Edits to the bike quiver.....

So, a bunch of stuff happened and the Howler will not be added to the quiver this season, but will hopefully join NEXT summer.....

First, I was bikeless, having sold or given away all three bikes last fall. The Stab arrived, and I was hopeful that the Howler would come soon as well, since the downhill (DH) trails weren't open, and the Stab is UTTERLY unsuitable for cross-country (XC) riding. Well, the XC trails were drying out and opening up and I was jonesing for something to ride.

The Kona rep for the shop called and told me my Howler had arrived in Vancouver, and so I'd have it in a week. A week goes by, then another has almost passed, and the rep calls back:

...um, I lied...your bike wasn't on that shipment. I really thought it was...
...but only two of the six bikes came in...
...and I just learned that those two are slated for other shops...
...your bike is on a freighter somewhere in the Pacific...
...not sure when it's going to arrive...

So, in an instant plans changed. I had a 4X race coming up in 3 weeks and needed to be sure I would have a bike by then. I also didn't want to wait that long before having a pedalable bike!

Called up Raleigh and ordered (an odd choice for sure) an XXIX , a 29" wheel, fully rigid, singlespeed!

Reasoning:

• Good training (can't pussy out and downshift on the climbs, you gotta STAND UP AND PEDAL BEYOTCH!)
• Inexpensive
• Biggest reason: they could have it to me in 4 days, and I'd have something to ride!
• Beautiful

So in the meantime, the saga continues. My friend has built up a KHS Witchdoctor (sorry, no pics / links), which happens to be a 4X / Slalom type bike, and is planning on selling it on eBay. Instead, he sells it to me, and I promptly cancel my order for the Howler, since I just got two bikes for the price of the Howler...and have them sooner. I have no idea if the bike has arrived or not, and if I would have had it on time or not, but I'm happy for now. I've gotten quite a few rides in, and B and I are headed down to Moab this weekend - I'm taking all 3 of my new biking babies!!!

As for B, he's still not quite able to pedal - to update the heel / stitches saga, the wound got infected while out in Placid, and the doctors had to cut open the wound and remove a bunch of, um, stuff. So, he's been shoeless for 2 months now! The cut has finally scabbed over, but he can't do any of our usual epic rides in Moab. Sigh.

He did get a new bikethough...and can't wait to ride it!!!