Quest for the Holy Grail

Did you know that they melted down the Holy Grail and made it into a bike? I know this because I went on a personal quest for it today.

(Holding coconuts) Clop, clop, clop.*

About a month ago, my BF went to a sports store in Seattle that is going out of business and was having a huge sale. His mission: a new bike. While I was at this sports store, I found a girls bike leaning in the corner, and I sat on it to ride it around the store. Mostly out of boredom. I’ve had a trusty mountain bike that I got for Christmas in 10th grade, and I never felt the need to upgrade since I’m not an avid rider. Except I fell in love with this bike during the two loops that I made around the store. It had handle bars that perfectly curved back for women’s smaller arms. The seat was on a suspension system that would gently sit back every time you moved or went over a bump. (Which I later found is patented to K2). AND, it was cute and girly with flowers on the frame. I wanted it bad. The price tag, however, wasn’t something I was prepared for. So, I sadly left the bike at the store.

In the next month, all I could think about was the bike. I told everyone I knew about it. I pictured how DIFFERENT my life would be – “If I had this bike, I’d ride it everywhere, and I’d get totally skinny and HOT,” I’d say inside my head. “I’ll start riding my bike to work! I won’t eat Taco Bell at 2 a.m. or make Belgium waffles so I can dip them in cream cheese frosting anymore!” (Someone please throw out the tub of frosting that is still sitting in my fridge from my BF’s birthday cake. Please). I went to the Web site and drooled at it – I read reviews and decided that I MUST have this bike.

Yesterday I found it on Amazon.com for nearly half the price. I decided it was going to be mine. But when went to make the purchase today, I realized the only size they had was meant for girls 5’9’’ and above. Let me tell you, that’s not me. I do not originate from The Amazon. My heart sank. I startled Googling for the bike, but I couldn’t find the size and model I needed anywhere for sale in ALL of the Internet universe. WTF?

K2 listed REI as their only retail provider, but REI's site didn't have the bikes. I was getting a little nervous. I decided to call all the REIs in the state of Washington, desperate for one last in-store model. Store 1, none. Store 2, none. Store 3, not the model I wanted. Store 4, not the model I wanted. Store 5 was all too kind to tell me that K2 is discontinuing their bikes, and pretty much “you don’t have a chance in hell in finding it.”

I started to panic. Finally, one store searched their inventory lists and told me they had one in the size I needed in Oregon, one in New Jersey and one a size larger at a local store.

I started to feel a bit jittery and nervous as I dialed the number to the local store. I’d make the size a little bit larger work! I’d where platform sandals every time I rode it! I HAD.TO.HAVE this bike!

“Ohhhh. I think we just sold that this morning,” the guy in the local REI’s bike department told me.

F*&#!

I had most definitely fallen in love with the Holy Grail of bicycles.

I made the one last phone call to the REI in Oregon for the bike. This was my only chance at true bike love. Otherwise, I was destined to be bitter and trip all the girls I ever see who were lucky enough to buy this bike before it turned into the Holy Grail. The store in Oregon hadn’t sold theirs yet AND it was the color I wanted (something I was going to budge on, but I wanted the pink one over the red, obvs.)

VICTORY! VICTORY!

This sweet little number is going to be on her way to me this week:

I can’t wait! I better go finish the tub of frosting before she gets here…

*If you got that reference. You rock. If you didn’t, you must go watch Monty Python and the Holy Grail immediately.

Currently Feeling: Stressed out about this project I have to launch next Wednesday at work. I can’t seem to focus, and it’s not done. Grr.
Currently Anticipating: Happy hour and a night out tonight, hanging out with a long lost girl friend tomorrow night and the Seattle Cheese Festival on Sunday at Pike Place Market!
Currently Loving: That it’s going to be in the 70s this weekend! Hello sunshine! I think I’m in love with you.