Rosie's maiden voyage

we didn't get rained out after all, so I was able to take Rosie out for a spin tonight. I went to the same Thursday ride as I've been hitting the last 2 weeks...the one where I averaged 20.6 mph on the Orca that time.

Click OPEN WIDE for stats...

(click to embiggen)

Check out that distribution! Now, in fairness, I was with a group for the first...I don't know, 12 miles? Pretty much everything over 23 mph happened in those first miles, with me only taking a couple turns at the front. However, those 18-19-20 mph miles were all by my lonesome. :P

Compare this distribution to a weekday loop last year...

(click to embiggen)

Different course, sure, and also a different bike. That one was an in-town loop, which can account for some slower speeds. But it was also on the Orca, which was a full 5 lbs lighter than Ms. Rosie. Of course, I was at least 10 lbs heavier at the time, but that's kind of my point--I am lighter, and I am also stronger.

As far as Rosie's performance goes...I was delighted. No, she's not built for speed, but man, was that a comfortable ride. I haven't ridden steel since the hybrid, and I'd forgotten (or maybe just couldn't appreciate at the time) how nice the ride quality is...even when compared to the full-carbon Orca. Compared to the old Cannondale R600 I've been riding for a week and a half, it was heaven on wheels. She certainly doesn't have the acceleration of the Orca, which can be problematic when the paceline surges up to 28 mph for NO GOOD GOD-BLESSED REASON (I kid...I'm not one to complain about getting dropped by people I know are faster than me, but...really, guys? On a tempo ride? Into the wind?). She will be the perfect machine for leisure rides and errands, though, which is exactly what I bought her to do. Plus, she's gorgeous, and probably the only Casseroll within 50 miles of here. :)

Pictures will be going up later, as soon as I get around to taking them.

Posted by Joy at July 24, 2008 10:47 PM