FROM THE DESK OF ROMIL DAQUILA: Ride the Wind. Chapter 3.

The small bike store we visited was owned by an Indian family. I was impressed by how much of a family affair it was where even mama “G” worked the register. She knew her stuff too and repeatedly blew me away with her knowledge of the Shimano, SRAM, and Thompson lines. She also knew exactly how to tempt me with new parts for my bike. But I’m getting ahead of myself…

One of the store policies was free test rides of any bike in the store. I was tempted to take out a thoroughbred like a Specialized S Works Tarmac. But much like I won’t drive a brand new BMW, I decided not too. I believe you shouldn’t drive or ride something you can’t own yet. (Funny that rule should apply to women too…) I realized that I needed to focus on my needs and consulted with a one of the sales associates about commuting. He directed me to a 2005 Specialized Sirrus Sport which he said was probably the best bet for my needs.

A hybrid, which combines characteristics of both mountain bikes and road bikes, the Sirrus was the first real crossover bike ever introduced to the market in the late 90s. The Sirrus combines the speed and agility of a road bike with the comfort, strength, and maneuverability of a mountain bike. An extra bonus on the Sirrus Sport was that it utilized a disc brake system that allowed full stopping power in all weather conditions. In short the Sirrus was built for commuting. It was love at first sight for me.

My addiction was back and within two weeks I was the proud owner of a Sirrus Sport and I began riding the 20 km to work almost immediately. Although I would often get a ride from girlfriend for the ride home, I would also frequently do the trip on my bike. I worked nightshift at the time and riding home at 2 am through the cool spring and summer night was exhilarating.

Since I was working, I was able to modify the bike at will. This was an aspect of cycling I did not get to experience in Fresno. Back then I was pretty much limited to things I could convince my parents to buy for me.

The first modifications I made to the Sirrus were minor, and in my eyes, essential. These included the installation of a Cateye trip computer that kept track of my speed, trip length, and total mileage. I also flipped my stem to make my riding stance more aggressive. (This was suggested to me by my friendly bike store family.) Finally I added on bar ends to my handlebars to give me more grip positions.