Meet Skippie

I've gone and done it again. I've gotten another bike. Why? Well, with this one I have a REALLY good reason. I would not be able to find this bike at all for the price that I can afford. And in this case, I really just got so lucky. The lady selling it just wanted a good home for it because she didn't ride it and she's just really REALLY nice.

I wanted it because it's a Swedish bike, with the European wheel lock, and a step through frame - which you CAN find here, but for unobscure brands, they are all small frames. Or you can find one from a fairly obscure (obscure in the USA, anyway) brand that's not too small but you'll pay an arm and a leg for what is much less quality than this bike. Which is why I HAD to have it. I couldn't stop thinking about it for the week and a half it was sitting in the shop waiting to see if someone at the used bike sale would want it. Nobody bit. And I was ecstatic. I mean, it came with a Brooks and everything!

Now, I've been skeptical about Brooks saddles for awhile now, and I'd never really planned on getting one simply because they require kind of a lot of care as compared to my pleather foamy saddles that are cheaper and can get wet. I used to think they looked horribly uncomfortable until I sat on one that another woman had. I was surprised to not be in immediate pain with hers, so I was intrigued...still didn't have plans to get one, though. But Skippie came with it, and so far I'm pleasantly surprised. I'm a little sore because according to what I've found online, it can take a few hundred miles to really break them in right. But it's comfy enough since my butt is fairly hardened already from riding all the time anyways.

Now to the coolest part(s): it's got a skirt guard, an internally-geared 5 speed hub, and a dynamo hub that powers the front light. Oh and there's the wheel lock too. That is one of the coolest thing ever. Not a popular...excuse me...an existent feature in the good ol' US of A, so despite it's coolness, good luck finding it here.

The name Skippie is care of Casey. The brand is something that I have no idea if I can pronounce correctly or not: Skeppshult. Pronounce that one five times fast. So calling it Skippie means that I can pronounce something right and I won't get tongue tied.

Now I have a bike I can ride in a skirt! This means that I'll be getting rid of Priscilla once she's finished being painted, cleaned, and reassembled. As well as the fixie Priscilla was going to replace. Priscilla is too small for me anyways. So I'm up one, then I'll be down two. Which is perfect. I still have my awesomely ugly Trek 800 that's covered in stickers for winter commuting, but that's not a bike I'm concerned about beating up. Salt will destroy nice things, so Skippie will not be ridden in the snow.

So Much Going On!!

So last weekend I went up to Galena. Let me say, it is BEAUTIFUL there. Completely gorgeous. And hilly as all get-out. I have been in serious hill deprivation since moving here, but in Galena, I got my full dosage of hills to make up for it. I was actually wishing for a bigger cassette (as in more teeth on my biggest cog - a 23). In NM it didn't come into play all that much, and I was perfectly happy with it. This area was hilly enough, steep enough, and long enough that I was really wishing for that bigger cassette. The people who had them definitely were doing better than me at the end of the rides. That's ok. It builds power. It was a fabulous weekend. I learned that I'm a bit crazy (according to triathletes who, IMHO don't have the *greatest* bike handling abilities) when it comes to going downhills. But I'm just efficient. More downhill speed = less work to get up the hill on the other side. And it's a lot more fun that way! As of yet *knock on wood* I haven't had an issue with descending anything fast.

Most of this week however, I've felt weird. I did a bit of a gluten experiment up in Galena, so I'm not actually sure if I feel off because of that, or if it's just an I'm tired/over trained/female issues thing. Just don't know. I came around on Saturday for my long ride, but most of the week was junk for training. Felt like I was bonked, but since I'd just eaten, that's obviously not what was going on.

I have decided (yet again...be prepared for this to change) that I'm going to start working on getting ready for graduate school as well as take the Fundamentals of Engineering exam. They always seem to put the FE exam on a day that doesn't work for me, and since it's only 2X per year, it's kind of something you have to do come hell or high water. I plan on doing it at this point, mostly because I'm SO FLIPPIN' BORED OUT OF MY MIND. Working at a bike shop is fun, sure, but mentally stimulating? Uhhh no. I have learned that I'm much more like my mom than I've ever thought. I don't like having nothing truly substantial to be working on. I start obsessing over what bike I want/how I want it/etc. Completely useless things to be thinking about. Especially since, for the most part, the only thing really keeping me from the objects that I want is money. Money is, for the most part, simple. You want something? Save up. It may take longer for one person versus another, but there's almost always a way. Unless it's like a Ferrari or something. That's just crazy.

I'm racing Memphis in May on May 22nd. It's going to be interesting. I'm told that the run is hot. It will be the first Olympic distance of the year. Then on June 12th is Kansas IM 70.3. Again. It will be interesting. At least the water temperatures should be comfortable.