New Bike

By Matt on Sunday 5 February 2006 at 10:42

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I took your advice, Mark, and went to that bike shop off the A38. Picked myself up a GT Avalanche 1.0 Disc 2006. I think I got a bit carried away when I got there, I can only assume that I was overcome by the same fascination with overpriced garishly-coloured components as when I was younger and used to ride loads. At least that's my excuse for going way over budget. And the fact I completely forgot about all the “extras” I'd also need - helmet, gloves, lights, pump, spare tube, tools, lock, oil... you get the idea.

Anyway, I fully intend to get my money's worth out of it by riding to work every day and going out for a ride every weekend*.

* Might not actually happen.

12 comments:

On Sunday 5 February 2006 at 16:09, Matt said:

Just got back from riding round Burrator reservoir (3 times).

My legs ache and my arse hurts Sad but the bike is AWESOME Grin. OK, so riding on a mostly level tarmac road didn't really put it through its paces, but its been a while...

On Sunday 5 February 2006 at 20:58, Mark Bell said:

Nice! We'll have to get some expeditions on the go... although I need to get a helmet really because we'll inevitably egg each other on to new heights of dangerous riding where my head is quite likely to meet granite.

You never lose the (inexplicable) lust for bits of machined anodised aluminium with holes drilled in them, do you? Smile

I mean, I've got red brake levers on my bike. RED.

I'm totally crazy, me.

On Sunday 5 February 2006 at 22:17, Matt said:

Yeah, I'm definitely up for some off-roading. A helmet is probably a good idea. As is a pair of gloves in this weather. I've no problem getting the bike in the car, but there must be somewhere good within riding distance. Central Park? Cremyll Ferry over to Mount Edgcumbe?

Anyway, when I was in the shop I had just about decided on an Avalanche 2.0 and had already chosen a black helmet to match the bike. I didn't see the 1.0 til I was looking for a pump or something, then decided on that instead. Of course, I had to change the helmet for a different colour to match the new bike, much to the amusement of the shop staff. I got the same response when I asked for different colour pedals (red too - insane).

Wierd though, the urge for “trick bits”. Even though you're adding weight just by putting one on your bike, a machined, anodised and drilled-out bottle cage makes you feel like your shaving precious grams off your bike. But I couldn't resist when it came to the three greatest words in unnecessary bike hardware:

Hydraulic. Disc. Brakes.

On Monday 6 February 2006 at 09:53, Mark Bell said:

There's not much close unless you're up for some 'urban off-road'...

I've got a 2-bike rack though which makes things easier if we wanted to go further afield. We should give Dan and Dee a shout too - they know some good places not far from where they live.

On Monday 6 February 2006 at 17:59, pablo said:

gays

On Monday 6 February 2006 at 18:31, Matt said:

*Yawns*

Well done pabs.

On Tuesday 7 February 2006 at 18:24, pablo said:

alright your not benders then,, happy??

On Tuesday 7 February 2006 at 18:35, Matt said:

WOOHOO! Cheers Pabs.

Mark: if I get a bike rack too, we may never have to ride uphill again. And that's not far off “livin' the dream”.

In the meantime, I need to buy a bottle cage .

On Tuesday 7 February 2006 at 20:35, pablo said:

How much was your bike Barwick?

On Tuesday 7 February 2006 at 20:38, Matt said:

I didn't pay full price, I'll tell you that much, Pabs. That said, I ended up spending more than that in total when you include all the extra stuff.

On Tuesday 7 February 2006 at 20:58, pablo said:

ballpark figure? if its cheap i might join the bike revolution

On Tuesday 21 February 2006 at 22:45, Billybean said:

Now that everyone has bikes you'll have to come up to Holden Woods. www.haldonforestpark.org.uk

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