i'm a conformer

so i broke down yesterday and shelled out a little over a hundred bucks for what seems to be a fairly functional, decent ride.

of course, as i was rolling into the lab this morning, i upshifted too fast or something, and the rear derailleur went straight off the gear... fortunately, I was uphill from the bike rack, so I just cruised in and parked, and managed not to look like too big of an idiot. then later this afternoon i went out and fidgeted with it, and managed to get the chain back on. the other problem it has is that the front derailleur doesn't always upshift, but it always does after i move the lever back down and back up.

i'm already compiling a mental list of things i need for this baby:
1 - a name.
2 - a front reflector. (didn't notice that one when i bought it... could be important.)
3 - a new saddle (my ass is a bit sore... fortunately it's not my lady parts that are the bruised, like the last time i rode a bike. THAT was enough to put me off biking for like, a year and a half.)

we start getting wish-listy, and i think of many more ways i could throw money into it:
4 - new pedals (and maybe shoes)
5 - convert the shifters to being on the handlebars not the frame
6 - a new bike. this one is a wee bit big for me at 58cm... not TOO big, I can stand over it, but not flat-footed... but I might do better with a 54 or 56. but if i had, say, $500 to spend instead of $100 you bet i'd be a bit pickier.

we'll see how i feel after using it to commute for awhile. i tell you, it was nice not having to coordinate my departure this morning with the bus schedules... no more "shit! the 8:42 came already. i could wait until 8:57, or just walk..." fortunately, the weather cooperated today, for the most part. i'm sure it won't always be so nice, but it was a good first day of biking.

the next trick is to build mental bike-maps of my neighborhood. i think i found a good way to get to the lab, but there are so many ways. the key will be to find which has the fewest uphills. ;) also, i thought it would be scary biking on roosevelt in morning rush hour, but it wasn't too bad. maybe i just got lucky this morning. only time will tell. but it's also nice, because my lab is downhill from my house, so i can mostly just coast in in the morning, not have to worry about being sweaty, then get my real workout on the way home.

plus, i find when i get home and i've just worked out, i'm much more likely to have a healthy dinner, and not snack as much at night. this could be a very good thing for someone struggling to fit in her pants.