Back to the future

If you ride road bikes a lot, you will begin to see the tradeoffs. A stiffer racing frame, will definitely be faster, in terms of climbing ability and descending, but will usually be less comfortable, despite what they write in the magazines.

Aluminum bikes have always had a reputation for being a bit unforgiving. After a 50 mile ride, your body suffers from the after-affects of "road shock".

It's a strange feeling. Your central nervous system has been overstimulated by the constant vibration of the road. Every single crack, bump, pebble in the road is felt. You also obsess about not hitting those things, and things hitting you, which adds to your stress a little. In addition, There's the "clip-phobia", your feet are attached to the pedals, so riding in traffic becomes a challenge. The two seconds you spend focusing on getting into your right pedal could literally kill you, as that truck emerges silently from the sidestreet.

Personal solution: ride the "superbike" far from the "death zones". Way up in the mountains. Horse and chicken farmers tend to not be in a hurry. Once you are "clipped in" however, everything is ok, and it can last for hours.

Climbing hills is much easier now, due to the wider selection of gearing, along with the lighter weight. Descending is faster, due to better wheel technology, and better aerodynamics. The new gear systems are amazing and ergonomic, but I find them a bit tempermental to adjust.

While I have done many tune-ups on traditional steel-frame bikes, my "state of the art" Shimano 105 system may have to go back to my mechanic, Bob, who has been racing for 30 years, and can tune this bike to near digital accuracy, his tune-ups last two years. Then again, maybe I'll tinker with it, I dunno...

As a result, you don't mess with Bob. Piss him off, he looks at you like: "Oh so think you can climb, huh? I will leave you, (uh, what was your name?) so totally in the dust. You name the mountain. Now, will that be VISA, or Mastercard?"

Racers are just like that. He's a bit different from the 21 year old MT bike hippies, or the cigarette smoking fixed-gear geeks.

Things could be worse, though, you could be shopping for a car.

Then again, I guess you could say we are a bit different. Nothing new, however.

Tomorrow, I try again.