Back to my bike! First of all, when I went into International Bicycle, the guy who had originally sold me my bike came over and said he remembered me. He asked all about my bike, how I like it, and how the commuting is going. I was duly impressed that he remembered a customer from six months ago.

There were about four guys in the shop and it seemed like none of them had much to do so we all swapped stories and advice. The employees at International are so fun and nice! It reminded me a bit of the camaraderie you see in a ski shop. Just a bunch of people who are genuinely interested in the products they sell.

One guy was a fellow winter biker, and he explained to me that he likes to use the smallest tires possible to try to cut through the snow, rather than huge knobby tires. I got a flat a couple of months ago and the shop I went to didn’t have the most knowledgeable staff. They sold me a big huge mountain biking tire, probably relying completely on guesswork.

Long story short, I was sold on the slick new ones, so I got two and replaced both the front and rear. The best part about the new tires is that they are appropriate for year-round use; I thought I would have to switch out my tires every spring and fall. Hmm, I wonder if these babies will make me faster?

Bontrager Satellite Elite Hardcase

The conversation then turned to parts and wear, and I calculated the mileage I’ve done since June–nearly 2000 miles! Wow. If I can only make it through January, February is a short month, and then it’s March and spring. Right?