speed testing the new whip

Despite a windy weekend here on the Front Range in Colorado, coolish to warm temps prevailed on Saturday and Sunday. I was fortunate to ride with Rob Collett on Saturday (strava), also a member of the North Colorado Grassroots Racing team (NCGR); and Sunday provided my first group ride with NCGR. On the group ride, we approached and rode through Masonville in wind gusts that were very likely uprooting vegetation. This resulted in a much shorter ride than we had planned, but still a great social opportunity and plenty of sweating for all as we made our way up the many hills on our shortened route (strava).

At the turn-around point in a route, heading back towards Horsetooth Mountain Park and then Fort Collins, the same wind that had mistreated us dug into our shoulders and I responded by slowly cranking the Giant TCR Composite 1 up to it's fastest gear combination. I thought the others would have done the same, but soon I was rolling alone in a quiet space ... the wind pushing ... no longer blowing in my ears ... it's a perfect space to be on a bicycle. I made 'personal record' time on the climb that ends at Horsetooth Mountain Park, and then tested the speed of the new whip as I descended towards Blue Sky Trail parking area. Top speed on the descent was 51.3 mph, probably a personal land speed record. Not bad for a 17 lb bike with a 160 lb rider. I'm sure the bike can go much faster, one of these days I'll drop it off the north dam and see if I can hit 60! Stay tuned ... 

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