18 Miles Per Hour

NEW BIKE CONFESSIONS

PART 1: NEW BIKE SHYNESS.

Getting a new bike is such a big, wonderful and scary splurge that it arouses a ton of feelings. Feelings we lay bare for you here in “New Bike Confessions.”

We are shy about owning new bikes.

Strange admitting it, but there you go. 

We’re both this way. We feel genuinely lucky and blessed and all that to be able to get a new bike every so often. Part of it is the fact that we’re painfully aware that these are tough times and not everyone can afford to make that kind of splurge. And it’s not like we’re both bringin’ in CEO salaries, so we always second-guess spending that much money in one lump sum. Especially with kids.

Often times, that new bike is not an “absolutely need” but merely a “want.” And when we “want” a new bike it’s usually because it’s quite a looker. Which again, makes us a tad uncomfortable because we’re pretty subdued guys. 

Our wives know how much happiness we get from a bike so they support it whole heartedly, so it’s not that.

Are we alone here? Do you proudly roll around on your new bike, head held high, making sure to pop by every coffee shop/cyclist gathering spot to show it off? If so, good for you. We’ll be the ones over in the corner, jacket tossed over our new bike, shielding it from too much attention.