My dad always likes to tell me he’s “almost set.” Usually I think he should be happy with what he has and not feel that there is something more required to be happy, or “set.” But today I feel like him.
With the fabulous summer weather we’re enjoying, I’ve been riding my bike almost daily (including weekends). I’m not the type to buy every toy that comes with a new hobby and have been reluctant to buy some basic biking gear, despite the fact that I ride anywhere from 30-50 miles a week, and have been for months now. I don’t have any shiny spandex, or clip-in pedals, and I ride with a falling apart cheap-o helmet, old school backpack and a good amount of dirt on the frame.
But this week I bought myself a gift. With the temperatures heating up (and therefore my sweat quotient going up) I’ve retired my backpack for panniers. I got these cool, multi-pocketed saddle bags for a reasonable price, saving both my wallet and my back from pain. You can see they hang over my bike rack with simple hooks at the top and two inside bungie-cords around the bottom. I simply detach the bags when I get home or arrive at work and unpack/pack them up again. I can’t believe it took me this long to commit to such an easy setup! (sorry for the stock-photo here, I’m too lazy to go down to my garage and take a picture of my actual bike).
So why am I “almost set” instead of perfectly content? Well, there’s one risk of shopping for new bike toys, you see other things you want! Now I’ve set my eyes on the most amazing helmet I’ve ever placed on my head. The Giro Pneumo is nothing less than a protective cloud for your noggin. Where my current helmet cuts into my jaw, condenses sweat to my scalp, and wiggles up and down my brow, the Pneumo has a “wind tunnel” to air your scull and fits like it was designed for you. Some would argue that there’s no price you could place on the safety of my head (particularly when cars whiz by me at 45 mph, paying little attention to the bike lane as they sip coffee and talk on their cellphones), but I still can’t swallow the $145 price tag for this piece of plastic.
But I’m almost set. Maybe justs one more paycheck.
Gosh, here I was talking about something for the deck when I should have
been protecting your ‘noggin’. You are set because I will help pay for the
helmet - go get it! I will send a check soon! You are smarter than that
and should not be riding with a beat up helmet. I think Steven has the
toys or most of them. The girls are now doing mini triathelons as well!
They don’t have toys yet just good bikes and good helmets. Loren had
great day at Cedar Point with them yesterday. It was cool and not crowded and they rode all the rides some of them more than once.
They spent whole day in park with another family who they know from
Steve’s running etc. It is beautiful today and hard not to just stay on
deck. We go to Michele and Shaun’s on Sunday for a week. Loren is
working for her. Shaun and Steve will run race in Frankenmuth on July 4
but otherwise it is work time. love you and miss you
Comment by Gram — June 29, 2007 @ 11:55 am
Yeah, Sharon! As soon as Dave saw the post he was ready to write a check, too. Sooo why don’t we split it and we’ll give them half???
We do need to protect that head.
The saddlebags look great. They’ll hold alot and take weight off your back.
Comment by Deborah — June 29, 2007 @ 2:56 pm
You ladies are waaaaaaay too sweet. I feel terribly guilty and hope this post didn’t seem like a request for donations, it was honestly just unabashed drooling over a cool biking accessory. I do know that protecting yourself from injury is an important thing, but it’s easy to overlook when you ride every day unscathed (knock on wood). You never know when a helmet will pay for itself!
So, in this case I will do what is appropriate, receive gratefully, and thank you both for your kindness and generosity. I’ll post pictures of my new helmet soon. =)
Comment by westi — June 29, 2007 @ 9:48 pm
Glad you’ll be better protected! I must get a new helmet myself. I should see if there is a sale at the Bicycle Trip.
Comment by Jessi — July 1, 2007 @ 11:19 am
Mom and Deborah scooped us but your Dad and I had the same intention when we read your post. You’d think people care about that head of yours, wouldn’t you! (Notice I didn’t use a question mark ’cause there really isn’t any question about it.)
So, have you bought it yet?
Comment by Laura — July 2, 2007 @ 7:23 am
Indeed I have! It’s shiny, it’s pretty, it’s a cloud on my head. Pictures soon!
Comment by westi — July 3, 2007 @ 7:03 am
Those are really *nice* panniers - who makes them? Where did you get them? Were they expensive? Do you have a “link” to them?
Thanks!
Comment by Robert Parker — July 6, 2007 @ 2:52 pm
Hi Robert, The panniers are made by Avenir and they are the large size “Excursion” model. I got them at a local bike shop (http://www.familycycling.com) but after a quick search found them online at http://www.bicyclebuys.com. I got them for $69.95 here, but you might be able to find them cheaper elsewhere. The only disadvantage I’ve noticed is that if I put anything in the smallest side pockets, my heels will brush the bag. But it’s very minor and you have loads of room in the main compartment. Good luck shopping!
Comment by westi — July 7, 2007 @ 2:51 pm