Sarah laughed. "We'll make it fit. Do you want the pedals in copper or black?" "Copper," Leo said, pulling out his wallet. "Let's go big."
"You've been staring at that for twenty minutes," a voice said. It was Sarah, the shop owner, wiping grease from her hands. "Most people just look at the Tallboy. You’re looking for trouble."
"I’m looking for the Whistler bike park and the steepest lines in the PNW," Leo replied, finally touching the top tube. "I need something that doesn’t care if I make a mistake."
He’d spent months obsessing. He’d read every forum post and watched every "Dream Build" video on YouTube. He knew the specs by heart: the 170mm of travel, the VPP suspension, the mixed-wheel setup. But seeing it in person felt different. It looked aggressive, like it was leaning forward even while leaning against a display stand.
He rolled back into the shop, his heart racing faster than the light exercise warranted. He thought about his bank account, then he thought about the rock slab he’d been too afraid to hit last summer.
"Will it fit in my car?" he asked, already knowing the answer.
