New steed

Well we went to the cyclery yesterday and it was a bit busy so we went over and looked at helmets. After some fiddling the wife locked her gaze on a candy apple red one that was actually a test helmet. Of course it was an older model and a discontinued color and we would find out later that we could not buy the test helmet.

We got some help from a sales girl but they didn't have much built. I was going to start with a 17.5 size but the girl couldn't find a 7100,7200 or 7300 in that size, After a wait Larry took what I think was a cutomers 7200 and a 20 inch frame and Mrs. CK gave that a try. Larry and I watched and agreed that that was in fact the right size with the seat all the way down. Mrs. wanted the bars more upright but said the seat was good so Larry did that and brought it back and she seamed pleased and ready to pull the trigger. Then Tim was available and he said we couldn't sell that one but there were two or three 7200's Larry had not seen. One was grey tones, one was green tones, and I don't remember the other. She liked the grey one, we decided to wait on the helmet and I decided to wait on the interchange panniers which seem awsome with built in rain covers that store in one of the many pockets and are stitched to the bags so you can't loose them. Mrs tried on a three strap shoe and asked for a different size but they don't cme in half sizes or he didn't have it. There was also a lace pair of a different model with 1 strap at the top (seemed like a good system. They were $90 but on the 1/2 off table. Mrs said that that pair felt better. At the register Tim knocked off 10% of the approximate 369 maybe because it was a 2006 and the 2007's are in or maybe because he is very good to his good customers. 3 of us have now bought 4 bikes and I have bought wheels etc to equal a lower end bike or more. It was about $400 out the door for the 7200 and shoes and I then decided to get some cleats too. I had encouraged Mrs. CK to try some specialized bikes too but she declined and I didn't argue too much.

Mrs. looked online and liked the silvery titanium colored Bell Metro helmet and we found it on nashbar with winter kit (ventcovers and ear muffs), rain cover, and mirror for about 89. It shoed the picture to be the right color so we will see. If not it goes back. Mrs. CK likes to be coordinated! I also added a tail light for her bike and mounted the old trek headlight mount and bottle cage on her bike. She declined gloves and I will eventually get her a bottle she likes. I picked up a 5.99 clear glasses fo her that are different than the noframe ones I have in case she wants to keep the bugs out (for 5.99 if she doesn't like it no biggie. If she stops riding becasue it's too cold maybe I'll give the helmet a try. For really cold my brother suggested a snowmobile helmet as they have a seperate breathing part to avoid fog up. I had a 19.19 voucher and 10% off from a bikeforums coupon so not a bad deal. Now I just hope it gets here before it is too cold for Mrs. CK to want to ride!