New Bike and stuff…

Posted by Kelly on November 12th, 2007 filed in Uncategorized

Had a very stressful weekend with the scooter being mauled by a Jeep, so to calm my nerves (and to submit a portfolio) I went for a ride on my new bike. At the end of September, a bike of mine was stolen from inside my apartment building and the search for a new ride began. I hit every bike shop in NYC (went to Nyack and LI too) and read every review I could find. I looked at the Langster, Bowery, Rush Hour, IRO, Pista, Fremont, Capo… you name it, I looked at it. I wanted a single-speed with breaks for basic everyday riding and most of all I wanted it to fit. Fit is my biggest problem. We ladies really get the short end of the straw from the bike industry. Finally, some companies have added women specific bikes to their line-up, but they’re usually ugly and top off with a 105 groupo. I guess most companies don’t think women need to ride Dura-Ace — except Specialized which makes the Ruby Pro (Dura Ace and Ultegra combo). It sure ain’t pretty, but for $4400 you can’t have everything, right? I’ll get more into that when I go shopping for my new road bike, but for now it’s all about the commute.

I did not come across one single-speed or track bike built for women. I am 5′7″ with a 32″ inseam & a 24″ torso. Not the easiest to fit. I was pretty set on the Langster, even had one on order at my old bike shop, but I felt too stretched out. I figured I’d do what I had done in the past, just get a shorter stem. Then I came across the Bianchi Fremont at R&A Cycles in Park Slope, Brooklyn. I’ve never shopped there because I’ve heard horror stories about their bike snobbery. I worked in a bike shop for 7 years and I don’t like being treated like an idiot, so I never went. One day, I was in the neighborhood and figured what the hell? Go ahead, try to treat me like some dumb chick and see what happens and where I spend my and my boyfriend’s money. I went in, they weren’t the bike snobs I expected although I can see how someone might get that feeling. Maybe they’re not from NY and don’t understand sarcasm. If you give it, you gotta be able to take it — which they did most graciously. Either way, Felix, the salesman, took the time to measure me and call Bianchi to find out specifics that weren’t available on the web site. He had two bikes built up for me to test ride and we found the one that fit me best with minor adjustments. The Bianchi’s top tube length is shorter than that which is on the Langster, which gives me a better fit. The breaks are a tad on the cheesy side, but then again I am riding a single-speed with breaks so it seem appropriate. It also comes with crap ass pedals, but those are changed easily enough. The bike is super light and is a breeze to carry up flights of stairs. The icing on the cake, a leopard print seat. Anyone who knows me, would think I had it put on. I just feel bad for everyone who doesn’t have a closet full of animal print or used to work at Betsey Johnson. Feel free to donate your unwanted leopard print seats to me for my future bikes. So far, I am enjoying the bike. No complaints yet.

Later on, I went out for dinner and drinks with the Betseys at my local bar. I drank way too much and had lovely conversations about bikes with some regulars… after we were told to keep it down by the band that was playing.