Summer 2009 Gear Wishlist

Since like most people, I have a pile of cash laying around to get all the gear I want and need, figure it is time to publish a wish list, in an attempt to share my expert knowledge.  (So glad that IT isn’t my only area of expertise, ego excluded. ).  Bare in mind my list will cover cycling, backpacking, kayaking, and general camping, biases fully enforced!

So, I’m shopping for a road bike…

My Trek FX 7300, a hybrid (part road, part mtb), only costed $400.  That was $400 well spent, since this bike has taken 4 years of my hard trail riding, logging 8000+ miles to date.  I might dress like a moutain biker most the time, but I ride more like a road warrior.  I need a road bike!!  A real road bike is expensive, even the cheap ones, yet worth every clam!

So here is my ever growing list of potential road bikes:

1.  Trek 2.1 ($1,319.99)
http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/road/2_series/21/
2. Blue 2Four ($1400-1500)
http://www.rideblue.com/2four.php
3. Specialized Allez ($880-1550)
http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?sid=09Allez
3. BMC SL01 ($1195)
http://www.cadencecycling.com/products/road/bicycles_framesets/bmc/SL01/
4. Cervelo RS ($3500) – [I can dream, can't I?!]
http://www.cervelo.com/bikes.aspx?bike=RS2009

thoughts: I like my bike shop and want to buy from them, yet they only sell Treks.  Knowing my Trek FX 7300 did me good, I would be fine with dishing out that kind of money for a bike that will handle what I’ll dish out.  But even so, I can still use my shop to fix whatever bike I get and I’m thinking of going “Blue 2Four”.  I’ve been seeing “Blue” pop up in ads on Bicycling Magazine lately and I like the components I see for the price they are going for, plus the fact it is made in the USA.  Regardless, I’ll test ride all but  the Cervelo in the next couple months and then carefully reach for my wallet.

Also looking for a new kayak…

1.  I’m likely going to get a cheap one like this Perception Acadia, where I’ve seen similar kayaks at Dicks Sporting Good for around the $300 price range.
2.  I could also just get another Old Towne kayak for that price, which is what I had before.  I don’t do enough kayaking to merit getting the ones I want.  I rather dump that money on bikes.
3.  This isn’t kayak gear, but I’d love to dump $50 into some fishing gear.  I’ve never owned fishing gear, since my dad had taken care of that growing up.  I heard in PA you can finally get a fishing license and trout stamp online.  You can also can register all those water crafts online too!  Tis sweet!

thoughts: For now, I’ll just rent or use the Outpost’s canoe, since my wallet is tied up on cycling.  I am not going to dump money into water sports, since I hardly get out and haven’t come close to the volume I did growing up.  Living closer to water would help, though I technically do.  Guess storage and transportation are my other issues.  Regardless, I’m going cheap and will cross my fingers for later.

And some camping gear I’d like to get…

1. An expert outdoorsman like me can never have enough SPORKS!  I love these!  Top of my gear list!  I almost cried when I temporarily misplaced my spork.  (I found it months later.)

2. I need (not want) either one of these 2-man tents, since my very cramped 1-man bivy won’t break:

(1) The North Face Tadpole 23 Tent
(2) Kelty Gunnison 2.1 Tent
(3) REI Half Dome 2 HC Tent
(4) The Northface DYAD 22

3. I highly recommend getting the GSI Pinnacle Soloist Cookset as your mess kit!  The duelist is equally good and a better deal to share with a pal.  I plan to get it by end of June!

4.  I need to stock up on some Under Armor short and long sleeve shirts!  (Right now I am wearing my UA white tshirt.)  I use Under Armor shirts, tights, underwear year round for cycling, hiking, backpacking, kayaking…  Good stuff, though pricy! (That plug should merit me at least free socks!)

5. And I’d like to also get…

OK, I’m going to stop there!

Going to an outfitter is just as dangerous as me going into a music store!  More lists to come some time in the future!

happy trails!

Silent Eagle

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2. Goal Setting: “Trying Tri” (2009-10)
3. Share Time: September 2009 Edition