Firsts....

Doug Bailey

 

First win.  First beer.  First kiss.  First ride on my new Trek Madone.....these are the moments I'll never forget.

 

With a hectic week of wrenching 2 of the other Trek Midwest Team's race rigs, I was ready to complete my own and put rubber to pavement.  I settled for rubber to rollers as it was a cold monsoon most of Sunday into Sunday night.  Monday I went through the motions of work while I counted down the minutes until my ride would begin; it did not disappoint. 

 

Though a ride for recovery and for stretching my legs, it was clear that I was on a bike of another level.  The ride comfort (even on my sub-quality old "winter tires), handling (at least at recovery speeds I was "hammering"), and comfort were above that I'd experienced before.   I suppose my rest day was compromised when I couldn't resist a full sprint!

 

I look forward to pushing my Madone through the line at many a race this year, but also look forward to the quiet, and sometimes monotonous training miles; miles that now I'll enjoy the ride.

In a week I'm headed to the Smokie Mountains for a little spring break RnR.  As my bike will be in and out of trunks, hotels, and other compromising situations, I am torn between my "beater bike" which will handle the abuse with gusto or the Madone who will assault the hills with zeal.  If only all could suffer such dilemas....