Benjamin's New Ride

Benjamin had outgrown the bike we bought him upon arrival in Berlin and so on Sunday we set out to find a new, bigger one.  Last year on the same Sunday of the year (first Sunday in August) we headed out to to get a used bike.  Last year, however, we all needed new bikes and it was at the end of one of the busiest and most overwhelming yet productive weeks of our lives.  This year we had been hibernating (or trying to stay cool) and getting over jet lag the week previous so there really couldn't have been a bigger difference in our stress levels.

All that to say we needed to replace Benjamin's too small bike.  Last year we erred on a bike that was a touch too small rather than too big as he wasn't all that comfortable riding bikes in city traffic, or really riding bikes that much in general.  So that plus the fact that he grew about 3 or 4 inches over the year he was in dire need.  We found that with his small wheels, no matter how hard or fast he pedaled he just couldn't keep up.  His wheels were just too small. 

There are used bike markets all over Berlin and we happened to end up at the same market where Marty bought Benjamin's bike last year.  The three of us bought ours at a separate one and Benjamin was so upset not to get one at the time.  Then Marty found a different one and scored. 

We arrive this year and have a look around.  It was definitely smaller than the first one went to last year.  But in the end we found a super deal on a super bike for Benjamin.  He hopped on and was off and running. 

It has only been a couple of days since the purchase but he not only keeps up with us now he often passes us yelling over his shoulder "see ya later suckas!" as he passes 😄

Josie, the ever doting sister, guiding Benjamin through
Berlin streets to the train

It is funny to go back and read that post I wrote last year about buying our bikes.  What a different world it is now for us here in Berlin.  I remember that complete and utter

Although he looks grumpy, he's not.  Taking
his new bike home via the Sbahn. 

exhausted feeling we had at about a week in.  We were still barely running on adrenaline but that was waning and we were left with pure fatigue.