This is How We Roll(:)

When you move to a new city, you have to find replacements for things and places that were yours in your old home. Sometimes you're disappointed (see: Columbus grocery stores in general), and sometimes, the things and places you find far exceed what you're used to.

A few weeks ago, my friend Andrea was considering purchasing a bike from one of her friends. Being the pushy monkey that I am - and very much wanting her to buy a bike that would be just right for her, so she'd love it and never want to get out of the saddle - I was insistent that she get professionally fit to make sure that all that the frame had going on would be right for her body.

On suggestion from a co-worker, we made our way up to roll:. And the store? So damn excellent that I forgot to be annoyed by the colon. Store design aside, though it does, indeed, have an excellently cool look and layout, the place just felt good on stepping through the door. The people who work there are incredibly approachable and equally knowledgeable about bikes and the act of cycling. And, on top of that? It's the first bike shop that I've set foot in that has women on staff. That's right, more then one. And they ride, too.

So, last week when I saw spring starting to peak around the corner, I took my sweet baby in for a spring tune-up, and took advantage of their crazy laser body scanner to set up my bike to a bit more of an aggressive stance. And I can't wait for it to be warmer then 0C in the mornings so I can get out on the road.

Dear Spring, where are you?

Anyway, I'm looking at the body scan printout right now, and I feel like I could confidently take this information to a seamstress and get some excellent bespoke clothing made. Is it wrong that before Friday, I had no idea how wide my shoulders were, how long my arms were or the length of my inseam? Oh dear, this is somewhat dangerous information to have, indeed.

Riding Blind

Ever since I got me a new, lovely road bike, I've been riding roads that I've never, ever been on before. In the city that I live in, the line between subdivision and farmstead / hiking trail woodlands is very distinct, and very, very close.

Early this morning, before many cars took to the road, my legs and my bike took the rest of my body across that line, up into the rural wilderness. The route I took was one of the prettiest and most difficult that I've attempted so far. The roads twisted and turned and were full of hills that needed climbing, and racing down the other side at speeds I've never hit before.

There's nothing like having the wind in your face as you swoop down a narrow country road full of hairpin turns, only to hit an incline of an even steeper magnitutude, and, realizing after you've made it to the top that you successfully resisted the urge to stand while peddling to make getting up that hill easier.

Also, I passed a horse farm. Horse farm! I now wish to take dressage lessons there.

I know I'm going to pay for this morning's ride tomorrow. Hell, I'm exhausted right now, but, damn, I can ride hills!

Just Call Me Angelina Jolie

Because adoption is the new pregnancy, which is the new black. That's right, today I welcomed a new member into my family.



The stock photo doesn't do her justice, I think. Especially since she's fancied herself up and changed saddle and handlebar wrap colour from black to silvery-grey.

Yes, I love the fact that I'm going to be riding something with the word GIANT written on it.

I am so ready to hop on top (on pop) and go for a ride, but it is snowing like a son of a bitch. So, I brought her inside with me instead. Because I want to be near her, and because I haven't had the time to break the news of our new addition to my mountain bike. And I have a feeling that he isn't going to take it well.

Because it's snowing, I carried her across the courtyard from garage to my place to avoid getting her tires mucky, and I started giggling with how very, very light she is. There's nothing like being able to carry your bike with one hand to know that it means you'll be going very, very fast on the road.

One thing that bugs is the pricing difference up here v. the US. Seriously, a $200 difference in retail pricing is crazy-talk, if you ask me, but no one does, so I pay more then I know would if I lived down cross-border. Sigh. But she is beautiful, and she is worth it.

Have Bike, Will Travel

Oh, cycling, how I love it. How I love going fast. How I love having the ability to make myself go fast. And to aid my need (my need for speed), I've decided that I need to upgrade from my mountain bike to a road cycle. In the next couple of weeks, I'll be trying on a bunch of frames for size and feel, and I quite seriously can't wait.

One nice thing about professional cycling lines is that they've started producing women specific frames...Not girlie frames with the silly top bar set differently then normal bikes, but normal frames scaled to a woman's body. Basically, a woman's centre of gravity is different then a man's, and a WSD brings handles closer to seat which allows for a more natural and balanced ride and more control when cornering (fast).

I'll be trying on WSD models from Giant, Trek and Cannondale on for size, as well as non-WSD compact frames that suit my small stature.

It's almost approaching a bespoke bicycle. But you didn't hear that from me.