way overdue update

So, its been a very nice looooooong spring, just how I like 'em. Been riding lots, but allergy seasonis now here, so it's suffer-o-rama time again. Preston Street on the weekend, fun but not really, unable to breath, so race didn't go well..
Updates on the KOM, its a great bike, just recently added a nice set of Bontrager Aeolus 6.5's, they are fast, and hot looking. The bike rides quite amazingly, is light, and is fast becoming my all-time fave.
Other things that happed recently.. a trip to Barrie a few weeks back was good fun, met up with the old gang, even got to race an interclub, mucho fun.
Nationals are in two weeks, hopefully will be back on form for then.
The pregnant wife is enlarging, we are now about a month away from launch date!!
An incredible trip to Chicoutimi happened with the National U23 squad for a Nation's Cup race, 5 stages in four days. Great experience, and all around good time, looking forward to a few more trips in the near future.
Pictures are up. More on the way.

KOM

The new ride for 2009 has been completed! This year I'm looking forward to sporting a nice new Kuota KOM. A bit of a break in tradition for me in some ways, and some familiarity at the same time. First of all, I love Italian bikes, my Bianchi EV2 was (and still is) my favorite bike... although that may soon change! It was all a bike should be, fast light, smooth riding, and great looking. So after being on a very nice Trek Madone last year, it will be nice to be back on 'Italian soil'. A bit of a departure for me will be the flash of the past few bikes. The fast yellow Madone, and the Celeste Bianchi, are what I like, colour, so this year, it'll be a bit different to be on an all black bike!

Another bit of a break in tradition with this bike is the component choice, or should I say choices. All of my prior bikes would have had complete groupsets, for two reasons, functionality, and looks. This time, a bit of a mish-mash. The shifters and derailleurs are SRAM RED (Force F. Der), the cranks are Campagnolo Chorus UT, with Rotor Q-rings. Shimano Dura Ace chain, with Shimano and Sram cassettes (depending on which wheelset is used). So a bit off in choice, but everything has been chosen with purpose, and I'm sure will make for a well functioning machine. Zipp wheels, along with a set of Mavic Ksyrium's and even a Power Tap for training will keep it rolling. Deda bars, Easton stem, Thomson and Kuota seatposts each with a Selle Italia SLR saddles (different set ups for different position choices) round out the hardwear. According to the bathroom scale, all this totals up to a very nice 7.05kg (15.5lbs, w/zipp's), keeping it just above the legal limit for racing.

Can't wait for spring to get here!

2009 goodies

Well 2009 has proved to be interesting so far, even though we're only in week two. The new car rocks, although being an '09 model, it was technically bought in '08, but officially the first payment will happen in Feb 2009, so all is good!
The next big purchase of the year will be the new road steed, Kuota seems to be the theme lately, as all the Bianchi are making their way out of the garage. Last fall the Kuota Kross fast became a favorite bike, a new Kuota KOM is hanging out in the basement now, looking forward to the spring, where it will hopefully quickly rise up the near the top of the list too!