My first street bike! Her name is Lightning...

[TrekTheKaty]

I used to run, but I hurt my back two years ago. I've been riding a Trek 5200 Hybrid for over a year, but my husband was starting to lap me at our normal 4-mile loop. Out of desperation (fear of being left in another zip code), I reluctantly tried a street bike we bought off Craig's list for $30. It didn't bother my back, so dh started the research. Apparently, I wanted a Jamis. However, the LBS was out of women's frames. We visited another shop and tried a Giant and Cannondale (the Specialized wasn't my size). Apparently, I was supposed to want one of these--because I had to repeat, "I don't love either of these" multiple times before we finally left. DH reluctantly stopped at the local Trek shop on the way home (at some point, he decided he didn't like their components).

Here was the good and bad of bike shops:

Me: Do you have any women's street bikes?
Young salesman: (wanders cluelessly around the sales floor) This one.
Me: What is that?
YS: A beginner racing bike.
Me: (glance at husband and look for escape route, but the kid is between me and the door) Is that all you have?

Finally someone else steps in and asks what I was looking for (I later learn he is the owner) and he rattles off some model numbers that will be in the next few weeks.

Me: (blank stare)
He recovers and pulls out the women's bike and begins to explain the components to me, then asks if I want to ride it (FINALLY).

As I roll it outside, he asks if the seat is too high--to take if for a lap and he will adjust it. I never came back--after several laps of the parking lot, he points to a dirt path that leads back to a subdivision and I leave my husband to ask all the important questions.

I roll back up and announce, "this is the one." My husband makes a face so I ask some appropriate questions, "you don't have anything I can compare it to? Can I swap the 23 tires for 25? How much can I adjust the handlebars? Can you fit me today?"

The owner turned out to be very nice and full of information. He answered all of my dumb questions very patiently and explained the difference between my bike and the other levels and tried to explain the different components as he fit me. He also invited me to their Tour of Missouri party/ride.

Important lesson: Bikes REALLY ARE different--you'll know when you try one. I immediately liked the '09 Trek 2.1 WSD. My dh went along to give me a thumbs up on the components--otherwise I "just knew."

The best part? As soon as I got home, we headed down the street to run an errand. DH was very quiet when we got home--I prodded him for info--I hadn't taken my GPS because I didn't want to look down and I wanted to "feel" my new ride. He reluctantly fessed up to about 18-20 (my hybrid top speed is about 15!) I think I have him worried :-)

PS. Lightning McQueen is the name of the race car in "Cars" by Pixar. I'm a nascar fan and she has a red racing stripe!