The Peleton

[the*bear]

Can't wait for the pics achn. Hope the weather clears for you to get a ride in.

I wouldn't be caught dead without a helmet, I've ruined three in my career, don't think I could spare three skulls.

Most recently was last year on this Tahoe ride. Going down the first descent at about 40mph when some a$$hole going way too fast for his abilities bumped me, then cut in front of me, taking out my front wheel. I slid about 30-40 yards, at one point, in seemingly slow motion, I was sliding just on my head. Wore the hard plastic outer layer right down to the foam liner in an area bigger than a saucer in diameter. Without the helmet, I think my brain would have been accessible to the outside. Ended up with a lot of road rash and a partially separated shoulder; road rash has healed, shoulder hasn't.

Ken, it's easy to loosen the tension on those Look pedals, although they will loosen themselves over time.

[RocDoc]

OK, OK you guys have convinced me of the wisdom of protecting your noggin...10-15 years ago I used to routinely do 60-70 milers linking a couple of 'forest preserve' bike paths along with some fairly urban riding alongside cars n'shit, but had no real 'incidents' until the last couple of summers when I was riding for XRC/enjoyment very regularly...basically wrecked my bikes(being hit and also hitting cars)and got thrown, banging/scraping myself up moderately...but verrry luckily no head-shots. It got so became a bit gun-shy of riding the streets I'd fearlessly ridden for 30 years so regetably I rode less and less....at least in the city. On vacations up to Washington Island(off of the aforementioned Door Peninsula in Wisconsin)I'd either drag my reconstituted bike or rent...and then I LOVED riding the country roads early in the morning for a coupla hours, letting my wife get a little extra shut-eye, the little sleep addict.

The urban riding I useta do, when I'm forced to do some(ie dropping a car off at the mechanic's shop when I can't get a 'ride' back home, then the bike goes in our trunk...voila, transport!), I'm just so damned stiff from this 'confinement' having to maneuver through parked and moving cars. Not at ALL like I was.

Of course Chicago's got a FUCK of a lot MORE cars plying the streets nowadays...

I cannot imagine descending any sort of steeps in a group, no way! A 30-40 YARD skid? Holy fuck!

I remember being in Marin County(Calif)a coupla decades back and seeing friggin MANIAC bicyclists descending Mt Tamalpais and pretty much staying even w/the VW Golf which my GF(at the time)was piloting.

I had opportunity to rent a mountain bike and lift ticket to take me up into the mountains at Snowmass Colorado, maybe 3 years ago...but I found out about this just a bit to late to include that on my itinerary along with the 'Continuing Education' credits I needed to get there at the seminars I was attending.

Actually I could've, but I wussed out...tho the time would've been a bit tight. I didn't want to rush through something as cool as that WOULD HAVE been...aargh.

Next time....

[strawman]

firstly achn...I am really looking forward to some pics..I have a son who is passionate about steel framed bikes, he's eyeing up a De Rosa frame at the moment but its a little out of his league ($3700 frame and forks!!)..I've told him to wait until he's finished growing and then find one...hell I have heaps of componantry that he could have to kit it out, and he should still be able to get a grand for the bike he rides at the mo'

roc doc...yeah those helmets are pretty essential...in saying that however I found almost without exception that French traffic was very courteous towards cyclists...at times we were not going too fast up the twisting col hairpins, yet the cars seemed only to have smiling people in them, encouraging us as they passed...in NZ they would attempt to sideswipe you if they had been held up for more than 10 secs.. (maybe I'm a bit harsh here, but our drivers are not noted for their attitude toward cyclists!!)..so I didn't feel worried not wearing a helmet because a car would dispatch me....no I was a little hesitant beginning the first descent...until Swarty threw down the gauntlet...and then the testosterone took over and we raced of course!!

and much to your guys disappointment I have got a TCR 0 on order...I will probably put 175mm FSA pro team issue carbon cranks and chainrings on it and other than that it'll be stock standard (oh yeah I'll get 42cm bars too...Giant seem to put 44cm bars on size M and above frames....I like the more narrow bars)...when I get it I'll throw up a pic, but it really won't be too much different from the standard Giant pic

[achn2b]

finally got that first ride in. ;D it was a brutally windy day, and kinda cold, and any other time i would probably use that as an excuse not to ride, but i really wanted to get out on this thing. so i went out for about 2.5 hours, and just had a blast.

this bike is awesome. it fits me just right, and i felt extremely comfortable on it. my old specialized sirrus is a pretty smooth-riding bike; i even had a mechanic at the local shop comment on that when he took it out for a bit to diagnose a noise problem. but the mondonico is so much smoother, rough pavement is muted quite well, and those stretches where you have cracks across the entire road every twenty feet or so, are almost totally smoothed out so you barely feel them.

and despite offering a smoother ride, it seems to be stiffer as well. i didn't climb any big hills, but on the small rolling terrain, the bottom bracket seemed more solid, every pedal stroke went right to the wheels as power. as a result, it climbs better, but of course this could be due just as much to me leaving my seatbag behind, making the new bike about seven pounds lighter on the road. carried everything in my camelbak instead.

it's not as quick steering either, but this is a good thing. the sirrus has a very steep 74 degree head angle, and steering is very quick, not twitchy, but heading that way. the mondonico just tracks a straight line better, isn't so eager to get pushed off its line by a gust of sidewind(and there was lots of those today), is easier to ride no-hands, just stable and predictable. but it's not sluggish either, it just goes where i want it to.

and when the sun's bright with the spokes spinning, the campy cranks rotating, and the beautiful chromed stays, the back half of the bike just sparkles.

i've got that feeling of tiredness that comes after a good physical effort, but this bike just makes me want to get out again tomorrow. and i can't wait.

