« Self-Realization | Main | The Finale »
April 29, 2008
The Schwinn's Companion Bike
I just bought a new bicycle. It's a Specialized Roubaix Elite and is very nice. It's all carbon fiber with a gray-and-orange paint combination that makes you wonder what the design team was smoking when they drew it out; maybe the color will grow on me. (Really, it's not bad. It just isn't the mostly black with green accents that was The Mighty Schwinn.)
I took it out for a test ride…
Wait, before we go there, let me tell you about the other bike I saw at the bike shop. There was a younger guy, we'll say 24, pushing around something that had once been a 10-speed but was now missing the shifters. I got close and noticed it was a black Schwinn World Sport so I struck up a conversation. By looking at the date stamp on the Schwinn nameplate (something he'd not known about) we determined the bike was built on the 155th day of 1984; making it the older brother of The Mighty Schwinn (also a World Sport and born the 322nd day of 1987). I think we could both sense that my bike was just a little bit sexier.
I took the Roubaix out for a spin — ah, another aside, the sales gal said pan-ee-aye not pan-ear, just like I thought — and ran it over some breaks in the pavement like I run across out in the country. I realize not all cracks are created equal but had I not seen the breaks I never would have known they were there. The ride is that smooth. It will be interesting to see how it handles one of the country roads I frequent that has seen far too much harvester traffic.
Naturally, inasmuch as I have a new toy, it may be days before I'm able to get out and ride it around.
Posted by delmer at April 29, 2008 4:07 PM
Comments
You go "D" $1200....nice!
Posted by: mikeo at April 29, 2008 10:50 PM
Very sweet ride! Congratulations!
I agree with you about carbon's shock absorbing qualities. I was skeptical myself till I took my first ride- craters that had my old steel and aluminum bikes ringing like a bell were soaked up with only a mild thump. Plus you get that slingshot feel when you wind up the cranks. Can't beat it.
Posted by: Bill at April 30, 2008 6:20 AM
MikeO: I may have given the wrong bike description ...
Bill: It is amazing. The ride was so smooth that I doubted the road condition was as rough as it looked. I haven't had a chance to wind up the cranks yet.
Posted by: delmer at April 30, 2008 9:10 AM
Several years ago I graduated from a Schwinn to a Specialized. I still drag the Specialized out occasionally, but my dog always looks so hurt at being left out that we tend to walk more.
Have fun!
Posted by: Missy at April 30, 2008 2:34 PM
That's a nice bike. Have you taken it off any sweet jumps?
Posted by: Icy Mt. at May 1, 2008 11:00 AM