N+1 is burning a hole in my pocket!

[zoom-zoom]

So, what bike are you getting?

Most likely this one (or maybe 1 level down. Would I notice the difference between 9 speeds and 10?):
Cannondale Trail SL 2


The plan would be for me to ride it for a couple of years, then my DS would take over and I'd likely look at a 29er, assuming Cdale will offer them in smaller sizes in a couple of years.

[goldfinch]

You could now say that because the family can't go we will have a party/family gathering for you when you return. If you want to have a party.

I just test rode a Specialized Myka and a Jett. Jett was pricier but lighter. Nice bikes. It was fun trying them out by going up and over curbs, finding potholes, and parking barriers to cross. The smallest Cannondale was too big. (The bike shop where I tried the Cannondale said that it was the smallest mountain bike out there. I said no it wasn't, the Specialized ones were smaller and I couldn't even clear the top tube on the Cannondale. They didn't want to believe me. Pooh on salesman.)

[malkin]

Don't go anywhere or do anything out of guilt!

[Wahine]

It sounds like this problem has already been solved. But I'm with the others, screw the wedding. Guilt and obligation are never good reasons to do something.

Have fun with the new bike.

[zoom-zoom]

It sounds like this problem has already been solved. But I'm with the others, screw the wedding. Guilt and obligation are never good reasons to do something.

Exactly. And I don't think my sister has ever done anything for anyone else out of obligation...so, really, why should I?

[zoom-zoom]

Does it have to be a Cannondale?

Sorta-kinda. We are VERY close to the guy who owns our LBS of choice--he's like family. Because we are JDRF team riders (LBS guy is one of the national JDRF ride team coaches, as well as our local coach) we also get a 20% discount on Cannondale frames, so there's 2 very major pieces of incentive to stick with Cannondale. I could pick up a Salsa 29er, too, but no discount...and they are relatively $$.

[zoom-zoom]

Still needs to fit.

Which is why I'll stick with a 26er for a while longer. That's probably the best option until I get more comfortable riding twisty single-track, anyhow. 29ers take a bit more skill to maneuver around tight turns. As a noob I'm probably better off not jumping into more bike than my skills can handle.

I talked to my sister and told her that we just don't see any feasible way to afford $1000 for a trip that doesn't include my DH and DS. I pointed out that my car is making noises that I've been ignoring, in hopes that it's nothing (I suspect it's a loose shield underneath, but this car has been a money-pit for the past 25k miles, so I'm not holding my breath that it's anything so minor). Heck, if the car ends up needing major work then the bike is out of the question anyhow.

MTA: I should add that I could not get a read from her reaction, at all. She was, perhaps, a bit subdued for the remainder of the phone conversation, but she's always been REALLY good at covering emotion, so I don't know how she's really feeling about things.

If/when I do get the bike I won't be announcing it on FB (which will seriously take all of my will. Perhaps I will try making a custom group of my runner/cyclist friends who will see the update when it happens).

Today DS went out on "my" bike, again, just tooling around the 'hood, since we took his flat pedals off of his CX bike so that he could ride my mtn. bike the other night and never got around to swapping them back on. I think it's a foregone conclusion that he's going to be doing a lot more off-road riding VERY soon. He's very comfortable with the beefy little bike that weighs half as much as he does, heh. I think I may have lost "my" bike for good, at this rate.

[zoom-zoom]

You could now say that because the family can't go we will have a party/family gathering for you when you return. If you want to have a party.

I just test rode a Specialized Myka and a Jett. Jett was pricier but lighter. Nice bikes. It was fun trying them out by going up and over curbs, finding potholes, and parking barriers to cross. The smallest Cannondale was too big. (The bike shop where I tried the Cannondale said that it was the smallest mountain bike out there. I said no it wasn't, the Specialized ones were smaller and I couldn't even clear the top tube on the Cannondale. They didn't want to believe me. Pooh on salesman.)

Yeah, my mom and I were talking about trying to get everyone together around the holidays and take the newlyweds (or affianced couple) out for a nice dinner to celebrate.

Cannondale makes some pretty small 26" bikes (my current mountain bike is a Petite/XS and my 4'9" DS actually fits it pretty well), but none of their 29ers are smaller than a size medium, which would be too big for me. I hope that will change, soon. If I could get a 2013 29er in a size S I may pull the trigger on that. Otherwise I'd get a 26er with the plan to ride it for a couple of years, then pass it down to my DS and hopefully Cdale will pull their heads out of their butts in the meantime.