FINALLY

I did it.

I bought the Speedster.

I emailed the bike shop guy because he failed to return my email (bad salesmanship in my opinion but I needed a bike regardless). This time he got back to me like thirty minutes later asking if I could come at 2. I could, so I did. I bussed down there, under the impression I could ride my new ride back. I arrived 15 minutes early and started panicking, as I often do when I'm about to drop several dollars on something. Thankfully my dad talked me down and I went into the store (still a little panicky-- but breathing... kinda).

So the guy pulled the bike out and started looking me up and down and comparing me with the bike. Not saying much, just staring. 'Stop looking at me' I thought. Then I realized this wasn't going to be comfortable. At all. He then said "how tall are you?" I replied 5'7". And what's you're inseam as his gaze wandered to my crotch-- WHAT?! "Um, I have no idea." He guessed about 30 and asked me to get on the bike, so I did, still somewhat mortified by the inseam. The bike felt awkward. I've never had to really lean forward on the Iron Horse and this makes me feel like I am worshipping some gods to the north or something. As I pedaled he continued to stare. He pulled out a measuring tool that looked like something I used in geometry during high school, said "yep, 30. hop off and we'll look at shoes." 'that's it?! that's the bike fit?! $300 for THAT?!' I thought. Still not sold on the idea, I followed him to the shoe wall. Then he said he wanted to watch me walk. Oh lord. If you know me, you know I'm pigeon toed. So I demonstrated my toe-in for him and he said "oh wow." We picked a shoe and a pedal then he said "well, alright." As I opened my mouth to say I wasn't comfortable with that as the total bike fit he said "Let's start the bike fit." PHEW. Up until that point I was seriously regretting being there.

Then he measured my foot and figured out where to screw on the cleat in accordance to my 1st and 5th metatarsal. When people use big terms appropriately it makes me trust them more. He started getting chatty and I appreciated that because when people don't speak it makes me think they don't want to be there and if they don't want to be there I don't want to be there and the less they speak the less I speak and that would ultimately lead to an ill-fitting bike.
I put the shoes on and got back on the bike-- he showed me how to clip in and out. That will DEFINITELY take some practice. I am prepared to fall. The next part consisted of putting velcro on my 5th metatarsal, ankle, knee, hip, shoulder, elbow and wrist. He started to do this and said 'yea it's usually easier with bike shorts..." I had thought ahead and worn my SUPER COMFY tri-shorts under my soccer shorts. Wanting this to be as accurate and worth the $$$ as possible, I told him I had them on and he said "oh good, get those other shorts off." Sick. So now I was in my fantastically tight spandex on a bike (that was set up on a trainer that was on a platform that rotated... it was quite the setup)and he reput the velcro on my hips. I hate people touching me. Then he connected the sensors. I tried imagining I was in a Gatorade commercial so I could feel super cool, but it was to no avail. I started pedaling and he 'recorded' 15 seconds at three different gears on each side. It was awkward, but neat to see how the computer could figure out where my inefficiencies are (were?) and he could then make adjustments in the bike to rectify or minimize them. I wish I understood it more so I could articulate what it does, but I don't know exactly. So then I practiced going through the gears and brakes and everything. These brakes are SO much better than IH's! ... They work. And the gears shift so smoothly, it's crazy. I practiced clipping in and out a couple of times, learned how to take of the wheels and then walked the plank to the register. We'll leave that part out of the story because it makes me nauseous.
As I was getting ready to go, I realized that the pedals on my new steed are only compatible with the clip in shoes. I could TRY to wear my running shoes with them, but it'd be ugly. So I had two options: 1) Ride it home using my new shoes and pray I didn't fall into the streets of Chicago and get run over by an ignorant motorist, or 2) Walk home. I chose to walk. Thankfully, it was a nice day and my dad was available for conversation so it went by quickly. No way was I going to risk life, limb, and more importantly my fancy new bike by taking my first ride with clip in pedals on the actual road! I felt very lame though, and as I walked someone goes "you're walking your bike???" and I sheepishly explained the situation and he just laughed. Awesome.

BUT I DON'T CARE. I HAVE A REAL BIKE!!! This is huge. I haven't really grasped it yet. But I'm excited. Now I need to find a large soft grassy field where no one will watch (and therefore laugh at) me try to figure out how to clip in and out.

I'm honestly kind of scared of it. It's SO light and I feel like I'm going to break it. IH was nice because I didn't have to be careful with it. If I did something that would break it-- it was okay because she was on her deathbed anyways. Now I'm nervous to touch the Speedster. There were some kids scootering on the sidewalk behind me and they kept coming up right be side me as I walked home. I shot the little gremlins dirty looks that said "GET AWAY FROM MY BABY" and they ran off crying (haha not really...). And each little bump in the road I slowed down and either lifted it over said bump or rolled it ever so slowly as not to jostle her precious functioning gears. I'm going to have to get over that. Quickly.

I'm exciiiiiiited.