[strawman]

I wouldn't be caught dead without a helmet, I've ruined three in my career, don't think I could spare three skulls.

yeah I know what you mean bear...I'm buying my fourth helmet to replace wrecked ones...seems like I spend more time on the deck than on my bike...although one bit the dust in my short but illustrious track racing career....yeah crazy shit at times on the track...

achn..pleased to see your bike meets or maybe exceeds your expectations...nothing feels better than when you and your bike just feel as one...yeah when that happens you can happily ride for hours...and when you race it just feels like you want to attack all day..

raced on Saturday, seven times around a short flat 6km circuit. With my damaged shoulder I was a little consevative on pulling hard out of the corners and satisfied myself racing in the second bunch....a few attacks I made, whittled that down to 4 riders and we finished a couple of mins down on the winners....in I think my slowest time ever around that circuit...although it was real windy...big cross winds, and headwind....but one very fast tailwind section (65km/hr on the flat)....

Its another crappy wet and windy day here at the moment, although the wind is supposed to abate a little later, so I'm hoping to get out around lunchtime (my time is 16 hours ahead of board time) and hopefully begin the serious training...heaven knows I need it...

[strawman]

and just been past the "Bike Shed"...and my new bike has arrived...it's got to be close to 15lb...yeah a real featherweight...

still got to go train now so I can make it go fast!!

[achn2b]

well, the Mondonico goes into the shop tomorrow. nope, i didn't wreck it, but three rides in three days was just too much for the new girl. developed a creaking noise on my ride today that got worse the longer i was out, so i'm assuming the bottom bracket needs a little adjustment. and since i don't have the know-how or the tools for a campy bottom bracket, i'll take it in. luckily, it's supposed to rain for the next few days, and i could use a little break.

[strawman]

..well I'm glad you didn't wreck it.....still hope it's nothing too expensive!!...also pleased that it's great to ride. That means you'll just want to keep going out and riding, and I can't think of too many things I'd prefer to do when I'm fit and focused...

Got a rev up from the doc today about racing...when he told me I could ride my bike again, he did not mean I could race...dammit...so I have been ordered on a go slow and I'm not allowed up any hills at all....damn, theres more training time lost...still best I come right first...So on Sat I'll just go for a bit of a ride and maybe watch the race..

Should be able to pick up the TCR 0 tomorrow...keeping the dura ace cranks now..managed to swap the shorter standard ones for 175mm at no cost, so might as well do the deal...they also did the bars for me...yeah then I'll have to see how that races, but not for a few weeks..

[strawman]

picked up the TCR 0 today...what a lightweight...yeah 14.5lbs without pedals..so I suppose all up it'll come in at about 15.1lbs....this is the lightest bike I have ever had, the previous best being at the 16lb mark..I'll snap a photo off and get it up tomorrow sometime..

[strawman]

yeah the TCR 0....really stock standard apart from the bar size and crank length....still one mean looking machine. I think the black makes it look like it's come to race!!!

[Kensterberg]

Love that Giant! That's the bike that I was gonna buy before I settled on the Bianchi, actually. Loved the way it climbed -- but I prefer the zing of aluminum for the flats and downhills. Of course I think you've got a better group and accessories than what I saw. But in any event, that is one sweet ride.

Now just stay away from those damn cars!

[strawman]

Of course I think you've got a better group and accessories than what I saw

umm not sure which Giant you looked at Ken...This one has 10spd Dura ace, Ksyrium SSC SL wheels and full carbon fork, steerer and stem...yeah it's pretty trick...

as for carbon vs alloy...I have never ridden a carbon bike for any length so that'll be interesting. Up til now I've purposely bought alloy bikes just because I love the feel, so I'll get back to you on what I think of the carbon after a race or two

[the*bear]

I'd be interested to hear those reactions to carbon. I have no experience with CF, either, didn't even consider it as the prevailing opinion was that it gave a "wooden" ride, absorbed too much of the feel of the road.

Please lend me some pity, as I will have this view forced upon me for the next five days:



Hey, they don't call it "America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride" for nothing!

[Kensterberg]

That is some view Bear ... I imagine you'll have to be doing a good chunk of climbing in order to savor it, though. Have lots of fun for the rest of us!

Straw -- I'm not sure now if I was looking at a lower group or confusing two Giants ... I rode the model below the one you bought, but then the sales guy kind of bumped me up to this one, and I'm thinking that it might have had Dura-Ace components, but they didn't have any in stock (of either frame). He thought they'd be able to get the more expensive one faster (much less demand, ya know?) ... but then we made a deal on the Bianchi instead.

I'm really curious to hear what you think of the CF after a couple of races. It does absorb tons more of the road than alloy does, but I prefered the CF bikes I tested to the steel or Ti bikes I tried ... there was just something about 'em. Liked the Giant monocoque approach over the Trek butted CF tubes view, too.

[strawman]

bear..that is one beautiful view....I really think you should be playing the Elemeno P song, "Fast Times In Tahoe" in preparation...is 100 miles once around the lake?

oh and CF bikes are pretty popular in town...the Trek importer into NZ is a local so alot of riders are on the OCLV Treks...maybe thats why I didn't go for a Trek...just too common!!