When I used to ride road bikes I was a semi retro grouch,
but with a modern twist. My particular taste is high quality steel frame, with a carbon
fork. With my limited means I put together a lovely steel Lemond, Campag Chorus through out. Royce hubs on DT R1.1 Chorus carbon compact chainset, Arione saddle,
lots of Hope stuff incluing a RS stem.… you get the drift.
Now its not the most super amazing top drawer bike, but it was
mine and I rode it ... a lot…But then as I started riding more fixed gear/ short
trips, it stopped being used and it hung in the garage gathering dust for most
of 2011/2012. I used my Surly on the nursery runs. ( childseat and porteur rack) or my track bike( I was training
for Roller racing )
I got kinda got swept up in the whole disks on road
bikes thing and for once in my life became an early adopter and bought a
spanking Genesis Croix de Fer. The Lemond was stripped down and the parts transferred
to the Genesis.
It looked cool.. But try as I might I just couldn’t get on with the Genesis.. I liked
the brakes ( when they were not squealing). The handling was ok., a bit lack lustre maybe. But I totally loathed the weight. This thing
weighs a tonne.
With the Hiver shod with old race wheels, my passion for
riding on the road was reignited ( as a necessity for bagging Segments and CX training).
While I have been threatening that I would strip it down I just
couldn’t be bothered, but the last straw finally came after Sundays
ride.. I went to lift it over a pile of junk in the garage and the weight
finally hit me. 725 steel or not .. it’s a fucking lump.
Now maybe I am used to flicking a cheapy aluminium cross
frame up with the greatest of ease.. but this was beyond a joke.
Two days later it is now hanging skeletally in the garage, next
to the stripped down Surly and roller race training turbo frame.
In only one hour the Lemond was assembled and a quick scoot
proved all was ok.
 |
| She is back |
A lunchtime ride today reaffirmed our friendship. Smooth and
responsive. Like a favourite pair of trainers.
Shes back..
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