A New Member of the Family

Today Dave and I welcomed the newest member of the Altmaier family. This, everybody, is Bess:

This baby is my new bike! I haven’t had a bike since my 10-speed, so Bess is a big deal for me. I’ve wanted a bike ever since Dave got his, but we never had the money we were willing to spend on it. But then Dave told me a couple of weeks ago that, as a reward to me for finishing classes, he wanted us to buy a bike for me. Well I couldn’t have been more pleased, and so the shopping began.

Though we looked at a lot different bikes, the experience was much like shopping for a wedding dress. We researched bikes on the internet; then we went to a few stores and just browsed a week or two ago. Then today, after narrowing down our choices, we decided to “try on” some bikes. Just like my wedding dress, as soon as I hopped on this beautiful Cannondale WSD Six13 I knew that she was the one for me. So we left the store, test drove another bike at a different store, drove half of the way home discussing our options, and then turned around and went back and bought her.

To celebrate, Dave and I went for our first bike ride together. And let me tell you, nothing is more flattering than cycling gear:

(Notice I’m showing you the pre-ride picture, from the chest up, without the helmets.  And still it’s not so good.) I have to tell you, I had a blast riding, but I am definitely VERY out of shape.  Dave, bless him, was practically coasting the whole time while I huffed and I puffed behind him. But I was brave and ventured onto busy roads way before Dave was willing to when he started riding; that’s something right?

And while I don’t know that I’ll ever be the competitive cyclist/triathlete I know Dave secretly hopes I’ll become, I really love cycling. We’re going to hit a longer but much flatter course tomorrow.  Maybe my bum won’t hurt so badly after that one;)

A few more pictures of my girl Bess:

She’s perfect right? A little feminine but not “girly.” But don’t let the design full you.  She’s hardcore.  And so am I.

Time to ice my bum.