The temps were lingering in the low 20'sf (around -4c) yesterday when I drove the 36 miles west to the bike shop to look at my newly won Gazelle, and give the shop 2 dozen fresh homemade (still warm from the oven) chocolate chip cookies as a thank you gift from me.
Unfortunately, the Christmas sales had reduced to zero their stock of the C380+ size Small I needed, so the shop owner ordered a new bike for me right then and there. It was going to take a few days to get in, so we did the "winners" photo op with the original raffle bike for their Facebook page and website. Then (because the store was quiet for a bit) we stood around chatting about all things bike related while one of his bike techs joined us, happily munching down on a cookie, or two, or three, blissfully declaring them being exactly like the wonderful cookies his grandma used to make. Then the tech told me the shop owner was going to be doing something called an Everest challenge (I believe that's the right term) which is a ride that attempts to accomplish the same elevation as that of Mount Everest. (No, here is the proper name:
"Everesting" and website) I had never heard of this challenge and asked about it. The shop owner said he had done it once in 2018 riding a section of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Shenandoah National Park on his road bike. Up and down and up and down until he reached a total elevation gain of 29,023' (8,849m). That was back when the challenge was little known, he said. Maybe only about 2,000 riders had done it. Then came the Covid Pandemic, and suddenly everyone jumped on the idea. "I think the number of riders is now up over 20,000" he said with a grin. This time he was going to ride the challenge on Szwift. Not a bad idea to have some indoor biking fun in the middle of winter.
While we were trading info about all our favorite bike routes, and crazy high ascents we've tackled on a bike, I had an idea. I asked the shop owner if the new bikes arrived assembled already, or not. He replied that they were mostly assembled. I then asked if it'd be possible for the shop to completely disassemble the bike so that I could have the gray frame repainted in the color of my choice - a Rivian Blue to match my future Rivian electric truck. I thought it would be so cool to have the Gazelle ebike match my new Rivian etruck which, after 4 years waiting, hopefully will be in my garage this summer and ready to transport my bike and I and hubby and our collie on all my upcoming cycling rides and adventures.
View attachment 143410
Did the bike shop owner know of any local shop that could repaint the frame for me? Yes, yes he did. Not only would the bike shop disassemble my new bike, but they would deliver the frame to the pro automotive paint shop they have used before and highly recommend. He was also going to check with Gazelle to see if they had a name stencil or transfer for the bike as well. All told, depending upon the paint shop's schedule, my bike should be painted in a week or so, and reassembled and ready for me to pick it up at the bike shop by mid-January.
Once I got home I contacted Rivian by email asking permission to use their blue for the bike. Less than an hour later I received a quick reply that they will be back to me with my answer by tomorrow. They are a pretty awesome company and all my prior conversations with them have been fabulous. When I first reserved my truck with them as a young start-up, they sent me a box of Rivian "swag" items as a fun gesture welcoming me to the Rivian "family". Fingers crossed they say yes regarding me using the Rivian Blue for the Gazelle's new paint job.
It would so totally make my year!
@RabH - I tried out my new Sealskin heated gloves I got for Christmas and LOVE them!! I only tested them in the house for a minute or so. If the temps outside manage to get just enough above freezing to encourage me to get on my bike for a ride, I'll give them the acid test and report back here on the results.
Challenge accepted! 
I'm glad you like the gloves, you will love them when you eventually get back out!
It looks like my 2022 cycling is over sadly, the weather has been truly awful and there wouldn't be any enjoyment heading out into the rain, sleet and snow! The new year is looking promising though so fingers crossed!
