Got my first REAL bike!

[Surlygirl]

Sweet and she's purple. Welcome to the purple bike club. Purple bikes are faster you know. Enjoy

[Pebble]

There will definitely be no going back to Wallmart now!

Congratulations, hope you get heaps of enjoyment out of it. Having a good bike makes so much difference. But I'd still have a wallmart bike if it was that or nothing!

[residentgeek]

Thanks everybody

I'm really enjoying the new bike. I went out for a 13+ mile spin this afternoon. Not sure exactly how far, since I'm still working on recalibrating the computer for the 26" wheels. But it's definitely my longest ride so far. I still can't get over what a difference it is to not be fighting the bike. Wow.

The LBS guy warned me about the cable stretch thing, and told me they would do a free adjustment after three weeks if I bring it back in, which I'm totally going to do. I'm sure part of the problem with my old bike was due to cable stretching, but I don't know how to fix derailer cables, so I was kinda screwed. Yet another reason to buy from the LBS!

My old bike was purple too. Just a coincidence - I didn't go out specifically looking for another purple bike. I guess it just speaks to me

Any ideas what to do with the old one? I know it's not great or anything (duh) but I just can't stomach tossing it in a landfill when someone might get some use out of it.

[KnottedYet]

Boys and Girls club. Ask bike shops if they know of a "Bike Kitchen" in your neck of the woods. (they teach kids how to fix/maintain bikes on a donated bike that the kid then gets to keep) Battered women and children's shelter. Food bank. School clothing bank. (most school districts around here seem to have one, where kids can get school clothes and supplies)

At the very least, put it out front of your house with a "free" sign on it. My housemates and I did that once, then went to the grocery store. When we came home we saw an ecstatic teenage boy riding the bike around the neighborhood. Obviously he'd fixed it and got it rolling right away. He was grinning ear-to-ear. It was awesome.