After a month of hemming and hawwing, I finally carried my butt up to the bike shop (aka Bloomington Cycle and Fitness) to talk to Caryn and Scott about what I’d need to make this trip possible. My goal for the day was leaving the shop with a list of supplies, including prices, so I could tally and see if it would even be financially reasonable for me to attempt this trip.

My budgetary concern, which I’m worried (read: know) is a mask for trying to get out of this trip, is real and involves un/related issues such as my “oops I forgot to renew my student loan forebearance” snafu this past month, my dead dishwasher, and the new custom orthotics I just got (and still have to pay for). I reaally don’t like to talk about money, so let’s just say that all of the above items have my savings wiped out through March, so emotionally jumping into this trip is hindered by the fact that I literally don’t think I can afford it. And I’m mad about that because cycling should be for everyone — and it is, if it’s ol’ Fred we’re talking about. (Fred is my current bike. Pictures to come.) But Fred will not make it to Purdue (or, rather, *I* will not make it to Purdue if I’m riding on Fred). I can’t even make it up the hill on Ladies Ride Night with Fred because he’s a beautiful steel-framed, 1950s, Sears, single-speed, beach cruiser with pedal brakes and a newspaper basket. Fred rocks. But I need a new bike.

Luckily, I know bike shop owners who can help me decipher all the mechanics and purchasing of bicycle things that I will need for this trip. And that’s the scary emotional part for me. Because I know there are things I will need for a 100-mile trip that have never occured to me, like wicking underwear, and I also know that cycling IS a specialized sport and that some bike shops in town are just mean and rude and snotty to folks who aren’t specialists. (And, no, I’m not talking about the brand.) I am not a cycling specialist, and never plan (at this point) on being one. I just want to be me but I want to ride a bike to Purdue. And then we’ll see. Scott and Caryn get that. And they know me, so they also know what I’l like in a bike. They showed me a catalog with the Haul in it, and I think I’m in love. I have to do more research, but thanks to BCF, I have a list (which I will offer in another post) and a place to start.