The Name Game

3/4 of my family can fit comfortably on the Ute.  On Tuesday, we needed to go on a grocery store run and so I pedaled and Chris and Lily sat on the back.  Unfortunately I'm not so good at hauling that much weight yet.  A little awkward going up the little hill (and tough on the lungs) but possible.  That makes me happy.  With a little training, I think I'll be pulling everyone up the big hills.  Chris lugged us home after shopping and was a pro.

I'm still in love and think the Ute is the most amazing bike I've had the privilege of riding.

I have the day off tomorrow and the weekend is looking like the most beautiful weather of the year.  I am planning some major miles for my trusty friend.  By the way, she needs a name.  The Ute is definitely a girl.  Suggestions?

The Ute's First Commute

Chris is still "working out the kinks" on my Ute for me.  He took it on it's maiden work commute today.  I'm pretty sure the only time I've ever seen him happier was at the birth of our children and maybe our wedding day.  


He says, and I quote, "It rides better than any bike I've ever owned. I may run off and elope with it. It's been really hard for me not to run down and do a few laps around the parking lot."  The funny thing is, I wasn't really bothered by that.  :-)  


The weekend weather forecast is looking to be beautiful.  I expect a grand journey on the Ute for me.  I am daydreaming about traversing the multiuse paths in the area, ringing my happy little bell, grinning like an idiot.  


In other news, the CannonballX is being powder coated this week.  All the Xtracycle components will be in on Friday.  It looks like I may regain possession of my longtail in a week!

The Ute is the Loot and my Husband is the Thief

Over at Chris' blog, he has extensively pined for the Xtracycle coversion of his 1994 model Cannondale.  When I say extensively, I mean borderline stalker-type posts.  Guess what he hasn't done in the past 48 hours?  Talked about the CannonballX.  Why, dear reader, you might ask?  Oh, because he has hijacked my new bike.  

The Ute is being loving referred to as the new family car.  I was pretty sure it was mine, but Chris has piloted it far more than I this weekend.  I suppose I don't really mind to share, but when I want to ride, he better let me!

So far my thoughts on the bike are this:

First, it is a really comfortable bike.  The handle bars are cruiser style and keep you sitting up on the equally comfortable seat.  The grips are faux cork and easy to hang on to.

It is a nice looking bike.  While I could stand for a girly colored option, the black is nice.  The deck is a finished hardwood and the grain is pretty.  The bags this year are brown as opposed to the orange of previous models.

The gears are fabulous.  It's a 16-speed.  I was nervous about that, just because I am used to the 27-speed Giant (which I have ridden a lot this weekend--because Chris was, well, riding the Ute!)  I was worried it would be difficult to ride up the many hills of Arvada, but so far it seems to be great.  Loaded with groceries and/or kids might be a different blog post.  :)

So far my only qualm is the brakes.  It comes with disc brakes and these are squeaky and noisy.  My father has given me some useful tips to remedy this issue, so we'll keep tinkering with.  They stop me like they should and are responsive, so for the most part I really shouldn't complain.

They love it as much as we do!

In other news, we have made the executive decision to do carless weekends.  We managed to only do one trip by car in 48 hours.  With a little more planning we could have gone completely without it.  The Ute makes this idea so much more feasible and with the CannonballX coming next weekend, things will be a total breeze.

Longtail Adventures Begin

Chris rolled in from work a couple hours early this afternoon.  Cash in hand, the whole family ventured to Downtown Denver to visit our favorite bike shop.  Salvagetti Bicycle Workshop is a fabulous little place off Platte and 16th St.  They just happen to be an Xtracycle and Kona dealer.

As we walked in, I heard angels sing.  Pretty sure the light moved just enough to highlight the beauty of the Ute sitting along the left wall.  Grinning like an idiot, I told Scott (the owner) I wanted to test ride the bike.  I'm sure he was happy at the prospect of us actually spending money there.  

I was instantly in love.

In the off chance it didn't work for me, we didn't have any great backup plans.  I was sure it would work.  

The guys dropped the seat lower for my little legs and handed me a helmet.  It was so much lighter than I expected!  I plotted the route I would take in my head--over the Highland Bridge to Commons Park and back.  Off I went.  Off I flew!  The glorious seat--so comfortable.  The gears, shifting smooth and easy.  Brakes.  Oh the brakes.  Disc brakes that stopped on a dime.  Needless to say, we bought it.

Did I mention, I am in love.  

Coming home was interesting.  We're going to have to modify the racks on the roof of our car, but I don't anticipate driving the bike much anyway.

A few tweaks at home and we were ready to go.  Chris headed off first, since he hadn't had a chance to try it.  Up and down our little street he flew.  Then it was my turn.  I decided I wanted to see how it would feel with a load on the back, so I convinced him to jump on the deck and I hauled him up and down the street.  Not too bad at all!  Groceries won't be a problem at all.  We switched places and he gave it a try with me on the back.  By then the kids realized we were giving rides and were eager to join in on the fun.  Chris and Boone went first.  I think the bike makes them as happy as it does me.  Lily gave it a go and giggled like fiend.  

We've probably given the bike a good 10 miles just bopping around the neighborhood.  It is as awesome as I had imagined.

Kona Owna'....Soon!

Yesterday may have been my last trip to the grocery store by car.  No, my car isn't in need of repair.  I hope to be the owner of a darling Kona Ute by the end of the weekend.  (See the blog title above.)  My husband suggested I get one a few months ago.  I have to admit, the first time I saw it, I lusted and was afraid.  The Ute is a longtail bike--much larger than anything I've piloted before.  With the large saddlebags and utility deck on the back, hauling groceries and the kids will be a snap...once I learn to tame the beast.  Pictures and reports to follow.