One of the most Awesome Bike Trails in the Country is a Hop Away from My House
The quest for fitness is a recurring theme on this blog as I can never seem to achieve it. Twelve-hour work days, junk food lunches, forty-minute commutes, and getting home well after dark all seem to contribute. Those are my excuses and I am sticking with them – until today.
I totally forgot to “spring forward” last night, but my computers and smart phones made the switch for me. Aside from the temporary dread of having to get up any hour earlier, it occurred to me that, if I plan right, I will be home before dark! That prompted me to do what I have been putting off until so-called Spring had arrived – buy a new bike.
I spent the morning doing a bit of research full well knowing that I wanted neither a road bike or a mountain bike. The hybrid has evolved over the years and seems really fine-tuned for 2012. I also decided that I was not going to spend a fortune on a bike.
The Giant Escape 0 – A Winner in Terms of a Solid Modern Ride at a (fairly) Modest Price
Now for some, spending $800+ on a bike is a fortune, but the hardcore cyclists these days invest thousands. I liked the clean lines on this bike and its overall simplicity.
The Escape series comes in four varieties: 0, 1, 2 and a nerdy looking “City” model. The 0 proved to be the most costly, having a carbon fiber composite fork, SRAM X5 9-speed trigger shifting, front/rear derailleur and Giant S-R2 Wheelset. Are those features worth an extra $260? Only the buyer can decide.
I opted to purchase the bike from a local bike shop and got no discount on the bike itself. But they did have a special ending today throwing in a rack, lights and helmet. Of course standard with any bike from this shop includes a free water bottle and cage, 4 point fit, 90-day check-up and 1-year tune-up. I left feeling that I got a fair deal.
But really, buying a bike never ends with buying a bike. Aside from the American River, there are so many other options throughout the area. So I opted to order a set of Thule Side Arm Bike Mounts which nicely attach to the roof rack of the 325xi. I’m not sure how I’ll transport the bike(s) on the Focus Titanium, but likely a cheap rear rack will work.
It’s been years since I did any regular biking, but I have a suspicion that my elusive quest for fitness will soon be in grasp. My first ride is set for next weekend! Round Trip from Folsom Lake to Old Sacramento is 64 miles! Likely I will work my way up to that!
