on my new scott addict gravel bike!!
i have been dreaming of a new ride for two years, ever since i helped dick drummond--drummonds custom cycles--with the shop roof after a major leak. one thing you may not know about me, i take forever to make a purchase decision, and then i second guess myself 'til the cows come home. if you live in vermont, that would be 'ke-ows'.
i finally dropped the visa on a carbon frame gravel bike--just in time to get out and condition a bit for a vt back road tour over in that great state next door. this week has been a bit drippy for riding, we have had 3 inches since monday. it is hard to stay off a new bike though and i have pedaling between the drops.
a test ride around a loop in the shaker woods, one we ski when there is snow, got me pretty excited. it was light and wicked agile. going up was, not easy, but doable--most of the way. going down, fast, was doable all the way, thanks a good deal to the disc brakes on front and back. i got back to the shop and robbie convinced me--mostly by just unboxing a frame and promising to build me up, a custom cycle.
i gave them the weekend to do their own thing and two rainy days. wednesday morning as i rolled up on the ol' nishiki, robbie met me at the door, "we just finished!" while i swept the floor he swapped out my peddles and adjusted the seat to match what i had on the nishiki. i rolled out the door and headed back to the woods across the road. they had put on a bigger gear ratio and i definitely felt the difference. pedaling up steeper sections i started spinning out in the leaves and muddy spots. i walked less, but still got pretty sweaty going up. i wasn't thinking about the heat coming down, mostly because i had to work the brakes hard to keep from launching myself.
when i came out of the woods i went for a cool down ride on the road to test a smoother ride. it was wicked nice. the brifters were a new convenience for me and shifting is something i will be doing a lot more, micro adjusting for a steady cadence. a few miles out, a few miles back, the sweat and bit of rain had practically dried out of my shirt. we settled on the bill and i rode off back to school, and a photo op.
big thanks to robbie and dick at drummond's--they know bikes and get to know you as a biker, when you come in. their jokes about my upgrade--it only took 34 years--were spot on and made me feel loved rather than shamed.
now, when it stops raining for longer than an hour or two, i am going back outside to play...!
i have been dreaming of a new ride for two years, ever since i helped dick drummond--drummonds custom cycles--with the shop roof after a major leak. one thing you may not know about me, i take forever to make a purchase decision, and then i second guess myself 'til the cows come home. if you live in vermont, that would be 'ke-ows'.
i finally dropped the visa on a carbon frame gravel bike--just in time to get out and condition a bit for a vt back road tour over in that great state next door. this week has been a bit drippy for riding, we have had 3 inches since monday. it is hard to stay off a new bike though and i have pedaling between the drops.
a test ride around a loop in the shaker woods, one we ski when there is snow, got me pretty excited. it was light and wicked agile. going up was, not easy, but doable--most of the way. going down, fast, was doable all the way, thanks a good deal to the disc brakes on front and back. i got back to the shop and robbie convinced me--mostly by just unboxing a frame and promising to build me up, a custom cycle.
i gave them the weekend to do their own thing and two rainy days. wednesday morning as i rolled up on the ol' nishiki, robbie met me at the door, "we just finished!" while i swept the floor he swapped out my peddles and adjusted the seat to match what i had on the nishiki. i rolled out the door and headed back to the woods across the road. they had put on a bigger gear ratio and i definitely felt the difference. pedaling up steeper sections i started spinning out in the leaves and muddy spots. i walked less, but still got pretty sweaty going up. i wasn't thinking about the heat coming down, mostly because i had to work the brakes hard to keep from launching myself.
when i came out of the woods i went for a cool down ride on the road to test a smoother ride. it was wicked nice. the brifters were a new convenience for me and shifting is something i will be doing a lot more, micro adjusting for a steady cadence. a few miles out, a few miles back, the sweat and bit of rain had practically dried out of my shirt. we settled on the bill and i rode off back to school, and a photo op.
big thanks to robbie and dick at drummond's--they know bikes and get to know you as a biker, when you come in. their jokes about my upgrade--it only took 34 years--were spot on and made me feel loved rather than shamed.
now, when it stops raining for longer than an hour or two, i am going back outside to play...!
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