Today – 22
MTD – 483
YTD – 5227
After 4000 or so miles on the Cannondale it was time to take it in for some TLC at OYLC. New chain, new cassette and a lot of drivetrain cleaning. I got a wild hair while it was there to have the bars wrapped with fresh white Fizik tape and photographed while clean. They were happy to oblige and the glamor shot above is the result. I made it my desktop wallpaper and immediately fielded questions on Thursday’s business trip at both locations. Generally the questions shortly devolved into…”where are the pictures of your children?”
I switched to a more aggressive cassette in the rear moving to 12-23 vs. 12-25. I had three rides this week on the new setup and feel comfortable that the new gearing is perfectly acceptable. I think the reality of most climbs is that you just downshift until you are banging against the right STI shifter limit screw in sweet futility before you settle down and just climb it. This theory proved true and I didn’t really notice the difference on Spickert Knob or Dug Knob. The real difference surfaces on intermediate hills where I would normally just stand up and mash it out – the new setup makes it decidedly a bigger challenge.
This week also marked the full return of wool and embrocation. You know what really makes that embro sing?…a nice drizzle. I always remember stopping at some wretched c-store in the country with Mr. Wrench Webber as our legs slowly caught fire prior to taking back off. Between that and the post lunch ride/shower burn while I eat lunch and catch up on teh internet make it all worth it. I’m still using and enjoying Winston’s Hot and ready to try the Mad Alchemy custom blends now available at the aforementioned LBS. I love the intoxicating stink of the liniment left in the bathroom at work as I prepare to ride.
I’m set up for a nice 25 mile ride in the early afternoon tomorrow and things are looking good…
