes nowadays and it was something I was thinking about, like, do you still get them. The answer to that was yes. One of our supermarkets has a not bad bike section and they had them for about £4. Cape that goes on you and over the bike...complete with Sou'wester hat Lovely!!! Think I can do without that. As I ride a motorbike from time to time too I have got waterproofs somewhere. Will have to dig them out. Decided the new bike will be for a nice sunny day and Allie the Raleigh will be my inclement weather bike. Still take her out too on a nice day. Suddenly I've got a guilt complex...can't let Allie start to feel neglected...

[surgtech1956]

Nice bike. Too bad there isn't a 'new bike' smell, like that new car smell.

[Python]

Ah, but, there's going to be the "new bike, new feel" instead I can hardly wait. I shall be dreaming about her every night now and daydreaming during the day.

Went out for a run tonight (just came back about 10 minutes ago). We went up more hills than we usually do. I couldn't help but wonder what it would be like doing the same hills with the new bike.

[MINIskirt]

Congrats on the new bike!!!

[Python]

Jen. I see you have a Specialized Dolce as well. What's your opinion of it? Likes and dislikes (if any)?