Another couple of Google Maps mashups, this time for calculating mileage of a run or ride:
A similar site, walk.jog.run., allows you to create and share routes.
Well it finally happened: after having spent 6+ years driving in the US I was pulled over yesterday. I’d just been to Belmont Wheelworks to finalise some of the spec’s on my new bike. As I trundled up the road totally out of it I saw a Police car practically in my boot (aka. trunk), lights blaring. So, I diligently pulled over to let him past, only to have him pull over behind me. In a word: bugger!
So it turns out that I was doing 46mph in a 30mph zone, both facts of which I had no idea. I was on auto-pilot driving — the sun was out, not a care in the world. He could have said I was doing 90 and I’d be in no shape to argue. Anyway, he took my driving license and registration and went back into his car for about 10 minutes. I’m convinced they’re just listening to the radio, giving me (the crim) time to stew over my heinous crime. Finally he came back and said he was just going to give me a warning, but that I should be careful. “It’s an easy mistake to make” he said, “with such a wide open road, but it’s a 30mph zone. What if a child ran out or someone stopped suddenly?”. He’s got a valid point, but in any other country a road this wide would be called a motorway or autobahn. Still it was a close one … would have made the bike even more expensive!
The agonizing - and I’m sure boring for the onlookers - decision over which bike to get has closed it’s final chapter! Our story began with the protagonist lusting after a Cervelo P2K. Purely on technical merits you understand, nothing to do with the fact than it’s a damn fine looking bike!
So I spoke at length to the Cervelo rep at the Boston Bike and Paddle show, went for a fitting at International Bike Center, test rode a P3 in the correct size (they didn’t have a P2K built up, but the geometry is the same) and it flew. This bike begs to be ridden fast. Very fast!
In a fit of procrastination - moi? - and to give me something to compare to the P2K, I took out a Cervelo Soloist. Unfortunately this only clouded the decision, as the Soloist is a really nice ride. It’s a much more versatile bike, being a slacker geometry, and therefore better suited to group rides or general training. It’s almost as stunning (although the paint work is a little hit or miss) and just as quick, but would probably be more useful for training on.
So I decided to take stock, and after lots of reading decided I should probably go for something a little less “aggressive”, something more like a classic road bike setup with some flexibility to “go-tri” like the Soloist offers. I can always get a full on tri-specific bike next year! With that in mind I started to look at the well respected Giant TCR2, which is a great bike, but comes spec’d in 105. I really wanted Ultegra, and the TCR1 was just a bit too expensive for what it is (still less than either Cervelo … :-) and the guy at ATA Cycle wasn’t prepared to cut any sort of a deal on either bike.
The “cheap” Ultegra hunt brought me to the Trek 2200 which has an Ultegra drive train, and 105 elsewhere. This seemed like a good compromise, and was priced right, but didn’t cut it when ridden as it was very harsh. Unfortunately for me Belmont Wheelworks had a big sale on and I got talking with the guy, and — you know where this is going — next thing I know I’m test riding a Trek 5200, then a Specialized Allez A1 Pro, then a Litespeed Arenberg. So much for cheap Ultegra … these bikes are up in the P2K/Soloist price range again!
The Specialized, although quick and responsive, felt positively harsh by comparison to the OCLV carbon Trek and titanium Litespeed. Comfort is important to me if I’m going to be happy pedaling, so it was out. Maybe that’s a little tough a decision as lots and lots of people happily ride aluminum bikes and they say that you get accustomed to it. Maybe I’m just getting old, but the harshness killed this bike for me. This left two contenders. Price was about the same, so it really boiled down to ride and - lets be honest - looks.
On looks, the Trek only came in red-white-and-blue USPS garb, which may be cool if you’re (a) Lance Armstrong, or (b) a red-blooded American. The Litespeed on the other hand, was typically understated with … erm .. well … no paint at all - just brushed titanium tubes beautifully cold-welded. Litespeed wins out over Trek.
Both bikes had very similar spec’s with Ultegra throughout, high-end saddles and bars, etc. A tie.
Finally ride. If you read too many reviews - and lets face it that’s part of the fun of toy-shopping! You’ll know that carbon fibre bikes feel “wooden” to ride, and titanium feels “whippy”. So what does this all mean when you actually get on the bike? Well, let me tell you, whatever words they use to describe it, both these bikes are stiff and taught and go quick. Both absorb the road imperfections that Boston is famous for, although I’d give the Litespeed the edge. Both accelerate fast, although again I’d give the Litespeed the edge since the Trek feels a little “distant”. I’m sure it’s as fast, just there’s a disconnected feeling. The same feeling comes to you when cranking down a smooth surfaced hill - there’s an eery quite about the Trek that’s … well … sort of nice actually! It has an “organic” noise to it, rather than an engineered sound (probably because it is organic …).
When it boils down to it, there is very little to separate these two. For me, the scales tipped slightly in the Litespeed’s favour, because of looks and I’m not sure that I could get used to the disconnected feel on the Trek (can’t imagine putting a set of Speedplay’s on it … must feel like you’re floating …). The sale price on the Litespeed was a better discount, for what it’s worth.
So, the decision is made - a Litespeed Arenberg is on order and due for delivery in the next week or so. Photos will be posted after the birth!