My first ride on the new bike. I also got new shoes and pedals, so it's an entirely different experience!
I had company from Albany for the past few days, so I was forced into taking 2 days off as well. I had no idea what to expect, but i managed to pull of a solid ride with lots of hills and wind.

The new bike is SOOOOOOO different than my old one. The campy gears are so much more precise feeling than the Ultegra's I'm used to. The engagement can be a bit abrupt, but I am sure i'll get used to it. The carbon stays at the rear end leave me feeling like I'm on a suspended bike, the little cracks in teh road no longer even have any effect. However, the downside of this, is that i can feel the frame flex when i'm powering up a big climb. It's really evident in the feeling as i rotate the pedals, I can feel the chain binding a bit as it's torqued out of perfect alignment. I suppose this is why Liquigas and Bianchi have abandoned the Carbon rear end in favour of a fully hydroformed Aluminum setup.

I have a few minor adjustments to do, like raising my seat a bit, and getting the gray, or white look cleats with less float, the 15degrees of the red ones has proven to be too much for my liking.

I can't wait to get a good night's rest and have at it again tomorrow :D

http://www.flickr.com/photos/astro/185076309