Maiden Voyage...R3 and Tarmac!

Maiden Voyage

Yesterday morning I woke up and decided to email Dan to see if Zondre would be too upset if we finished the R3 build without him.  The weather was perfect, and the Nick and I were going to ride with his new bike, so I really wanted to get her done.  Thsi way we could both ride our new bikes on the same day, a HISTORIC EVENT to say the least!
Dan email back that it was going to be OK, and when I got there, he had already done most of the work.  All that was left was putting the bar tape on (deda), and the final fitting.  I was inpatient, so I tried to put the tape on myself, not my forte, and I pulled a Perk!  Of course I did it all wrong.  So Dan finished his fitting with another client, and fixed it for me, doing a figure 8 instead of the cheat strips, and the tape came of beautifully in white.


Video of the final fitting before the maiden voyage of the R3 taken by Dan at Cycling Concepts in Rocky Hill.  During the initial part of the fitting there was a awefull noice coming from the seatpost area, so Dan and I decied to take it off and cut it and grease the collar.  Before cutting the seatpost the weight of the bike was 7.18 KG and after it was 7.16 KG a whopping .02 KG difference or 20 grams.  This alone did not change the weight in LBS as it was still 15 lbs. 13 oz with cages and computer mounts.  Very light considering that was not my ultimate goal here.  I was looking for a sturdy comfortable ride and to get all Dura Ace throughout...Goal met.

From Maiden Voyage

Nick came in shortly after the final fitting and we weighed his bike at the exact same weight in Lbs, 15 lbs and 13 oz.  This was totally by accident. However, with a few changes he will make in the next couple of weeks, his bike weight will come down below mine, as I do not plan any such changes.

From Maiden Voyage

From Maiden Voyage

From Maiden Voyage

I love this picture of my Brother!  It show the joy for cycling that we both have shared since childhood, and the best part is we have always enjoyed it together, especially over this past season.  This makes all the expense of cycling worth whatever the cost!  You cannot put a price tag on a sport or healthy activity that one can share with loved ones and close friends!  Nick and I shared the experience of building our new bikes up from researching the frames and correct geometries for our respective bikes that match our riding needs and styles, to the maiden voyage with both shared.  It was an experience not soon forgotten or taken for granted!
Right after this photo my battery died on my camera, but Dan took a few shots of us after our ride with  the shop camera, that I will add to this post once received. 
Nick and I went on our maiden voyage of 15 miles from the shop to Middletown and back, mostly flat, but middletown has a couple of hills to test our resolve and our bikes.  We road up rt 99 Through Cromwell, across to Berlin and then into Middletown.  We came back RT 3 to the shop. 
During the ride, I noticed several things about the R3.  1st was that on Rt 99 I had to use a lot less effort both to spin up to speed at lights, clipping in and out of the pedals was a breeze with the Speed Play Zero Pedals, and that maintaining speed behind another rider was effortless.  When you stand on the pedals the bike just goes.  Standing and cranking up short hills seemed to use much less energy, and was extremely stiff in the BB area. I think I need to crank down the pedal float a bit, as I notice I was able to move my foot in the pedals a bit too much.  Even after a long layoff without riding, going up the hills in Middletown did not exhaust me like they did during the summer.  I never got that rapid breathing to where I had to slow down totally in 1st gear.  There was one time that a big dump truck pulled beside me and it broke my concentration and I lost momemtum.  But was able to regain it after I recovered from the exhaust.  I never used 1st gear, the closest I got was 3rd, 23 ring and same in the front.  I had never done that on that hill before.  I look forward to my follow up recovery ride today at noon.  Going to go back to CC for some Derailleur adjustments as the initial cable stretch of the Gore Ride On's will undoubtly be needed. 
After the ride, Nick and I went back to my house for a turkey dinner which was over done.  I hate over cooked turkey, dry and lifeless.  However the verggies that I baked with it were awesome!  This is what I will have upon return today,  Open faced turkey sandwich and veggies....NICE!
Here's to a great Maiden Voyage, but mostly to a great ride with my brother, time and MONEY well spent!