After much editing and deleting, I'll just get to the point. My husband registered some time ago for the Louisville Ironman this coming August. He just dropped some major cash on a Kestrel Airfoil Pro SL, a triathlon bike. Since many of us loose sleep over the question of how much is too much to pay for a bike, I will freely admit the price tag alarmed me, although I will give him credit for paying roughly half the retail price and doing 8 months of research in finding his new love.
Selfishly, I would have preferred if he had purchased a Workcycles Opa or the men's Breezer Uptown 8. I bike commute and pedal to places I want to go. I love it when Bob accompanies me. I highly value our time spent together, especially if it involves our bikes, the Breezer and his Schwinn Jet Star. Biking couples are so romantic. Well, I don't do triathlons . . . yet. I have nothing against them but at the moment they aren't on my plate and I'd prefer to concentrate on skiing and running. A triathlon is tempting since it would involve a new bike but I have already determined it would have to be a classic road bike with drop bars and a handsome Brooks saddle. Maybe a Raleigh.
Anyway, the Kestrel arrived, not quite fully assembled, on our front porch last night. Bob morphed into an 8-year-old boy on Christmas Day. My price tag anxiety instantly melted away as I regarded his excitement. Is it just me or is the inner 8-year-old of the 43-year-old husband just so, so charming and adorable? Yes, he will admonish me for writing these words in this forum but that's just how I feel.
Bob assures me he has not abandoned the Jet Star. One bike is for going places (avec moi), and the other bike is for triathlons. He pointed out that "both look like rockets". Somehow, that one comment calmed me. Yes, it still really is all about style - well partly. Bob says his Kestrel is quite sexy and sleek.
Je suppose, in a gearhead kind of way. 
He enthusiastically pointed out the aerodynamic features like the flat spokes, the "fluid design" of the saddle stem, and the feather light weight of the carbon frame. What's a girl to do?
I awoke at 3 a.m. and heard him assembling his new bike in the living room. He's just so happy.
6 comments:
This is my man's kinda bike love, too. I'm just happy to have someone in the house who actually knows how to repair mine and who understands what it's like to lust after a bike.
Louisville Ironman, eh? That bike course is supposedly one of the tougher ones in the Ironman series. I've ridden it, and it is a challenging ride. I have a lot of respect for those who can do the whole thing--I swim to keep from drowning, not to get to the other end of the pool quickly, and I don't run well at all. I work on a lot of bikes for folks doing the Louisville Ironman, too (hint, hint--we accept and assemble bikes shipped to town for the race at the shop where I work).
And, yeah, I totally get the whole "new bike" thing. It's been a while since I got a new bike, but I well remember the fun of it.
Folks,
Much like the svelt, unattainable bodies of models, the SRAB Photo-shopped those images. There is no way one person could express so much joy and happiness -- absolutely, enhanced emotions in those photos.
A likely story, Bob! Just keep on telling yourself that... ;-)
Bikes = happiness :)
I agree that a giddy, childlike hubby is a thing to adore!
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