Well I had my new Argon 18 Radon road bike outside, pavement bound, for the first time this season and initial reaction was a big grin.

It was great to finally get off the trainer and get some fresh air and sunshine.  Not that I mind the trainer too much, it’s a great way to keep going during a nasty winter, however when you purchase a new bike in the winter time it can be very painful.  We were lucky with a fairly cycling friendly winter this year which allowed me to hit the trail several times with the mountain bike.

I think it holds true that you can’t properly appreciate a bike’s handling and fit until you’re actually riding and yes, I know rollers accomplish this to some degree but it’s still not the same.  I mean, there is also the fresh air, the sun and the scenery and even the best flat screen tv can’t replicate that.

Then there is the problem of looking at it when you’re not riding it.  It’s the classic “kid pressed up against the store window glass” you know it’s gonna be awesome and can’t wait for spring… but for now, you’ll have to settle with your trainer and Chris Carmichael.

The ride only consisted of a minuscule (to some but not all) 37 Km and the purpose was just to tweak the bike a bit more, become comfortable with it etc.

I wanted to stay mainly in and around town so I rocketed much of the bike path lane on Ira Needles Blvd in Kitchener, Ontario.  That is a fun little stretch because it is mostly flat, has a dedicated bike lane and sometimes you can pace yourself with motorized vehicles on the slight down-slope sections .

Ira Needles took me towards St. Jacobs, where I headed slightly North and cruised some back roads for a bit.  I then came back into Waterloo in around the Universities and back into Kitchener.

It’s wasn’t a very exciting ride to tell you about, but with the weather, my new road rocket and the prospect of more great rides to come; It was an awesome one that began and ended in a smile.

A lot more ride posts to come.  Bring on the season!

P