[Carton]

I’m at 130 hours at 1,200
I’m at 130 hours at 1,200 ft/hour, so you’ve just got me beat as far as vertical pace.

It’s been a little to much for me, to be honest. I’ve been trying to do more flat miles but the best lanes out of this city go through a few hills :”(

[Carton]

So just to finish up the
So just to finish up the story that little exercise made it clear to me that I really wanted a road bike and that a year was enough time to justify the expense.

However, I didn’t want to buy an expensive second-choice bike I’d end up second guessing myself about. So I went to a few shops and settled on a plain old Giant Defy 5. £440 with a water bottle and cage and a saddlebag. 25mm rubber and plenty of clearance if the potholes become too much of an issue, but for now it has scratched the itch beautifully (although the headtube is rather sizable and spoils the look a bit). I’ll likely be making a sizable upgrade next winter.

Thanks again for all the input.

[Carton]

To keep you guys posted,
To keep you guys posted, after mulling it over this weekend I went to the shop today to find out that the bike had been sold ~X( So no unearned gelato either. I apologize for the anticlimax.

On the flip side I hit a fairly sizable rain filled pothole, not for the first time, as I veered out of the way of a honking bus yesterday while going about 30kph. Thankfully I didn’t see it at any point so I just hit it head-on and thumped past it. On a road bike, even with 28mm tyres, that might’ve had bigger repercussions than just having to do the last 50km home drenched in stinky water (“fortunately” it rained for half that time so that bit of water mostly washed off). So while I’m still looking for deals on other 2015 models, on these roads the MTB will likely remain my main bike regardless (particularly in really bad weather), at least while I get used to a road bike (and being extra tarmac aware) again.

[Carton]

@Mungecrundle
1. The bike
@Mungecrundle
1. The bike sleeps with me 🙂 I currently keep my hardtail inside my flat. Only way to go in the city.
2. No, and that’s a good point. But I’ll definitely make time to ride.
3. Another good point. But I figure a bike bag will likely be a useful addition regardless, since there’s no way I’m shipping a carbon bike in a cardboard box. I am set on doing Ventoux and/or the Alpe d’Huez at some point in the next few years (plus I lead a fairly nomadic life) anyway.

@ianrobo, Kadinkski
Thanks for the advice. I agree with it and think I’m going for it. I’ll set off for the shop tomorrow after my Saturday group ride and take a long enough walk to mull it over one last time. There’s a really good gelato shop fairly close to bike shop so I’ll let you guys know if I end up going for the ice cream or the bike.

[Carton]

Sanderville wrote:On the plus

Sanderville wrote:

On the plus side, the bus’ CCTV footage can only show a car deliberately ramming a cyclist. It doesn’t show a brick shit-house killing an old man in the street with his bare hands.

Or an idiot controlling a 4,000 pound explosive-fueled weapon do some serious damage. On the few instances I confront drivers I always do it straight beside them. Stepping aside first was the right move. Then you can see if they’re brave enough to have at you without the car.
To be honest it’s not really worth it anyway. I fear sparing the bastard from suffering through the last few years of his miserable life might not legally be interpreted as an act of charity.

[Author]

Replies