"Bikleing" (By-cul-ing) as Chad accidentally called it when we arguing about it the other night, is Chad's new hobby. In 5 1/2 years of marriage, my husband has tried several ways to lose weight--none of which includes a change to diet. Some have been a complete waste (that ab belt that "vibrates" away your belly fat), some worked for a while (treadmill), some just take up a lot of space in my bedroom and keep me from being able to hang a picture over my bed because my whole room is askew (Bowflex). These methods are usually quite pricey, but Chad argues how they will add "5 years" to his life, and isn't that worth it? I usually say no because I don't eat healthy and will die early anyway. In the end, Chad finds an alternative way to finanace his new life-saving hobby such as participating in medical experiments with anthrax or pain studies and gets his miracle weightloss aparatus.

Once we moved to California I thought we were in the clear because Chad could be in the great outdoors year-round, but I was of course, wrong. After watching the Tour de France summer after summer Chad has decided he's ready to join the sport of cycling in order to add 5 years to his life. Like all things Chad, this one has a hefty price tag... Apparently, the really nice bikes (and Chad could only have a really nice one, no Penny Saver bikes for him to test if he really even likes biking) don't come with pedals, you have to buy those separately, along with all the other gear, which is apparently crucial and includes: a helmet, shoes (you have to wear special shoes that fit the special pedals they sell separately), water bottle, special socks, shorts with padding in the bottom area, a jersey made of some special material and a rack to put on his car to carry his bike. (And you buy the bike too). You're lucky to get out of there under $2000.

Fortunately, Chad did pick a few items off the clearance rack, but the result is a red and navy blue jersey to go with black shorts, etc. I really, really wanted to take a picture of him in all his gear so that you could fully appreciate his devotion to his new sport, but he wouldn't let me, and considering he is only allowed to leave the house in it once I've scanned the street to make sure none of the neighbors can see him in his outfit, it's probably better to leave things to your imagination. Well, I just wanted to keep you posted and will let you know if Chad goes on the Tour now that Lance has retired from it. Seeing as he's only used the bike 3 times since he got it 3 weeks ago, I don't think that's very likely....