Back to the Blogsphere

I took a little over a week off from Blogging. No reason, it just turned out that way. And, I didn't see the need to let all of my loyal readers know that I'm traveling to some paradise island where there's no internet, but I'll blog as soon as I can. Or, that I was deathly ill so I'll blog when I can. By the way, it was neither of those. We spent the holiday here in Austin and it was relaxing.

I figure, you'll either keep checking or you won't. So, I'm back. I was going to do a year-in-review, but I haven't decided if I'm going to yet. I have 2 days left in 2008 to decide.

It was suggested that I post the bikes that I have ridden in the 20+ years that I've been riding. It could be a long list.

Schwinn World Sport
Falcon w/ Shimano 105 (steel frame, made in England, repainted it 2x)
Cannondale (an original aluminum one)
Garland (made by a Houston framebuilder who only made a few of them)
Cannondale 2.8 aluminum road bike (I kept this one a long time)
Javelin Tri-Lite w/ 650c wheels (decent early tri-bike)
Kestrel 500sci (very smooth riding, no seat tube, 650c wheels)
Kestrel 200sci (nice riding road bike, but not stiff at all)
Vail Cycle Works Steel frame (bought on ebay, rear derailler hanger broke on the 1st ride)
Kestrel Talon (pretty good if you want a road/tri dual purpose bike)
Javelin Arcole (2nd favorite tri bike - 'sponsored' frameset)
Orbea Alta road bike (really good deal)
Javelin Sebino Road bike (decent bike from sponsor for ITU races)
Fuji Professional Road bike (still have it...for sale)
Fuji Aloha tri bike (only about 4 races)
QR Seduza (can't really give it a glowing review)
Scott Plasma (Part of the Zoot Team deal, nice bike)
Cervelo P3C (I wanted this one for 2009 and beyond...very good bike)
Cervelo Soloist Carbon (see comment above, very good bike)
Mountain Bikes: Probably 7 including the 2 that I have now.

Almost a bike a year, not counting mountain bikes. My parents bought the first 2 and that was it. I generally got really good deals on them, and then whoever bought them from me got an equally good deal...so I'm o.k. with not keeping them very long. And, I got to try a lot of different bikes. And, once I got a little more serious about tris...when I was about 18 or so, I usually had a road and tri bike at the same time.

My favorites so far...road and tri.

Road: The Cannondale 2.8 road bike was a favorite for a really long time. The Fuji Professional is a really good road bike. But the Cervelo Soloist Carbon really is better than any that I've ridden. It's stiff, it's aero, when you pedal it, it really has pick up. It's also light. There is a reason that Cervelo is one of the top brands. Sentimental favorite...Cannondale 2.8. Overall favorite...Cervelo Soloist.

Tri: This one is not as tough. The bikes that I've ridden fast have been the Kestrel 500sci (not technically a tri bike, but I rode it as one) and the Javelin Arcole. I also rode the Plasma and P3C fast too. But, the P3C is without a doubt the best tri bike that I've had. The geometry is very flexible, but it is made to be ridden steep and fast. Price-wise it is a good deal. Sentimental favorite...Javelin Arcole. Overall favorite...Cervelo P3C. We've been lucky enough to pick up an independent sponsor who will take care of equipment for us. This year I wanted to ride what I wanted to ride and not what I could get from a "bike sponsor" and that was a P3C. I am riding it now, and am very pleased.