bike lust

In this case it was a slow rolling boulder that brought on the current jones'n for a specific frame.

Started off innocently enough up in Putney. A guy was preppin his Yeti for the race. I think maybe a HorstB guy maybe? don't remember much other than the Yeti colors and the arc stays and the fact that it was a cross bike. First glance i figured, like a few others at this event, it was a mt bike. Nope. Cross bike.

So, not much happens of it. And then i'm reading mud and cowbells as i'm eating my chinese food truck szechuan beef with some Mapo Tofu doused in 2-3 tablespoons if hot chili sauce. Specifically "the tunnel of light" and when he mentioned yeti, the trigger was pulled. Ah. Yeti. lemme check on the web page. What is up with the cross bike.

Okay - before i get there: why the fascination with Yeti anyway? What is the big deal? Yeti owners were/are like Klein owners. Fiercely loyal and passionate about their rides. And for the most part Mt bikers. I didn't get it, until. Until one day we had a test bike in the shop. It was a large, not an extra large. didn't fit me great. But i could get the seat high enough that i could pedal in a motion somewhat close to my clown bikes. So i rode it. I took it out to Rose Lake. Holy freaking crap. Talk about an AMAZING ride. The only other bikes i've been on with that sort of holy shit this is how a bike is supposed to ride feeling have been my Kleins. Sure, a bike is a bike, but the bike should feel alive and connected with you. It should be a part of you, enhancing the riding, not making you fight for it.

The yeti had me flying through stuff faster than i'd done. It felt fast. I think i was faster. And no, it wasn't just the smallish frame. I've been on smallish frames before. Ridden other people's bikes for the hell of it. Nah. This was different.

Sort of like when you made out with the chick that was way hot in high school, but then never figured out how to ask her out on a date and get stuff going. But man, that kiss was great. And to think. If i'd whole sale dropped the Kleins for the Yeti at that point? Who knows what i'd be doing now. But, like the kiss, there were other things in the way.

But that impression on that ride. Like nothing else. Hey it wasn't like we didnt' get some sweat ass cool bikes come through the shop. We had plenty of them. Just for me, next to the Klein Adroit, there wasn't ANYTHING as sweet as the Yeti ARC.

So i click over and check out the cross bike. Oh... my...

Okay. So the frame is gorgeous. Ya know? I even like the color. Not just like but i LIKE it. Awesome. And best part?

The size. The top tube is effectively just under 60 cm. It is like they made one just for me. No. not the lightest frame... but...

um...

wow, i'm like in love or something...

Pretty high bottom bracket tho... only drops 61mm... so i dunno... i kinda like the low bottom bracket in concept and report. But then maybe the Croll is sitting around at that number. If the same... would make for a smooth transition.

But ya never know until you ride it. I rode a Ridley Supercross in the monster size. Honestly, and yes i know we are sponsored by them (here have a discount sponsorship, not here is a free frame sponsorship), but riding it around, it felt dead. Lifeless. And very strange when shouldering. Didn't feel right at all. Granted there are lots of guys loving their Ridleys. Heck a handful of the team is riding them. They love em. Me? Not so much. I dunno tho... Sure, the Yeti comes out of a Mt Bike heritage. In many ways so do i. A retail price of 1099 including an Easton EC-90x and a Chris King headset... heck that's less than the team sponsored cost for a Supercross... sadly...

Ah to dream.

Sure, the speedvagen is the holy grail right now. Sure, it is something so unattainable for me that it might as well not exist. But, hey. Without Dreams, you have no goals. With out goals, you make no progress.

The most progress is made by reaching for goals just out of your grasp. Although i don't see anything changing about my being able to reach a speedvagen unless i start playing powerball or something and then actually winning.

But i go back to the Yeti and look at the enlarged shot... it is sooooooo cool. Sooooo freaking dreamy...

*sigh*