Steel is for Real

Vindication will come. Just you wait.

This morning marked the maiden voyage of (tentatively named) Jacqueline, and I can only liken the experience to being, like, totally crushing on a cute girl you just met, then getting to sleep with her the next day and it was even better than you expected.

I dressed in jeans, sneakers, and a t-shirt today which is a big departure from the knickers, cycling shoes, and wool layers I normally sport (although I did wear my trusty wool undies and t-shirt underneath; fifty degrees isn't balmy or anything) and the weather was gorgeous. A little bit of wind, and a lot of sun. Tomorrow is supposed to be even nicer.

As I rode, I couldn't help but smile to myself. Gordon & Crew did an amazing job. It's probably the smoothest and most quiet bike I have ever ridden. No creaks, no scrapes, no rattles. Just rubber on the road. And with the longer stem I'm slightly more upright so it feels like I'm sitting pretty on a leisurely jaunt instead of leaning forward aggressively. The seat is a comfy Fizik, and after a small amount of seat/saddle tweaking the night before it fits just right.

After months of clipless pedals, toe clips and straps are a little strange. The first time I went to take off down the street my foot slipped right out the back as I attempted to pull the pedal backwards, and I'm having to re-learn the art of flipping the pedal over as I begin pedaling. But other than that, we go together like beer and fries.

Also, I kept hearing Charlton Heston's voice in my head going, "Thou Hast No Brakes" as I approached corners, intersections, and stop lights. It's the same method I've been using to train myself off my front brake, but this time he means it. I kind of forgot for a moment as I barreled down the largest of my two hills until I picked up some good speed about halfway down and automatically glanced up to check the light. Right as I did, it turned yellow.

I giggled, stood up, and started my back tire skidding. With a weird little grunt my legs unlocked after only a moment and I giggled again while trying a second time. This time it held as I whipped the back of the bike side to side (cuz it's fun and I think it adds more friction) and stopped in plenty of time. At the second hill I was able to slow myself down by just standing up and resisting the pedals.

And even though I wasn't on my track bike in my cycling gear with clipless pedals, I still hit my eighteen mile-per-hour goal. Booyah!

I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

- David