My New Hearts Desire!

Yesterday the boys and I skipped school and drove 4.5 hrs to Eugene Oregon and then back for a total of 9hrs in the car before the day was through.  Why you might ask?  To test ride this beauty!

This is not just a Triple Tandem bike.  This is a triple tandem bike that can break down into 2 suitcases for
- easy storage
- easy car travel
- easy plane travel
- easy train travel
- easy elephant travel
- easy camel travel

See where I am going with this?  This bad boy is going to open up the door to possibility.  For 3 years I have been biking with both boys attached to me.  Xander in a seat on my handle bars and Soren in a trailing bike.  It was awesome.  I got a work out, we could go fast, and I wasnt' constantly scared someone was going to biff it, landing in the street and die, or not stop fast enough and get hit by a car, or miscalculate their speed and fly into the lake - all things which have been near misses for us.  Last summer was the first time they were not connected to me.  I loved seeing them ride on their own and was ecstatic when they lost the training wheels.  However after 10 minutes I quickly realized the bummers about "family bike rides" - predominantly the speed of the bike and fear of dismembering limbs.  And so one day I let myself fantasize what type of bike I would like.  I had decided a triple tandem that breaks down would have to be it.  But who makes those. I mean really?  But I flipped my lap top open and in 20 second googled "folding triple tandem" and got a hit.  WHAT?!  They actually make these?  Although expensive it is not fiscally impossible.  And although the store is far, still close enough to try out.  OH MY GOODNESS!  My heart started racing and my mind started running.  "I think I need this" was my conclusion.  I have been working extra shifts and talking to people who knew me about it.  And although this bike made everyone laugh, they all concluded, "yes, I think you need that."

So, yesterday, we did it.  We rented 6 movies from Redbox, set up the portable DVD player, hit he store for snacks and made the drive.  Xander was pitifully sick.  He coughed for the first 5 hours straight and at one point had a fever.  But, if we were at home, he would probably be watching TV all day anyway, so why not in the car I rationalized.  We went on a 45 minutes bike ride to see what the bike was like.  The boys were so close to me I could hear them each talking.  I loved their happy chatter and conversations we had.  I could feel the "turbo boost" they would give when they pedaled hard.  Several times Xander lost his footing on the pedals and we devise a system to work as a team to help him.  I was officially IN LOVE.  I adore activities that require people to work well together as a team.  My favorite sports are team sports.  Anything that encourages that in my family with an air of adventure makes my heart start to flutter.   True the bike is like a semi when it turns and you can feel sideways wobbles, but that is the cost of any tandem.  The bike itself is sturdy and strong, even at the joints. It is well made.

And soooooo.......we bought it on the spot.  Along with mud flaps, a rear cargo rack and adjustable pedels for a better fit for Xander.  Come April (it is custom build and we got a discount if we wait several months) we will be biking in style.  I am already day dreaming of biking and camping Hawaii, no driving Fridays, and dropping and picking up the boys from school with the most awesome ride ever.  I hope people will see us all over town riding this thing and say to themselves, "oh there goes that one biking family.....with all their groceries.  I even day dream how to carry lumber home with it. I mean seriously, isn't that so cool?  Okay so Home Depot runs maybe extreme, but a girl can dream right?  I hope to build many many memories with my boys and this thing.  Thank you Bike Friday!  I can't wait for April!!