Baby steps

I would love my new custom paint on my Cervelo to be done today and be riding tomorrow.  Unfortunately, these things take time.  I was, however, able to see the frame and its base paint today and it looks perfect.  Exactly what I wanted.  I then worked with the painter to figure out the details and lettering that are going on it.

Parts are flying in like crazy.  I'm still waiting on the handlebar tape, Lizardskins DSP 2.5 (I'll review at a later date) and a sweet alu handlebar (218g).  I think this beast is going to look great when its done.  I just wish I could finish it tonight.

Paint has begun

The Fizik Arione Versus (black)

My new project is under way.  The other night I stripped my frame bare.  It is shocking how light it is without any equipment on it.  I'm busy shuttling old parts to the post office and receiving the new parts at my door.

I found an incredible saddle to go with my new paint scheme, the Fizik Arione Versus, which is a matte black color with Fizik written on the seat in glossy black...a perfect match.  I'm also changing out the sram red silver brakes for the sram red black brakes.  The other big change is going from an FSA K Wing carbon bar (291g) to  a pedalsoft alu bar (218g).  In addition to the great weight savings, I'm also going to make about $125 on the exchange.

I'm looking forward to seeing my new paint job.  It should be done in the next few days.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Winter!

Ok, so it's not...it's not at all.  But, heck, I'm taking advantage of it; putting away my snow boots and shovel in favor of my Sidis and two wheels.  Three rides this week alone and it's the middle of February.  I was even able to get out on my mountain bike for a while.  That was a first in almost a year.

The Cervelo R5 California Project

In other news, I'm getting what is becoming an annual spring itch to some how totally renovate one of my bikes. This time it's the road bike's turn.  I continue to love my light weight super aero Cervelo Soloist frame, but it is 6 years old and the paint job is becoming a little stale for me.  I've fallen in love with the stealthy paint job of the Cervelo R5 CA (to the right), the special California Project bike  that costs around $9,0000 for just the frameset.  Since there is absolutely no way that I'm going to spend that much money on a bike to save a few grams, I'm going to do the next best thing, which is to paint my bike similarly to that one.  I love the look, but I love my frame.  This is the ultimate compromise.

A mock up of what my bike may look like after paint job

In the course of the renovation, my plan is to change from my silver SRAM Red brakeset to the black SRAM Red brakeset, change out my FSA K Wing carbon ergo bars for a more traditional set of round bars that are perhaps a bit even lighter, and I'm going to change the white Fizik Arione saddle for a new Fizik Arione Versus black saddle with glossy lettering to match the bike.  This all assumes, however, that I can actually get the bike repainted for a reasonable price.  My mock up of what the paint job may look right (to the right). Stay tuned.