Strange yet beautiful day of sorts. Not weatherwise - it rained hard and became cold all day. Work was a wild early mess of sorts, then the afternoon mellowed out. First time in ages when I actually was able to catch up on things in the office instead being in a state of constant crisis management and emergency rush rush rush to put out a fire. Bunch of folks were out of the office on an offsite meeting so the theater was ripe for getting other things done. To top it all off, we were informed that the office would close a little bit early. Which was fine by me - I had a ton of things I wanted to do while I'd forego my training ride. The weather got worse, and it was dumping cats and dogs, and the temperature dropped.
I went directly to my fave bike shop and made myself completely available to order the custom frame I've been talking about for weeks on end. It was a big, yet short order. And it was all about fun. These guys know me for a long ass time now...and we ordered it together. So, by next Wednesday...my new Orbea (pictured below) frame and fork will arrive. And that Friday eve, I'll drop off my bike - for them to take my current bike apart on saturday and replace the fork and frame, keeping all my precious "fitting" settings - tune it and I can pick it up Sat eve before my Sunday test drive.
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This is gonna be a SCHWEET ride - all monocoque carbon fiber, hand paint job, weighs 3lbs (the frame and fork). In a few weeks, I'll get a new wheelset (also pictured...still deciding on which - between the Mavic Carbone (semi carbon fiber) and the Mavic Ksyrium SL/ES wheelsets (also pictured above). The other components of my bike will stay the same, until further upgrade (handlebars, crankset, derailers, brakes, handlebars, seatpost, stem, saddle, shifters, et al). This will be a very light bike...VERY. And perfect for climbing the hills I do - for hours on end.
Even tho I dropped a serious penny on the frame/fork....and will spend another pretty penny in a few weeks on the wheelset - I feel ZERO guilt. I have deserved it, I have earned it...and finally...I can afford it. And more importantly....during all the races, training rides, charity events, and the thousands of miles in the next year(s)...I will ENJOY it.
I left the bike shop elated - and drove in the downpour to run a few more errands - I was on Tart duty. I picked up 2 non-stick fluted tart pans, and swung by the grocery store to pick up the last of my provisions (minus the fresh berries) for the Tart I'm gonna make Friday night (actually 2 tarts now). Last errand to run was to pick up a bongo skin that I ordered a while ago at the music store - dang buffallo hyde skin on one of my bongos cracked. Oh well.
Even though it's raining like a mo fo...and I missed my training ride - life is beautiful.