Japanese Bicycles... Proof the Japanese Should Rule the World

Buying a Japanese bicycle at our local store was like buying a Cadillac back home... I felt like they rolled out the red carpet for us... once we picked them out from all of the many bikes to choose from we tried it out in the store for size, and then when we decided we wanted it, we filled out paperwork with our name/address etc, then we paid. While we were doing that, they were busy pumping up the tires, adjusting the seats, and making sure they were perfect for us to ride off into the sunset! Absolutely amazing! We knew we were going to be buying bikes and we had looked around before and knew that we were going to get beach cruiser-like bikes to ride around base... mostly for us to get to work on so we don't have to drive everywhere! The store we went to is about a mile away from base and Sunday was very sunny and a perfect day for a walk out in town. By the time we got to the store we were all sweaty because it is finally warm here and we definitely underestimated the strength of the sun! It's already time to break out the sweat rags that we needed when we first got here... great!!! (*note the sarcasm here...)

Damian got a snazzy sliver bike with the works and I got a vintage looking yellow and brown one... LOVE it!!! Usually when you buy a bike you basically get the frame and are lucky if the brakes are included... we not only got a fully working beautiful new bike, but it comes with front headlights... that are activated by the wheel turning (brilliant) and a lock already attached to the bike frame and wheel so you don't have to fumble with a bike lock and finding a place to lock it up, and also the BEST kickstand in the whole world... you may all be laughing at this point because no one should be THIS excited about getting a new bike, but you don't understand until you have experienced a Japanese bike... everything about it is so smart- it blows my mind that the Japanese think of absolutely EVERYTHING and make everything so easy... they should truly rule the world!

I forgot the basket... it came with the bikes... awesome! Who doesn't love a bike with a basket!! I think the best part of this whole bicycle experience was after we bought it and the salesman (who didn't speak much English) was saying goodbye to us, but Damian and I were still standing there in awe of our new bikes... The salesman must have thought we had never had a bike before because I kept asking him how to use everything... "sumimasen..." (which means "excuse me") and then I would point to the lock... and then "sumimasen..." and then I would point to the light... "sumimasen..." and then I pointed to the kickstand... HAHAHA I think he was happy when we left! We rode off into the sunset (not really it was 2 pm) back to base and are very happy with our brand new bikes!!!! Wooooohooooo!

 Japanese Word of the Day:
Jitensha (gee-ten-shah): Bicycle