I was JUST talking about this the other day to Bill. I came home from work, went for a ride on my stepdaughter’s bike (which I do fairly regularly), and then did all my evening stuff – kids, dance, housework, whatever. I went to bed and as we fell asleep, I said, “I love to bike ride. And I want my own bike. I hate shopping for a bike and I have kind of accepted that the bike will just find me.” Bill patted me and murmured. He’s nice, but he doesn’t get it. I mean, I go to bike shops, I answer ads, I LOOKED for a bike last summer. And it’s not right and I can’t tell you why and I am frustrated and feel stupid and I am not a super serious rider, I just want MY OWN BIKE. So I ride my mountain bike (which I love, but it’s not a road bike) and I ride my stepdaughter’s touring bike (which is ok, but it’s not mine) and I make do. But after reading this, I have stopped thinking that my bike will find me. I need to find it. Or I need to find someone who can make it happen.

The issue of bikes for women in HUGE. I mean HUGE. And I am so very glad for people like Natalie. And I am so glad that I feel validated. I feel energized to look again.