In the past 7 days, I've knocked down almost 15 hours on the bike. It has rained every day. Nothing that a few well used bike wipes, and some fresh chain lube can't solve...
Chopper says...
Speaking of Aussies, and the Tour...
Yep, and that's one of the many reasons Orica-GreenEdge is the coolest team in the group. And they seem to be kicking a little ass this year...
Pay special attention to the cameos in the video, especially @ 2:25...
And I won't re-hash the last week of the Tour. If you come here, it's highly likely that you fritter away countless hours of productivity for these high Holy three weeks in July. You've been watching...
Two things though...
Has anyone ever seen a team control the front of the group for 100+km, a la Cannondale a few days ago. That was an impressive display of power.
And...
Yeah, Froome rode away the other day, but he didn't destroy the field, and win by 5 minutes. Sure, he crushed those guys, but he was fully in the HurtLocker, and the time gaps were pretty normal. Is he doping? I really don't care, and neither should you. It was entertaining.
Saturday was a good ride out thru The Swamp, and it served as the shakedown for the new Noah. There were two little issues, but both were easy solved upon return to Service Course.
As for the ride, it never rained, but it was WET the entire time. The sheer number of critters on the road was pretty astounding as well. Snakes, frogs, woodland creatures...you name it. And I feel pretty confident that my efforts to miss that huge bullfrog on Old Bluff were in vain, as bits of him were stuck to the down tube of the new frame. Ick....
Sunday, we had a nice little workman-like group for the trip out to Swansea. We got wet for the first 40 minutes or so, then once over the ridgeline, out in LexCo, it was big blue sky, and a bit of sunburn.
Swansea...traffic circle...Fish Hatchery...302...home. Good ride with a good group.
Now for the Noah...
It's a race bike. It's not a "comfort" road bike, a la the Roubaix, or Domane, or even the old Helium.
It's comfortable, and smooth, as long as the road is the same. On rough, pot-holed, choppy pavement, the ride is not what one would call compliant. And I'm running 25c Vittorias @ 100-ish PSI.
It's tolerable for a rider that weighs more than 170 pounds, or doesn't mind the harshness. Fortunately, I'm both.
If you want a comfy, plush, cushy ride, look elsewhere.
That being said, yesterday was the first time I put an anger to the pedals, and I can assure you, it JUMPS forward when given the whip. No wasted motion or energy, AT ALL!
Turn in is quick, yet very predictable, like all Ridley frames. No drama in a hard turn. Lean it in, and the Noah rails through.
Outputs occur quickly. There's little need for big efforts to make it change line. Small inputs are all that is needed to get around holes in the road, or drop it into a corner.
It's not twitchy...no way. I rode it no-handed without issue. Let's say...it's direct.
It's a hard-edged sports car in a World filled with Camrys.
Weight? Somewhere around 16.5-16.75 with 7900 D/A, pedals and cages. Not a featherweight, but not exactly an anchor either. And let's face it, me and 15 pound bikes don't mix.
Ok...enough for a Monday. It's rest day. Catch up on work...
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