I'm cycling in the rain...

I knew today was going to be a cruddy mess, with showers and thunderstorms pretty much constant through the day.  According to the forecasts, I had a 2 hour window in the middle of the day to get in a ride, if I didn't want to get soaked.  At 1pm, the rain slowed to a drizzle and I took to the roads.  Riding in wet conditions on hilly, well traveled roads with very little to no shoulders is not my cup of tea, but I really wanted to get the ride in.

I rode to Mt. Pleasant this time for a slightly longer (23mi) ride that featured a lot of hills, most of which, though, are more gradual. I still managed to climb almost 2500ft.  I didn't get too wet and luckily no one hit me along the way (although several cars came damn close).  Below are my stats:

A Miracle Weekend

By the grace of God, my in-laws agreed to watch our 2 yr old this weekend while my wife is away at a professional conference.  I can't remember the last time that I was on my own without the wife and kid with so much time for myself.  And I'll bet that I don't see it again for just as long, if not longer.

That being the case, the only right thing to do with to pack up the bike and head to the hills of Western PA, where I'm originally from to get in a weekend of great riding.  Today I went on my first ride of the weekend, out to a nice local park with a lake, called Mammoth Park.  The roads to get there are busy enough to keep a lot of loose dogs off of them, but not so busy that you have to outrun 18 wheelers all day.  However, I didn't have a full recollection of the type of hills that are here versus the nice, mostly flat terrain of Maryland, where I now live. At one point, I hit a 20% grade.  I hit so many hills that I actually torqued my handlebar loose from all of the back and forth with the climbing.

All in all, though, it was a beautiful day and a very nice ride. Ride Recap by Strava:  

Double trouble

March 15th and it is 80 degrees and sunny.  I happened to have the day off work so I gave my cycling buddy a call and he took me on some new roads that I hadn't been on in the area.  It was morning, so it was about 65 and sunny.  The trees aren't in bloom yet, but there was no wind (highly unusual for a Maryland March day) and the sun was shining.  It was just a nice ride through the country at a relaxed pace.  One of those perfect "break in the legs" type of rides.

It gave me a great chance to test out the new componentry that I bought late last year and the new pro lite carbon clincher wheels.  After an "incident" on my first long ride with them, I have been quite nervous to get up to speed on the again.  Today ride gave me some nice rollers to get my feet wet with them and really get some confidence in them and I can't say I am disappointed with the purchase now.

The ride was great.  Got in a nice 25ish miler, got in some nice hills and worked on grinding away at some false flats.  The ride was over and we parted ways.  I came home and ate a nice light lunch and the urge was too strong to do it all over again. I still had my gear on so I just hopped right back onto my bike and headed out for another quick 14 in the countryside around my house.

What a great day!

After...

After the paint job I have a 2006 Cervelo Soloist that looks and feels like a 2012 Cervelo.  I do not just love, I am infatuated with it.  It is super stealth.  I even had a tough time capturing the glossy black lettering on the flat black stealth paint.

I have included pics below from the painter and then after the build that took place this weekend.  This bike is better than I ever expected. Design by me, inspired by the Cervelo R5ca.  Painting by Motosports Performance, Krystos Efantis (www.mspracing.net).

Build:

Frame: 2006 Cervelo Soloist
Fork:   Easton EC90 SLX
Crank: Sram Red (Force 53t chainring (-50g over sram red ring)
Pedals: Look Keo 2
Wheels: Pro Lite Gavia 38mm Carbon Clinchers
Tires: Michelin Pro Race 3
Rear Der: Sram Red
Front Der: Dura Ace 7800
Brakes: Sram Red black
Saddle: Fizik Arione Versus (black, glossy black) K:ium rails
Handlebar: Pedal Soft 5th Round alu (218g)
Handlebar tape: Lizard Skins 2.5 DSP
Stem: Uno super light (111g)
Shifters: Sram Red
Cassette: Sram

Before

Before the paint job, I had a very sharp, fast, stiff, light 2006 Cervelo Soloist that I loved.

Here is what it looked like before the paint job: