4/19/09 - Tempted by the Evil Empire

I've been wanting a bike for a while now, but I held off purchasing one mostly because I traveled so much. It would end up just sitting around all the time gathering dust. Plus, I lived in Seattle for a while which is very hilly and not really conducive to riding a bike unless you're an avid cyclist, which I am NOT! Then I lived in Utah on/off during traveling, still very hilly and again wasn't home much. Now I'm in Chicago, which is FLAT!! and since my traveling has now decreased to about 20% per year instead of 80 to 90% per year I went ahead and bought one. I looked around at bike shops, sporting goods stores, new bikes, used bikes and of course I found the best deal at a place I really prefer not to give my business to...the store that must not be named...the evil empire itself...WALMART! dun-dun-da-duuuuun! I know, I know, it's terrible...I feel guilty...I feel dirty, but David made me do it!! :) He made me go in there.



I wanted something simple, in a neutral color, that had a wider seat and multiple gears, that was under $250. All the other bikes I saw at the other places were between $239 - $579 so some were in my price range, but they were all brightly colored. I wanted something gray, black or white, maybe a blue or purple if it was dark, but everyting was electric purple or blue or pink and auqua or some crazy color like that.



Then as we turned the corner to the bike aisle, there it was, right on the end, a sliver/gray street bike, with a wide seat and multiple gears and on sale for only $179! How could it be, why would I be tempted so...I tried to resist...I even went acorss the street to Dick's Sporting goods and I tried to find one there, that I liked, really I did, but alas...I was weak and couldn't pass up the perfect bike and the perfect price even if it meant buying from the evil W.