What a weekend!! I had a 4 day weekend and the weather couldn't have been better to take advantage of the time off. Since Thursday I have swam 2 miles, ran over 22, hammered a few laps of stairs and even got in a quick 15 mile ride on my new Surly!! What a great few days!! Most importantly though I got out on my new bike. For those of you that have been following this blog for a while, you know I did a life changing bike trip with Molly from Seattle to San Diego a few years ago and had a blue Surly touring bike that trucked the 1800 mile trip without a single problem or issue. I loved that bike! But it had 26 inch wheels, which although great for touring, were pretty sluggish around town as a makeshift road bike. So I stripped her down, kept all the parts I wanted and sold the bike to a young guy from Boulder that was planning on doing the same trip down the west coast with his girlfriend this summer.
I decided I wanted to build the same Surly bike, a Long Haul Trucker, but go up a frame size to a 56 which would allow me to run 700c wheels, which are slightly bigger and roll a bit faster. I wanted a bike that was still a stout touring bike, but when here in Fort Collins would double as a decent road bike too. So I built it up from scratch, hand picking every part. It was a blast, and I now have a semi-custom bike that can tour and race around. It's the exact way I want it, down to every single part. Well I just finished it last week and then it snowed... But with weather here in the 60's and sunny for the past few days, all the snow is gone and I got the chance to take it for a spin.
It is still a heavy bike by roadie standards, but I am not a roadie so screw em! I do have it loaded with my fenders, strong 29er wheels, front and rear steel racks, my two stem system, a heavy brooks saddle, and big platform pedals. But it's a bike, and the idea is to ride it not carry it. If I was worried about a few extra pounds I would just skip breakfast, or take 2 less beers with me. Anyway, other then the high pressure 23c tires that are on the bike now, it's all set up for touring and I can escape any weekend I want with camping gear in tow, with a simple swap for bigger 38c tires that I have laying around.
The 700c wheels really make a huge difference, and the bike seems fast and efficient. I didn't want to ride too hard or too long because I am still a little sore from yesterdays long run, but I knew getting out would help stretch my legs a bit. So I took off and headed out and around Horsetooth Reservoir. It was just a simple 15 mile ride, but its super hilly. The bike handled like a dream, it was fast, smooth, and gave the roadies I passed something to think about since I was in baggy shorts, running shoes, and my red fleece was flapping like a cape around my neck. I even got up to 53 MPH, which was rad! All in all, I am super excited (see how I didn't say stoked... I hate that word) with the bike and ideas are churning of where I can pedal to in the coming months!!
Well I hope you all had a great weekend and if you were here in CO, hopefully you took advantage of the sunshine! I do feel a little remorse that I didn't go skiing, but I am going on a little ski trip next weekend, so not that much remorse.
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