First rides of Spring

Finally hauled the fully revamped TCR Advanced for it's first ride. Well it was midday and the sun was shining. Weeks ago I was having misgivings about choosing SRAM, but once out on the road it was truly superb.  In fact the whole thing was a treat to ride, especially sprinting from a corner or out of a slower section. Well I guess that's what you get when you run sub 1400g wheels. The other major difference over my titanium training bike is the stiffness, when you hit the button the rear wheel almost feels like it's going to overtake you.
So Saturday I pounded around a hilly 45 in the big ring, gurning like an idiot. Note to self - fit a bottle cage.

Sunday was also a glorious day, very sunny but not so warm. Nine of us left Energié, but other than that I can't tell you anymore as I was under instruction the whole route! Pace was above tempo, signs were up for bagging and long straights screamed one on one off.
We lost one rider due to the pace, and I think lack of a few miles in his legs. We also lost Tim early on, a victim of having a life!
We  also had a newcomer with us, 18 year old Neil who did a sterling job keeping up. Though he faded at around the 45 mile mark, not bad though when you consider he had only ridden about thirty miles tops beforehand.
Then on the homeward stretch we came across Tim? The training wheel on his dollar dollar Basso had shat itself leaving him stranded near Quainton. After much well deserved piss taking and photos we moved on, only to get an impromptu shower as Tim passed us in his wife's car....it was water wasn't it?
Pace then dropped as Neil started to suffer, we got Neil home to Cheddington, and regrouped for a dash home.

Barney, Craig, Carl, Paul, Rob, Neil, Adam

All in all some great riding, if a little scruffy around the edges. Definitely great banter and hopefully a taster of what's to come.