Dear Norco Bike Company,
You probably don’t remember me — and that’s understandable. It’s nearly twenty years since I last bought from you, but your bike has been part of our family ever since.
Two decades ago my husband wanted to start mountain biking, but he didn’t have a bike. I decided to surprise him for Christmas and quietly raised money by sewing, painting and selling handmade items at a local craft fair. He helped me make things for the stall, never guessing the gifts were actually for him.
One evening I casually asked how much a bike would cost. “Oh, about $350,” he said without thinking. I worked hard on my crafts, hoping to reach that goal, and scraped together almost exactly that amount.
He was thrilled — and amused by the precise figure. “If I’d known,” he joked, “I would have given a much higher number!”
That gift was a Norco Mountaineer SL, and it has carried us through many adventures. It hauled our first son as a baby, pulled our youngest in a trailer, and even survived a one-time family ride that proved my athletic limits.
Over the last year my husband has returned to riding regularly. It’s been rewarding to watch: he leaves on a ride and comes back hours later — sweaty, smiling and calmer. The benefits to his fitness and mood are obvious.
This time around I decided to plan ahead and save for a brand-new bike. I pulled out my craft supplies again and began selling more handmade items, writing here on the blog and tucking every penny into a “bike fund.” I told my husband from the start so he could research the bike he really wanted. Watching him read bike magazines, visit local shops and learn terms like “front suspension,” “hydraulic brakes,” and “hard-tail” has been part of the fun. Anticipation really can be half the pleasure.
At last, the month arrived when the fund had enough to buy the dream bike. We were both excited. Then life’s realities intervened: a single envelope in the mail showed that the car insurance bill needed to be paid immediately. Those hard-earned craft sales had to cover an urgent expense.
So the new bike will wait. I’m disappointed, of course, but grateful for what we already have. That old Norco has proven its worth — it’s lasted longer than twenty years and still brings joy. For that, thank you to the company that built it.
To my husband: I’m sorry I couldn’t deliver a shiny new bike for Father’s Day this year. Please know how much you are loved — more than words can say. I’ll keep sewing and painting and saving. Some day your bike will come in.
Until that day, thank you for humbly and sacrificially embracing the anticipation. Your patience has been a gift in itself, and we’ll keep dreaming about the rides ahead.
Sincerely,
The Mountain Biking Man’s Wife
P.S. To my Mountain Biking Man — I’m so sad we can’t get the bike right now, but the love and effort behind this gift are real. I’ll keep creating and selling until the bike fund grows again. Let’s hang in there together.
This is an unsponsored post.
