Training rides... and triplets!
I have all the best intentions in the world, but unless I have someone to lead me by the nose, I don't tend to get out riding like I should. I decreed (to myself.. and promised Marc I would) that I was going to use my single (mountain) bike to 'just get around'.. Ride to Woopi... ride to the school... whatever. The whole notion of getting around by bike rather than car appeals to me.. despite the lack of suitable bike paths around here. Only problem is I haven't got around to it.
Tomorrow is the test, if a planned lunch date at the Seaview Tavern at Woopi is happening as proposed, and hopefully it will enthuse me! It is only about a 12 km return ride from home. Only problem is the issue of getting around in bike gear once I get there. (And, yes, to the uninitiated.. it is absolutely more comfortable to wear!).
I bought (with some birthday money) a pair of Undinix, but they weren't that comfortable under what are pretty much the only pair of shorts that fit me comfortably at the moment. Perhaps if I ride more, lose more weight.. then they will work.
The other issue with riding around solo is that it is a hard thing, mentally, to slog away along the road on a mountain bike. Perhaps our purchases of mountain bikes (rather than hybrids) a few years back weren't that sensible.. but back then we hadn't imagined we'd be riding tandems in 9 day long BIG rides! There are the forest roads beckoning as well, only a few kilometres away from here - just not something we can all do together just yet, with Zoe's solo riding still at a very elementary stage, and the others' bikes being more hybrid than 'mountain' and probably not so good on dirt. And Marc and I haven't made the time (yet)to do that without the kids. I have one bike riding friend who is prepared to (and capable of) venturing onto dirt, but she has even younger children babysitting issues and had to cancel this week. Maybe next week.
~~~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile, if all goes well this weekend, we will own a triplet.
It is a Co-motion Periscope Trident Convertible.
(On that link, scroll down to see the convertible).
There was one for sale on eBay. In Lithuania. Didn't bid, but made contact with seller. It passed in.. he agreed to sell to us. Brand new, never ridden.. he won it in a raffle/lottery. *[Edited 6/10. Actually it was a competition run by a Lithuanian beer company - the sort where you have to collect coupons and send them in to enter.. this guy likes his beer, although the particular brand turned out not to be his favourite!] Marc made contact with Co-Motion, and, yes, indeed, they know that bike, and sent it to Lithuania.
After the freighting experience from the US, plus knowing that this guy knew nothing about packaging up a bike, Marc worked out that it would actually cost less for him to make a 'side trip' to Europe from KL (while he was there for work) using FF points, plus a bit more. He has allowed the weekend in Vilnius to dismantle it enough to package up.. He left here with a huge suitcase that happened to be hanging around work!, and cardboard packaging. And having studied up on how to take this and that off it!
He is going through Helsinki.. and we just happen to have friends who are living there for a year! So they will meet him and keep him entertained on Monday while he happens to have a long stopover on his way back.
And then we have to wait till around the 29th for him to get back from his work stint in KL.
To be honest, I'm a bit reticent about writing this here, because there will be people (particularly family) who will think we have really gone bananas with this.
But we rationalised it as follows:
Do we want a triplet? Yes - if we are going to continue riding as a family. Zoe has just about outgrown the trailer bike.
But the price!! Well.. this one is a couple of thousand cheaper than buying from the States, with freight or retrieval costs factored in for both. Yes, it's a few thousand.. but hell, some people spend thousands and thousands more than we do on buying new cars. (We don't.) And.. you only live once. Life is short.. so a few thousand for what will be a sensational family bike... the price we pay for having 3 children and wanting to do this sort of crazy, family bonding, challenging type stuff!
Tomorrow is the test, if a planned lunch date at the Seaview Tavern at Woopi is happening as proposed, and hopefully it will enthuse me! It is only about a 12 km return ride from home. Only problem is the issue of getting around in bike gear once I get there. (And, yes, to the uninitiated.. it is absolutely more comfortable to wear!).
I bought (with some birthday money) a pair of Undinix, but they weren't that comfortable under what are pretty much the only pair of shorts that fit me comfortably at the moment. Perhaps if I ride more, lose more weight.. then they will work.
The other issue with riding around solo is that it is a hard thing, mentally, to slog away along the road on a mountain bike. Perhaps our purchases of mountain bikes (rather than hybrids) a few years back weren't that sensible.. but back then we hadn't imagined we'd be riding tandems in 9 day long BIG rides! There are the forest roads beckoning as well, only a few kilometres away from here - just not something we can all do together just yet, with Zoe's solo riding still at a very elementary stage, and the others' bikes being more hybrid than 'mountain' and probably not so good on dirt. And Marc and I haven't made the time (yet)to do that without the kids. I have one bike riding friend who is prepared to (and capable of) venturing onto dirt, but she has even younger children babysitting issues and had to cancel this week. Maybe next week.
~~~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile, if all goes well this weekend, we will own a triplet.
It is a Co-motion Periscope Trident Convertible.
(On that link, scroll down to see the convertible).
There was one for sale on eBay. In Lithuania. Didn't bid, but made contact with seller. It passed in.. he agreed to sell to us. Brand new, never ridden.. he won it in a raffle/lottery. *[Edited 6/10. Actually it was a competition run by a Lithuanian beer company - the sort where you have to collect coupons and send them in to enter.. this guy likes his beer, although the particular brand turned out not to be his favourite!] Marc made contact with Co-Motion, and, yes, indeed, they know that bike, and sent it to Lithuania.
After the freighting experience from the US, plus knowing that this guy knew nothing about packaging up a bike, Marc worked out that it would actually cost less for him to make a 'side trip' to Europe from KL (while he was there for work) using FF points, plus a bit more. He has allowed the weekend in Vilnius to dismantle it enough to package up.. He left here with a huge suitcase that happened to be hanging around work!, and cardboard packaging. And having studied up on how to take this and that off it!
He is going through Helsinki.. and we just happen to have friends who are living there for a year! So they will meet him and keep him entertained on Monday while he happens to have a long stopover on his way back.
And then we have to wait till around the 29th for him to get back from his work stint in KL.
To be honest, I'm a bit reticent about writing this here, because there will be people (particularly family) who will think we have really gone bananas with this.
But we rationalised it as follows:
Do we want a triplet? Yes - if we are going to continue riding as a family. Zoe has just about outgrown the trailer bike.
But the price!! Well.. this one is a couple of thousand cheaper than buying from the States, with freight or retrieval costs factored in for both. Yes, it's a few thousand.. but hell, some people spend thousands and thousands more than we do on buying new cars. (We don't.) And.. you only live once. Life is short.. so a few thousand for what will be a sensational family bike... the price we pay for having 3 children and wanting to do this sort of crazy, family bonding, challenging type stuff!
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posted by Tracey at 10:16 pm
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