I've posted several times recently, about buying a new bike. I've not ridden a bike in 20 years and I had no idea where to start, so I had lots of questions about what type of bike, how much, test-riding and the like and I was amazed by all the supportive, informative replies. It was so much easier going into the very testosterone-y LBS when I had some background information to go on.

Well, I finally took the plunge and bought a road bike and went out for the first time today. Within 30ft of our apartment, I slipped the chain and had to wheel it back home in disgrace for my husband to fix (lesson 1: learn to fix chain by oneself). Finally sorted out, and given a tutorial on gear shifting, I cycled around the park, which has one killer hill and totals about 4miles from door to door. You know, I don't think I stopped grinning the whole way around - it was so much FUN!!!

When I first came to TEF, I thought all these posts about bike names and "she's so beautiful" etc. were kind of lame. However, I can now tell you that, despite the fact that she's about the cheapest road bike out there, she's red, and lovely and she's called Evie (my first little bike).