Of bikes old and new

Out for a glorious ride this morning - beautiful blue skies above Wharfedale as we rode out to the Cavendish and back.

And more importantly, I finally got out on my new bike. I am very happy with it and it performed really well (better than I did as my new bike is Shimano and all my other bikes have been campag, and I struggled a little shifting gears).

It felt fast and effortless at times - very responsive cornering and braking which I'll have to adjust to!

Picture of the new bike in the front room, to the right.

The bike is a Focus Cayo Expert (2007). I think we are going to be good friends.


But as pleased I am to have my new bike, it is sad to relegate my old "Graham Weigh" to summer hack.

My Graham Weigh was bought some 6 or 7 years ago, and feels like an old friend and we've been through some great adventures together.

The 10-15 triathlons
The 3 trips cycling in the Alps
The commutes, the leisure rides, the holidays
20,000 mostly happy miles

It was with me when we crested Alpe d'Huez just a few hours before watching Armstrong take Basso to claim a 6th Tour De France.

It was with me when I looked deep into my soul cycling the Col de La Madeleine (for the second time that day) in the fading light knowing I had to get to the top as I had the car key!

It was with me when I beat Kelvin on the Ashbourne Duathlon.

It was with me through all the bad falls (Huddersfield 2006 - ouch!).

It was with me on those early morning commutes from West Bridgford to Derby with Nip and James, hurtling along in a 3-up in the wind and rain.

It was with me on the Leeds-Huddersfield rides, getting lost and discovering West Yorkshire.

It was with me on the great rides with Nip and Stefan over Snake and Holme Moss.

It came on the Ferry to Zeebrugge, discovering Genever in the morning and happy times drinking beer in the afternoon.

Some great times I will never forget. But I'm sure my new bike and I will form a similar bond once we have the chance. We have the Tourmalet to look forward to, and Hardknott and Wrynose in a few weeks time!

Below are some of those memories, and yes, the road sign at the bottom of Madeleine was the reason for the photo!