I finally did it....and it's definitely love!

[grouch2]

Last fall, I wrote that I wanted to trade my road bike for a mountain bike. I received lots of encouragement "(N+1)"
However, I suddenly had to buy a different car instead (one with room enough in back for a bicycle, of course). My Mountain bike dreams went away for awhile.
My birthday was last week, and I bought myself a present: a new mountain bike.
It's a hardtail Giant Tempt 2.0



It's set it up with my dream seat, a Selle Italian SMP pro saddle (it's the most comfortable saddle I ever rode!), fat gel grips (for my carpel tunnel), and spiky mountain bike pedals.

I traded in the Fuji Finest 1.0 that I could never fall in love with (I really, really tried to love that bike....). I hope someone buys it and loves it the way it should be loved....

I rode my new Tempt on my favorite route today for the first time. I noticed that I felt more comfortable on my new Bike that I'd ever felt on my road bike (even after almost 4 years of riding). I felt sturdy --- kinda like an SUV verses a subcompact --- yet very nimble. I wasn't afraid of hurting my bike (or myself) by running over sand/gravel/sticks/branches in the road. I even left my regular route and explored side gravel roads. I did things on my ride that I'd been hesitant to do before, because I felt like my new Tempt could do anything!
And, Wheeeee! I took a quick ride down that big, rocky hill I'd never go near with my delicate road bike.
I discovered that the hills I rode were smaller (I swear, they did look and feel smaller!) and, the roads were faster. When I finally went home and downloaded my ride info from my Garmin, I discovered that, even with the heavier bike, My heart rate wasn't any higher than on rides with my old featherweight Fuji and that my speeds were pretty much the same!
I'm so happy with my new ride that I want to take it everywhere with me! (maybe I can print up wallet size photos to hand out----no, I mean, maybe I should text my beloved's picture to everyone I know).
I haven't felt this much in love since, well, since I got my new laptop....or was it my new car?.....or maybe it was when I met my spouse of almost 20 years....?

I just had to share my happiness with others who would understand.
Thanks,

[OakLeaf]

Wheeee!

You capture your joy so vividly. I'm grinning with you over my tea.

[Pax]

How cool is that!! I love your SUV comparison.

[emily_in_nc]

That's awesome! Even though I love my road bike, I sure do love my mountain bike too, and it can go places my carbon roadie wouldn't dream of going. It soaks up the bad road bumps and cracks, and I also feel safe and secure -- like your SUV analogy.

So happy for you!

[brigada]

Congratulations! That's a great bike!

Is that a 14" frame? How tall are you? A friend who is buying her first bike is looking for advice so I'm trying to get some insight before making suggestions

[grouch2]

I'm 5'4" and the bike is a Small or 16".
Giant sizes the bike as XS, S or M. I guess Giant doesn't think that women come in Large (or Giant --- sorry, couldn't resist).

Here's a link to the geometry chart for the Tempt.

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/...6106/#geometry

I can't find their height vs. frame size chart for the Tempt, but according to it, an XS or S might have worked for me. I believed the S felt more natural and my LBS agreed it was a good fit.

[TigerMom]

Congrats on your bike!

I love my hardtail also. I too decided to be a flat pedal rider because I worry about falling off too much on clipless pedals when mountain biking.