Radio Free Kirkopolis

About a year ago I was meandering through my LBS (that’s local bike shop for the rest of you) and spied a very nice GT ZR4000, just my size, sitting alone and upsettingly still in road racks. I knew this thing had to be two or three years old as GT was bought out sometime ago by retail bike king Pacific (they supply Wal Mart). Several companies such as Schwin, certain divisions of LeMond and Raleigh went as well. Anyway, it was the last of the real GT’s. My mountain bike is a GT as well, so I was drawn to it via instinct.
Also evident to it’s long-standing in the shop was the price tag. Turns out this bike is a 2000 model, but bike technology at this level doesn’t change that drastically so it’s no big deal, but when you have old inventory that will dictate a change in price. Originally this bike went for about $1000, which in today’s terms would be about $1200, however it was marked down to $800. Now, $800 is nice and all, but still a little much for me, at least at this point. So, I started saving.
Fast forward about a year.
I know its January, and there’s no real reason to go to a bike shop while there’s snow on the ground, but I was bored. So I go meandering through my LBS again, and whom do I see? Why none other than the seed of loins- still in the rack. He was still pretty much the same, except his price tag now said $650. Lucky for me there are very few road riders in Southern Illinois, let alone ones that are small enough for a 50cm frame. So little in fact the bike didn’t move for almost 5 ½ years.
Man was I in luck. I had been saving over the past few months so I was pretty sure I’d be able to pull this one off. So I went home and whined (yes, I whined, a high pitched, nasaly, frumpy whine) to Jennifer about how I promised I was going to ride it all the time (and feed it, give it water, take it for walks etc.) after about two weeks of this she gave up and gave me the go ahead.
So here I am.
Frame constructed of Reynolds 7005 aluminum, Shimano Tiagra components, Mavic XP11 wheels and it all weighs about the same as a gallon of milk.
It was kinda warm today so I put on my winter gear and took if for a 10 mile spin. Holy Crap! My mountain bike was pretty good on the roads but that was like riding a dead cow compared to this. Climbing hills on the roadie took 1/3 the effort than on the MTB. That only makes for longer, more enjoyable rides.
Anyway, I’m sure nobody reading this (if there’s anyone who even bothered to read this far) that gives a rat’s ass about any of this- but I do.
I’m one happy camper.