build THAT? wear WHAT?

It was a big day when my bike arrived to the Carriage House in the biggest cardboard box I have ever received. (As a result of a promise I made to Carys regarding waiting to open mine until hers arrived) it was an even bigger day when Carys' bike showed up in the mail a short while later.

Now, imagine this: two completely inexperienced bikers, two brand-new, but completely unassembled Trek 1000 road bikes, two allen wrenches, four pedals, two seats, two wheels, one very small bedroom, and one manual. Technically we had two manuals, but Carys and I differed in our assembly strategies. Unfortunately, the manual didn't really seem to help me much.

It wasn't too long before we had each, in our own individual ways, created a ride-able two wheeled, two pedaled, vehicle that we promptly rode about 1/3 of a block before realizing that while riding a bike always comes back to you, riding a road bike with tires as thick as my little toe was going to be a completely new challenge.

However, we persevered and that next Saturday we proudly rode our brand new bikes all the way down the street to the bike shop. I was planning on strolling in, receiving accolades for my stellar assembly job and being sent on my way to the Colonial Parkway. Well, we strolled in, but let's just say that instead of the Colonial Parkway, we visited the beloved rec center.

Needless to say, we ended up coughing up the money to have our bikes checked out (read: re-assembled) before actually taking that maiden voyage. Once we had our sweet bikes in riding condition, we felt that they deserved the best. Which, according to the two of us, and our twisted senses of humor, was a completely costumed ride, complete with team USA bibs, jerseys and jackets (compliments of Carys' Colorado cycling buddy).


Now, it has taken us a little while to get accustomed to the gear and the inevitable hollering from the TV room as we exit the Theta house continues to keep me on edge. We still have a long way to go though...there is something out there called chamois butt'r and I'd rather not describe how we will be expected to use it...