So this afternoon found me at REI World HQ using my patronage dividend (less that $10: unemployment limits one’s spending on impractical necessities, which keeps me out of REI) on what we called an odometetr when I was a lad, but what’s now called a “cyclocomputer.” I want to more accurately measure how far I ride: $18 buys you 10 other pieces of information, like max and average speed, time, distance, blahblahblah.
While I was there, I sized a bike: looks like I’m a 54 cm kinda guy: sight unseen a 6 footer would be sold a 58cm bike or even a 60, but I’m glad I threw my leg over one to make sure. If you haven’t been around bikes all that much in say 20 years, you’re in for a shock. 24 speeds are one thing, but the whole notion of combined brake levers/shifters will surely have me eating asphalt. I do like the weight of these new bikes: they’re all but weightless. The ticket says something like 18 – 20 lbs, but pick one up and you can’t even believe that.
They had some other bikes in the $400 range (this Fuji is right around there, but they don’t carry that brand). Their own Novara brand bikes look fine but are pushing a grand, which even with gainful employment would be hard to swallow.
They do make you want to just get out and ride though: it feels like possibilities are opening up as you sit on one of these beasts.