Call me a little geeked out right now and indulge my storytelling...
As you may know, I have been riding the same mountain bike for about 17 years now. I have been dreaming of getting a new ride since before Mr Armstrong won his first Tour de France in 1999.
Since relocating to Pullman, this fever has kicked into high gear since my boss is an avid cyclist and there is a ton of good and challenging rides around here. Alas, with three kids and the cut in pay to come here I thought I was fresh out of what the French call luck.
My boss walks into the office last Friday and asks if I have seen the Lemond Poprad they have at the local shop (B & L Bicycles, very cool shop). I hadn't seen it, since I avoid that place like a recovering drunk avoids the corner bar. He coaxed me into checking it out at lunch, since there is a good (and cheap) pizza place right next door. We get there and I drool over it for long enough to make my cycling mad boss a little uncomfortable. It's in awesome shape, it's a 2007 and it only has about 300 miles on it. I swallow hard and look at the price, HOLY MOLY it's $1000! This bike goes for $1700 new, and it looks new for gawds sake! Oh wait, I do the stand over (certainly the top tube will be cleaving my block and tackle in half)...uh oh, the basics fit....
I play the really pathetic puppy dog with Amy over the weekend, helped I'm sure by the diesel powered flu that hit me Friday night.
She said YES!
I call Bryce and put a hold on the bike and I picked it up tonight, I'll be riding it to work tomorrow morning! The particulars; 2006 Lemond Poprad Disc, Shimano 105 components (46x39 upfront and 10 speed 12-27 in the back), Bontrager Satellite carbon forks, Bontrager Select Disc road Race wheels, and AVID BB7 disc brakes. The frame is set up to accept racks and fenders if I so desire, with prethreaded hooks in the back and on the forks. It's a US made steel frame and should be able to handle the dirt roads and trails all over the area.
I think, and I may be crazy thinking about the 4'+ of snow we had this winter, that this will be a year round machine. Thanks for letting me geek out and I will be sure to let you know how the ride turns out to be...
