I bought a bike

OK, as Katie hinted about, it's time for an update on my plans to bike to work. I bought a bike! After riding a low-end Scott, a Rocky Mountain Metro 30, a Rocky Mountain RC 30 DISC and a Scott Sub 10. I finally settled on a Rocky Mountain RC 50 DISC from Reser Bicycle Outfitters in Newport. The picture to the left is a stock picture of the RC 50 from Rocky Mountain's website. Mine is pretty much the same, but it's black.

If you're ever in the market for a bike, I highly recommend Reser. They are very knowledgeable, helpful, and encourage you to test ride a lot of bikes so you can get a feel of what you're comfortable with. As an added bonus, they don't make fun of you when you're so out of shape that after your first test ride you're so worn out that you have to go home and take a break and come back a few hours later - or so I've heard.

Anyway, I've taken it on a ride around the neighborhood and around town. Both rides confirmed that I am very out of shape (as if there was a doubt after my test ride). Tomorrow morning is my first commute to work, about 7.4 miles. Going to work will be bad enough, but at least it's a lot of downhill (300 ft decrease in elevation), and it'll be relatively cool. What I'm really dreading is the ride home, uphill in the afternoon. If I make it, I'll let you know how it went.