"If you Listen Very Carefully"

If you listen very carefully you may hear a grown man giggling like a schoolgirl! Why? Because his wife just fulfilled her wedding vows! No not those vows! The one where she said(our vow renewal last year) that she would buy me the bike of my dreams, if I only lived long enough to enjoy it. Well, with a little help I did my part, and as stated she has lived up to her commitment.

I was originally going to wait until the spring, but for whatever reason the feeling came over me and so I thought I would start my search. I set out this morning with a detailed plan to visit 6 different bike stores in the Toronto area. It didnt start out very well as I got away later then planned because of a bunch of errands I had to run, and then when I was almost to Cambridge I almost had a heart attack when I realized that the gas gauge was way, way below zero. I knew when leaving the house that it was low, but in my excitement I had completely forgotten to fill it. After some real anxiety heading down the highway, I finally got to an off ramp, breathed a sigh of relief and headed back out to TO. I was starting to wonder by then if I would be able to hit all the shops before closing time, and that fear was quickly aggravated when I arrived at my first stop, La Bicicletta. Normally I don't like to do any advertising but as I continue my story you will see why I have chosen to do so this time. Anyway I arrive there, have a quick look around, and finally attract the attention of a salesperson. I told him that I wanted to buy a bike, and his first question was not "ok sir, what kind of bike would you like to buy?" Rather it was, "do you have an appointment?". An apppointment I said? I didn't need have to have an appointment when I bought my first triathlon bike at Canadian Tire 15 years ago. Well he patiently explained how things work now, or at least at that particular bike shop. Apparently, you make an appointment for a "fitting" with the resident expert, and then you start the actual purchase. My guard was up right away, because I already knew how that sales approach works. First they commit so much time and effort in kissing your butt, such that you then feel a sense of obligation to buy whatever they want to sell you. But, apparenetly the "expert" would have some time for me today, so I thought what the hell. This was going to be a very special purcahse for me, and there was no way I was going to buy something I didn't want. As well by this time I knew there was no way I was going to make the rounds of all the shops I had planned so I might as well see what they have to say. So 10 mintes later this young man came up to me and introdued himself as Heath, and the fun began. I pride myself on my instincts for reading people quickly. Sometimes I am wrong but not this time. I knew within 3 minutes that I had stumbled onto a winner. Heath allowed me to tell him my history, and my dream, and immediatley I knew I had someone new on my side that wanted me to be successful. To make the rest of the story short, I spent 2 hours with Heath and walked out of the store with the bike of my dreams, and a new friend. Two things that are very, very rare. Thank you Heath Cockburn!




Click on the pic,s if you really want to see my stupid grin!!

It's amazing what 20 lbs of carbon fibre, with some rubber and a few bits of steel and aluminum thrown in, can do for someone who appreciates that kind of stuff. The frame, forks, wheels, seatpost and even the cranks are all carbon fibre. That's without mentioning that it's a Quintana "ROO" Calliente (spanish for hot). It's enough to get a man believing in god eh Peter? Heath tells me that I will feel like I've gone from a station wagon to a Ferrari. I'll find out tomorrow morning. I'm not however going to expect anything special other than lookin good! After all that was the main reason for buying it in the first place.

As to working out today, there's not much to report. All I did was a 1500m swim this morning. If my body is a temple, then today that would be the "temple of doom". My back is really sore, and so I have to be careful the next couple of days.

And that's it. I need to get a good nights sleep. I promise to have somethinh more inspirational tomorrow

I wish to dedicate day 27 to my nephew Andy, who, I conclude, after looking at his left arm today, is probably "not" any smarter than me, but still a really cool guy!

"Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever.”....Lance Armstrong

Live Strong!
Love
Peter