Bike!

Mine, alllllll mine :D

I have been riding [and I use that term loosely as of late] a '96 Kona Fire Mountain for 12 years. It has served me very well; it is the energizer bike that just kept going and going and going and never breaking [-and I didn't exactly beat on it]. Aside from new brakes, all her upgrades (incl forks and a nice riser bar) were hand-me-down bits and pieces from the boys I rode with who grew out of them or coveted something beefier or 'better' and always more expensive. Suited me well. But it is time to move on...poor girl, I cracked her forks earlier this spring and have realized since then that I either have to start putting considerable money into her or consider a whole new bike.

As I alluded to above, I haven't been riding much of late and I miss it. Watching Evil Monkey race in MOMAR this past weekend set my paddling and biking muscles twitching. I decided it was time to find some new biking buddies [all the originals have since departed for greener pastures :( ] and start thinking about what to do or not do with my trusty steed.

So I did the 2 things any student does when they want something they really shouldn't be thinking about affording:
1. go window shopping - covetting the new expensive toy is half the fun obviously :)
2. return to reality and start browsing the 'for sale' ads hoping to find that really awesome deal that means you get what you want and don't have to settle for what you can afford...

Pinkbike, craigslist, the newspapers, cvmtb, usednanaimo, and the local bike stores later [where a pretty Trek Fuel-woman's model, just my size, and $400 off its regular price almost got the better of my better judgment] I had found one possibility...

A barely ridden, 2003 Rocky Mountain Stratos which is a light, well spec'd, XC bike that was also a Really nice price!

So Likalia and I went to Nanaimo to inspect her and Bike came home with me today; I'm looking forward to taking her out on trails really soon :)

Woot!