Let's Go Ride A Bike

So I'm sure that all you savvy readers noticed that in my Mall Madness Monday post last week, I may have mentioned that I purchased a bicycle. And I know that you have been salivating as you hover over your computer, waiting for details as to how I came to such an important decision. 

Like many other important life decisions, I devoted quite a bit of my time and energy thinking about this. Like, a full week and a blog post. Serious stuff. 

After being unsuccessful at not one, but two Targets, I took the opportunity to hit up the one in Salem, NH when I was home last weekend, because I figured if anything I would save on sales tax. I was pleasantly surprised to find that they even had any women's bikes in stock at all, because the other two I had visited were sold out of every bike meant for a female over the age of six (sorry, Dora- I just don't think it was meant to be for us). 

Although the pink bicycle with the basket was the one I was really hoping to see in person, they only had a similar model, sans basket. I was bummed, but even I knew that you can't buy a bike on impulse via the Internet. In fact, the Lulu bike was heavier than I imagined, and I could barely lift it let alone ride it. But then I discovered the Schwinn Majestic and figured I would give it a whirl. The only thing is, it was really... orange.

But the more time I spent with it (i.e. riding it around the aisles in Target) the more I started to like it. Not only was it offensively orange, but it also had pink, yellow and white accents with polka dots! I wasn't the only one who thought it was totes adorbs.

Eight year old in Target: That is a cool bike.

Me whizzing by her: I know, right?

Eight year old eating my dust: I should get a bike like that.

Me halfway across the store: You really should. 

So I was sold. And it was the only bike on sale, so I ended up getting it for $143, which was way cheaper than the $180 I thought I was going to be spending, which leaves just enough in the budget for a cute helmet! Which Target definitely did not have. 

ta da! cute helmet definitely not included.

Slight problem, as this was an unexpected shopping trip and I hadn't really put any thought into how we were going to get it home. We were in my Nissan Rogue, which while it's a small SUV, it would have been way more convenient had we been in Steve's X Terra. Also these retro style bikes are totally not conducive to throwing them in a trunk as the fenders add a lot of extra metal to be concerned about denting. Which probably means I'm going to need to get an ugly bike rack or something. Ugh. 

After swearing under his breathe about his anger over how much stuff I had in my car (like boxes of old magazines that I refuse to toss out before I go through and clip out articles or pictures I may like), reconfiguring the bike every which way in my trunk without any sort of schematics, and slicing his finger open on God knows what, Steve was able to load the Majestic into the car for the voyage home. Unfortunately, home meant my in-laws garage as I don't have anywhere to actually store the bike at my apartment. 

So it's been over a week, and I hadn't even seen the Majestic (okay, it just occurred to me that I really need a cuter name) let alone ridden it outside of the aisles at Target. Steve and I were both off today, and since he works at a restaurant and I work in retail, we like to pretend that Mondays are our Sundays. With the great weather today, it seemed like as good a time as any to test out my new bike. 

air steven

By the time we got to his parents house, loaded up the bikes and drove to the Milford bike path, it was 1:30 in the afternoon. Fortunately, this gave me plenty of time to figure out what I was going to wear. 

priorities

It had been so long since I had seen my bike, I almost forgot how adorable it was! And so appropriate for an (almost) twenty seven year old!

Now I'm not what you would call the most athletic, coordinated or graceful, and I don't think that I had ridden a bike since I got my driver's license. But I was determined to have  a good time and maybe even get in my weekly (okay... biweekly) amount of exercise. And if I was going to do it, I wanted to do it right. 

Me: So, what gear should I be in?

Steve: I am guessing that you will be a first gear girl for the rest of your life. 

Ouch. That's accurate, but it still hurts. 

We ended up riding for probably a half an hour. I know. I need to work on my muscles. And stamina. And breath support. Also I am now on the hunt for the perfect basket. And this helmet. 

apparently, audrey hepburn is the only one that can get away with capris on a bike.

But this bike is called a "cruiser" for a reason. It's meant for coasting!

watch out

After this we headed to the Purchase Street market across the street. After all the strenuous exercise, I need nourishment. Steve and I both indulged in our favorite lunches. 

cranberry walnut chicken salad.
apparently "small" is also code for "the size of your head"

tortellini salad. lunch of champions & cruisers alike

I'm exhausted from all that activity. So I'm going to need your help. What should I name my new bike? The Majestic sounds like an old boat. As much as I love all things nautical... we need a cute bicycle name up in here. 

~L