So without further ado...
meet my new bike, "The Gazelle!"
TWENTY POUNDS, people.
The Gazelle surveys her kingdom.I have never in my whole life had a bike this light. My next-lightest bike would be Rosie, who weighs in at 30 pounds. THIRTY. And let's compare Miss Gazelle to my daily ride, my beloved Trek 520, pictured below:
After riding The Gazelle, who seems to pedal herself, I had to get out the scale again for the 520, since last time I weighed (without bags) she was more or less the same as Rosie...but now, with the addition of my kick-ass light set and perhaps a partially filled water bottle? she weighs in at THIRTY-FOUR AND A HALF POUNDS.
Okay, 34.5 pounds! vs 20 pounds! I'm beginning to get the picture here! And just the addition of one little bag with just my things to go to chorus brings the total up to 38.5 pounds, and tonight I had to bring TWO bags with a bunch of CDs and extra shoes...geez, who knows.
Anyway, in an unbelievable turn of events, it turns out I AM FAST. At least compared to what I am used to being. I can't tell you how fun it is to be fast! Hills...no problem! I rode 30 miles in less than two hours! This is unbelievable!
I also decided to do something I have been avoiding for 13 years: clip in. Yes, my old Shimano sandals that I removed the cleats from immediately upon purchasing them in 1996 were restored to their original glory, at least temporarily, to make the maiden voyage with The Gazelle.
But the Shimanos have been falling apart for several years, soles separating and rubber crumbling under my odor-eaters. I have been forced to admit that perhaps it is time for new sandals. Unfortunately, they just don't make 'em like these anymore:
...so I will be making due with some new Keens, which I just picked up today.
Honestly, they're not as good. But they're the next-best thing.
Here's to the old, and the new!
After riding The Gazelle, who seems to pedal herself, I had to get out the scale again for the 520, since last time I weighed (without bags) she was more or less the same as Rosie...but now, with the addition of my kick-ass light set and perhaps a partially filled water bottle? she weighs in at THIRTY-FOUR AND A HALF POUNDS.Okay, 34.5 pounds! vs 20 pounds! I'm beginning to get the picture here! And just the addition of one little bag with just my things to go to chorus brings the total up to 38.5 pounds, and tonight I had to bring TWO bags with a bunch of CDs and extra shoes...geez, who knows.
Anyway, in an unbelievable turn of events, it turns out I AM FAST. At least compared to what I am used to being. I can't tell you how fun it is to be fast! Hills...no problem! I rode 30 miles in less than two hours! This is unbelievable!
I also decided to do something I have been avoiding for 13 years: clip in. Yes, my old Shimano sandals that I removed the cleats from immediately upon purchasing them in 1996 were restored to their original glory, at least temporarily, to make the maiden voyage with The Gazelle.But the Shimanos have been falling apart for several years, soles separating and rubber crumbling under my odor-eaters. I have been forced to admit that perhaps it is time for new sandals. Unfortunately, they just don't make 'em like these anymore:
...so I will be making due with some new Keens, which I just picked up today.Honestly, they're not as good. But they're the next-best thing.
Here's to the old, and the new!
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