A girl can dream.

As most of you know by now, I would really love a Yeti Cross Bike. It is my dream bike! They just look so ace and shiney and I have set my heart on owning one. They are bikes with a soul and as I don’t like soul-less bikes it seems like the perfect option. Some may say that, this statement may seem a little odd coming from a girl who owns a Specialized, but before you judge me, the Globe was the only bike that ticked all the right boxes without having to buy loadsa extras at an additional cost. I wanted a nice commuting hybrid with all the necessities – lights, mud-guards, kickstand, etc and the deal clincher was the fact that it doesn’t advertise the fact that it’s a Specialized. Which BTW is great as most “Scroats” and “Scallies” know about Spesh and aren’t that opposed to knocking slower riders, like myself, off of them and nicking them. It was perfect for when we lived in Stretford - as it meant I could ride to boho Chorlton for our organic veg or a Shandy at our fave pub.

The only thing is that, since my re-found love for cycling, I feel like I have in some ways out-grown him. I still need a utility bike for commuting or to pop up the hill to the local farm shop or even into town. But I desperately need a speedier lighter bike now, so I can continue to improve and achieve a higher mileage. (Not forgetting, I need a bike that I can use for my first ever Cross race.)

So, as I said before, the Yeti ARC X would be my ideal bike. It has a soul, looks great and would make me feel like a Princess. But the only downside is the price (even at trade). Am I being silly wanting a bike of that quality when I could get a half decent, mass produced model that would meet my needs at a more reasonable price? Mullerton says I should get an “off the rack” bike for now - One that I won’t form any attachments to, so that in a year if I am in a better paid job and still riding I can fulfil my Yeti dream.

The thing is can I do it? I don’t want to! I can’t bring myself to get an adequate (but in my eyes soul-less) bike. I have my standards – as ridiculous as they are for someone with my abilities. It’s not about me being vain either. I don’t want it to make me look good (a bike, no matter how pretty, can’t perform miracles). I just want it to feel good - I want the perfect bike for a perfect ride.

Unfortunately, it is an unrealistic dream, so for now I am in limbo. For now, my trusty Globe will have to continue to be my road bike. *Sigh!* That is unless anyone can give me any ideas for a new bike that wont cost the earth but still has some soul? (Either that or help me through my judgementalism for Mass produced bikes...!) ;-)