Why I am in Love with Cycling con't
.:: Why I am in Love with Cycling ::.
Just thought that I would write soemthing a little more personal. LOL. Cycling came to me in the right time of my life. Wonderfully, my father and I suspect mostly my uncle built me a 10 speed bike. My very first grown-up bike. It was amazing. They painted it white with red accents. It ran beautifully. I fell in love with the machinery, mechanics and wind in my hair.
What's so special? Well, I had an accident. The brake cable broke free of its housing. Caught in the front wheel and I went ass over tee-kettle. Over the bars. Onto the concrete side-walk. I got my very first road-rash. Worse than carpet burn as gravel and sand actually get embedded into your booboo. I limped home, muttering no-nice things about my bike, wondering how to fix it. Notice, not even considering quitting riding. I was already addicted.
I went to the local bike store got a brake cable and installed it myself. Yes propperly. Et voila. Thats it in essence. You can build, customize, FIX your own machine. It isnt overly complicated.
You can then ride your masterpiece over hell's half-acre and over creation. You can even ride it back. You can feel the muscles, tendons sliding, bunching, powering you up and over and everywhere. You can be sleek, skilled and finesse. Or you can goto the store. It is one of the few sports or activities that you can maintain yourself. You dont *need* a mechanic. Although, they are a god-send. A skilled mechanic is worth her weight in lasagna and cash. As they can fix/maintian your bike (your baby) propperly.
.:: Nifty Components Make me Drool::.
Good quality components will make all the differece. They work better, last longer and are lighter. Weight is a factor for longer rides. If you plan on cycling once a year, don't spend $500 on a bike. However, if you plan on using your bike to commute, get in shape or train. Consider and compare.
A $100 bike will, be heavey as a tank, rust and need replacing sooner. also those pesky little road-side repairs are harder/longer to fix.
A moderately priced bike will get you lighter frame, better components and a more satisfying ride. So you wont need to replace it next year or get frustrated with how hard it is to get up hills.
You will get nifty things like: quick releases on wheels and seat. That means when you blow a flat, you can flip a lever and your wheel comes off. Faster and easier than using wrench. You will get more components that att using an allan/hex key. Which are smaller and lighter to carry with you. You could get front suspension, disc brakes and clipless pedals (safer than cheaper modles and more efficient).
Buy in the fall and at a cycling store. I cannot stress this enough. You will get a really good sale :) and you will end up with the best bike for your needs. The people staffing these stores know their stuff. The people at dept stores don't have the same quality, range or knowledge. No matter how pretty the package looks.
.: Food for Thought :.
There is nothing more sexy than a woman and her bike. lol. Ok a little more seriously. When people do what they love it is beautiful. And bikes are beautiful too. Scroll for a description of my bikes.. pics soon!
DykeGrrl's Bikes
Road is a Santini Ultegra. About 11 years old. In totally mint shape. Shiney metallic black with chrome forks. Meilli stem/bars, look pedals, origional ultegra component group. (remember biopace?) Oldschool baby.
Mtn is a Rocky Mountain Soul. Judy TT Shox, Deore XT/LX group, Ritchie stem. This is the beast I will be riding this winter. Upgrading... pedals/seat. Adjusting shifting in RD.
Coming soon... any old motorcycle I can get cheap that runs and passes a safety. So LOL, that will be in the year 2004
