Right sorry for the delay in posts. I was out having fun.... ok I was really tired from training....ok so I was a little tired in the evening. So where was I? Oh yes a new bike was on the cards and I was going to see if I could keep up the training to justify it.
Training started off very well. For two days I managed to keep to profile running in the morning and either cycling to work or going to the gym and in either case swimming afterwards. I kept to the 50 length target and even got a new record run time of 52.44.
But I couldn't maintain the pace. I took wednesday off on purpose to recover. but thursday was a failure too. I did go to the gym but only managed the standard 30 and normal gym routine without the morning run. Friday was a simple cycle and nothing fancy.
On Saturday I decided to go to Terry Wrights in Market Deeping to see if there was any other type of bikes I could look at or see the trek/giant ones in the flesh. Over the course of the week I had decided to go for the Trek design out of the two as I preferred them. I was even starting to lean towards the next model up in the madonne which was carbon fibre. I wandered in avoiding the "normal" cyclists asking if the suspension would make the ride softer or for paniers. oh dear. and had a good stare at the racing bikes. I started looking at the comparative differences in the allen specialised range which were cheaper but then I saw the treks. There were all lined up but the 2.3 and 2.5 caught my eye. I scratched my chin as I looked for the difference and couldn't see much. It was mostly colour. I could see the ultegra chainset gleaming on the 2.5 mocking the 2.3's 105 chainset but its garish colours still looked wrong. I then noticed that the price tab had a sticker over it. "Sale!" it read. I flicked it over and in felt tip pen someone had knocked £300 off of the rrp price on both of the bikes. I was now in trouble. I'd only gone to look and now I was faced with a bargain. I managed to curb my enthusiasm for the bikes and grabbed a salesman.
"I'm just looking and wanted to get an idea of sizes and costs etc" I said. He dragged out a 58" to let me try. I wobbled around the car park and it felt ok although a little weird. I felt a little two stressed out on my back reaching down. "Try the 56" he said "This 2.5 Trek is a 56" I tried and I liked. Better seating. I was tempted very tempted. And then I thought, The prices are going up for next year's models. It won't matter if you save up you'll still have to pay and you'll lose all that training time.
I was still conflicted I still wanted the Treks but which one. £1300 for the 2.5 was in the original budget but I could have the 2.3 for 300 less.
In the end prudence won out (what was left of it) and I grabbed the 2.3 but I had to get the accessories. New SPD shoes, new yellow jacket. New helmet. I went for a dual purpose lid I could use on the MTB too.
I'm very happy with it all. The only bad thing was that it came with some SPD pedals that only clip in one side. Makes for a right bugger trying to get off of the start line as you fumble about trying to get it into the clip. Will have to replace with some Shimano doubles for the comute.
I had to use it straight away and as soon as they sent me home with it I had it out and was playing up and down the street with my Father helping adjust the seat and the pedals. I was very happy when I gave it its first proper burn off of the line. It shot away like an angel and I was quickly running through the gears. It was fast. Very fast.
I couldn't wait to test it out on the commute compared to the MTB and despite the fact it was raining and was very dull I hoofed it down to Huntingdon. I was amazed. Without even trying because of the weather I had edged my old bestever time by quite some margin and I wasn't even tired. The next day was bright but not exactly drier so again I could give it the constant beans. It still flew and I beat the best again with 51.12. There was an accident on the A14 and Huntingdon was logged with irritrated drivers that I just zipped straight by. I had to slow down for them which was annoying. I really thing I could get the road time down to sub 50mins or maybe even sub 45. Like I said the pedals are annoying and almost got me killed as I tried to get away fast on the roundabout and couldn't get the power down and get out of the way as my feet were slipping off.
After that the weather has just been foul. Thursday was very clear but I had a meeting in Norwich and I don't think I could have justified taking the bike for that one. I have therefore been at the gym although I missed today. I've got a plan to do the mock up Triathlon I did last time only this time with the super trek bike I'd be able to do it right and fast.
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