Like a kid in a candy store...

Jack and I (Jerry) did a ride on Sunday morning, to continue our urgent preparations for the Big Ride, which is coming up on us like a tsunami roaring across the Pacific.  And of course Jack needed to show off to me his brand spanking new flashy wheels that he had just acquired.  It was a beauty, shiny and new, fast as a cat chasing a bird, and Jack was dancing down the road ahead of me.  My poor old bike, which has been wonderful to me for six good years, became disheartened after about 15 miles down Route 8, and I heard and felt some noise from the rear wheel.  A year or so ago I had a problem and had to replace the balls and cones, but it had been ok since and I had fully intended to ride it across country.  But this was a very timely signal to me that the bike was tired, and not able to go the distance.  Sooo...what to do?  Rebuild the wheel?  Get a new wheel?  Take a chance on a bike with 10,000 miles on it and hope other components didn't fail halfway across the country?  Or...take it as a sign from above that it is time for a new bike?  Well this is hard for me because I really become committed to a bike.  It is like a partner on the road, and I can really get bonded to the machine.  It's a little like a backpack that you spend six months carrying, it becomes emotionally attached.  But, after some contemplation and soul searching, and encouragement from Sue, I realized that if we are going to be successful on this trip, having a new bike will increase the odds significantly.  So, I went around to various bike shops to survey the field of possibilities and in the end decided to go with the same choice Jack had made.  Today I went to Oakley Cyclery, with my consultant (brother in law Dave) and made the plunge.  Tough decision, but the right one I think.  Once I bought into the idea, I got really excited, looking at all the bikes.  I truly was like a kid turned loose in a candy store, going wild with excitement.  The new bike rides great, and I am looking forward to bonding with it on the open road.
     Jerry