Miss Sarah. Sport Makeover.

OMG. That's right. I wore "gear" to bike down to the Edmonton Folk Music Festival this past weekend. Rode the road bike for the following reasons:

1. Our folk festival is located in the river valley, so it's hills both going and coming home. Road bike is my lightest bike, and fast.
2. It's a very casual setting and you're outside ALL DAY. Plus, the main stage is on a very steep hill. Combine that with heat, the beer gardens, and the hiking required to get from stage to stage... heels would be very foolish (especially when the grass is wet and dewy).
3. I was wearing my camping back pack. No hand bag.
4. Don rode the mountain bike with a cargo trailer attached, so he brought the chairs and cooler (no need for me to carry any of the cargo)
5. I haven't ridden the road bike for over a year and it's been in my shed, sorely neglected.
6. Everybody has dirty crusted feet and is covered in suncreen and sweat so being "fresh" really wasn't a priority.

I rode the Pashley last year and it was by no means a chore. Actually, on that bike I was able to bring snacks, all my gear including the chair on the rear rack, and it was still a lovely ride. I just figured when in Rome...

Things of note on the road bike:

1. It IS lighter and faster, and therefore scarier. Going head first down a hill at crazy speeds feels more life threatening than just coasting along while sitting upright!
2. It is so light that at times I noticed I was coasting comfortably, even going uphill.
3. The hills are easier.
4. People who "know" about bikes compliment me on the bike. They all think it's a fixie.
5. My dress gets caught in the spokes when I'm going fast. Dirty new dress = sadness.
6. I also get bike grease on my leg.

It was really fun! If one has the luxury of having a garage and doesn't have to store multiple bikes in, or haul multiple bikes up to an apartment (or worry about security issues), having a stable full of different bikes is really nice.

So here I am. On my road bike. Sporty!

Helmet with holes for ventilation.




Bike shoes with clips for special pedals.




Honey Brooks saddle.




Gloves. On the first day I rode I didn't wear these. Ow, my hands. Ow, my elbows. Ew, the sweat. That purple wrist band was my special four-day pass! The dress is from the craft tent, from what I assume is a local designer? I took off the tags and wore it right after I bought it without really looking at the name.



Dexter came out with us on Wed night and Friday night. Don's parents babysat for one of the evenings and over the weekend Dexter went to stay with my mom & dad. It went really well! He didn't have to sweat and swelter on the hill with the rest of us, and it meant I didn't have to carry nearly as much gear. Mom & Dad also got their fix of the baby too. Everybody wins!

It was brought to my attention again by my mother, that Dexter is a very sleepy baby. He loves sleep. Here he is at my capital health mom group on picture day. Everybody is squirming, cooing, pooing, crying... whatever. And here Dexter is sleeping almost the entire time. Note the aforementioned cloth diapers! I don't even bother with pants since it's summertime.




Laying next to a cute girl, but too sleepy to notice.




Still snoozing.