After seeing the forecast for Saturday’s weather, I was pretty excited to get out on the road.  Temps were supposed to hit the 40s, and it would be sunny with little wind.  Not bad.  I got to bed early and set the alarm with plenty of time to spare.  But things rarely go exactly according to plan, do they?  I dashed around trying to find my gloves and my new shoe covers, and finally got out the door at 9:32, leaving me 28 minutes to spin the 8 miles to Westfield for Don’s Old School Saturday Ride.  Somehow, I managed to get caught at every single traffic light between home and Jay’s Cycle, and I arrived just a couple minutes after the group had left.  The guys didn’t know what route they had taken, which was just as well because I needed a break to warm up my frozen hands.

I headed back out the door and went exploring.  I wanted to check out possible routes for a charity ride I’m planning with my friend Sarino to benefit the Streetlight Mission in Elizabeth. We’re hoping to start the ride in Scotch Plains at Evangel Church, but the challenge is finding safe and scenic routes from there that avoid traffic congestion, imposing hills, and ugly industrial areas.  Unfortunately, on this trip I found plenty of traffic and ugly industrial zones, although no hills at all.  I’ll have to get creative with the route planning, and I promise it will be an interesting route.  Come ride with us on June 26th.  I’ll keep you posted with details as plans progress.

After another hour of messing around in the South Plainfield area, my hands were frozen again, so I headed home.  The temps had never made it past 36 degrees, and there was plenty of wind, but it was still worth it.  It was great to get out and breathe some fresh air and get the legs turning circles.  I was trying out some new gear for the first time, and I’m pleased:

• Castelli Spunto jacket - super warm and windproof.  I was toasty warm with just a baselayer underneath.  Probably too warm - I could have worn a lighter baselayer and been extremely comfortable.  My favorite jacket ever!
• Castelli Cardio Bibtights - warm and reasonably windproof, although they’re a very snug fit.  Their XL is any other company’s medium.
• Castelli Pioggia shoe covers - perfect for today, totally windproof, light, breathable, and lined with just the right amount of fleece.  My feet were extremely comfortable.
• Specialized Romin SL saddle - excellent!  I really like it.  Amazingly comfortable even on the first ride.  And it lives up to its billing as the most ergonomically designed saddle ever.

After I got back home and warmed up my hands again, I took a quick spin on my new TT bike.  This has been my project over the last month, piecing together my dream machine.  Finally this week I got the 3T Mistral aerobar I had been waiting for, and I was able to put it all together.  S-Works Transition carbon frame, S-Works carbon crankset, SRAM Force deraillers, SRAM Red shifters and brake levers, TRP time-trial aero brakes, Roval Rapide SL 45 aero wheels, Vittoria Open Corsa EVO CX tires, and an old Koobi TT saddle that I inherited from Otto after one of his bike renovations.  It felt amazing to blast around the block.  Fast, and almost scary.  The bike is blazing quick, and once I get the fit totally dialed it will be incredible.  I’m looking forward to racing some time trials and triathlons on it this year.

Check out the profile of this bike - narrow is aero!

Anyone interested in a well maintained 2005 Specialized Transition with brand new Vuelta Carbon Pro wheels and new Michelin tires?  It’s an awesome machine, but I won’t be needing it anymore.

If you’re interested, send me an e-mail.  I’ll take $1,000 for it, and I’ll include a complete fitting.  It’s a 56 cm frame, great for anyone 5′9″ to 6′ tall.

Posted by Geoff on Saturday, January 23rd, 2010 at 2:02 pm.