Bicycle blues...

Ignore the laundry in the background and the cute baby in the playpen, and just focus on the exercise bike in this picture, then be tormented and frustrated along with me as I tell the tale of my bicycle blues...

So, it is cold now. And it is dark early now. Wes exercises every night by roller blading or jogging around the lake. He cannot anymore as it is dark and cold. I cannot get out much (or at all) to exercise as we have 4 kids. There is no way we can afford a monthly gym membership, so in the long run we decided it was better for us to buy an exercise bike from Sears. We did not want crap though so we didn't just buy the cheapest. We actually looked at the sale bikes, found what we thought would be a good deal and last us as we strive to be thinner. So, we bought it, brought it home, Wes put it together (not a small project), and we rode it. We rode it for 2 blissful day!

Then the clicking started, the click, click, clicking...followed by the skipping...and by the 3rd day we had it, it did not work at all. We called Sears-they said we should call Nordic Track first, then they would help us if Nordic Track didn't. (We had some trouble with Sears anyway as it was not in the original packaging.) So, it was a Friday evening when it stopped working. Sadly, the call center, which is in Logan BTW (which is why I blame Mel for all bike related problems) is only open M-F. So, we wait...

Monday comes around and I call them only to be told I need to remove the bolt (we had already tried that) and remove the pedal and see which part needs to be replaced. I tell her the bolt will not budge and am told to keep trying. I do-all day, spending literally hours.

The next morning, I call back and talk to Tuesday guy. "Listen Tuesday guy," I say "I tried the bolt thing all day and again today and even had my ripped husband try it last night. The thing will not budge." He asks me to try again. I do. Nothing still. He says "OK, let me put you on hold and see what I am authorized to do." Tuesday guy puts me on hold and I make one last desperate attempt...it budges...I get it off-Miracle achieved!!!

Tuesday guy comes back to the phone I exclaim, "I did it-the bolt is off! I have conquered the bike!" He says, "Great-now you need to pull the pedal off. It might take some time, so call back when you get it off and I can talk you through the rest." My ballooned spirits deflate as I hang up. I spend all night trying to get pedal off-doesn't work (but on a positive note, I am in fact getting some exercise out of my bike as I am spending hours of upper body strength training...)

Wednesday morning as call center opens I call..."Hello Wednesday girl. I am a dissatisfied customer and I need help." I proceed to explain my problem. Wednesday girl says "Huh, Monday and Tuesday people told you to take that off? Funny, you cannot take the pedal off without a special tool."

WHAT?!

I freak. I insist they get someone out here to fix my bike, I yell about the time lost in my quest for a perfect body (or at least a more perfect body), I complain about my worthless guarantee and their lack of customer service. I pull out all my best stuff. She asks to put me on hold to "see what she can do." Click. Line goes dead-yes folks-she hung up on me!

I call back, this time in a fury! I talk to Wednesday girl 2 and she very apologetically and patiently helps me arrange to get a tech out to fix my bike. Finally, someone is doing something. She tells me the part will be mailed to me after which I have to call the person to come fix it. The part will ship out in 7-10 business days, then I will have to wait for it in the mail, call the tech when it comes and get his next appointment which could be up to 2 weeks out. I freak again about the fact this process could take up to a month to fix-my warranty on a bike that essentially never worked is going to be out before they fix it (ok, not really) and that I am just sitting here with an isore in my living room. I yell and scream and she tells me she will put it as an expedited order, and arranges for my warranty not to begin until the bike is actually fixed and working.

I hang up still pissed and a bit annoyed, but wait for the part. 2 days later it comes in the mail (yea-things are turning up). I call the tech and he can come on Monday (yeah even better!)

So, Monday (2 days ago) he comes I give him the part, he looks at the bike...wrong part. And the process begins again...AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

Will I never lose this baby weight?!