Now I've Gone and Done it.

Last Thursday Mike took the day off, and we headed to the mountain to do some trad climbing. So I know that doesn't look like a climbing picture, but I'll get to that. Mike led up to the first bolt on Vista Cruiser before it started to rain. We bailed. It was lightening so we figured it was better not to push our luck. We had had a fun time already driving up, listening to a cd Mike brought (Kings X), and with Mike the conversation is always lively.

Anyway, I drove Mike home because the fuel pump in his truck had died. Since I was already on that side of town I figured why not stop at the bike shop I deal with. I actually deal with the North side store, but they don't carry mountain bikes. If I want to look at mountain bikes I have to head out East. When I walked in I went straight to the Niners. I had decided to wait until I could afford one even though I had a second choice picked out too. The Niners are always more expensive since they are sold as a frame only, and then you have to buy the build kit, shock, bar, stem, saddle, etc separately.

One of the guys came over to help me, and said that the frame in my size was on sale as a year end closeout. New models start showing up in late August. Even if they went with cheaper parts than I wanted the bike was still way out of my reach for now. Then I went to look at my second choice. They had a bike I had looked at for the first time over a year ago. It still had the retail price on it, and the $900 shock that they had wanted extra for. When the sales guy saw me looking at it he said I might be able to make you a deal on that bike.

It is a 2010 model that is a 3x9 instead of the new 2x10 drive train. Well it didn't take long before I was on the phone with the Bank of Amy pleading my case. It was such a good deal that even she saw the logic in buying it on the spot.

It seemed like an impulse purchase except to  those of you who have listened to me talk about buying a new bike for over four years. Things just worked out. It is a Rocky Mountain Vertex 29SE with hydraulic disc brakes, XT derailers, Stan's No Tubes tubeless wheels, Easton bar stem and post, and Race Face cranks.

I lowered my time by twelve minutes on my first ride of my default loop out at Sweet Water.  I knew the new bike would be nicer to ride, but this is like going from a horse and buggy to a VW Bus.