A new decade is here. Not the one that started Jan 1st, but the one marked by my new bike. By habit, this bike will occupy the #1 spot for 10 years, give or take, until another bike happens. That’s the way of bikes– the best ones simply happen. I don’t go shopping, or even buying. I just suddenly have a new bike. (Except that they’re always used.) It’s a strange approach, given the length of the commitment, but it’s been working so far.
In the ’90s, bike #1 was a Cannondale CAD 3 (with Suntour 7 spd). In the ’00s, bike #1 was a Cannondale R3000 (with DuraAce 9 spd). Now, I am a proud member of the modern age in my Felt F1 (with DuraAce 10 spd). The acquisition of the Felt had no premeditation, no research, no method. I was not actively looking for a new bike. (One is, of course, always passively looking for another bike.) The Cannondales were each from [different] cousins of Will Frischkorn, and both came from conversations that started, “Hey I might be able to get you a bike”.
This one has a story too. This bike comes from Danny Pate, formerly of Team Garmin, more recently of HTC, and next season of Team Sky. Frank found it, via Pate’s twitter feed, and sent me the link along with some taunt about carbon. It was late on a Wednesday night, I was full of scotch, and my lovely wife was out of town…so I joined twitter and posted a reply. I talked to Pate on the phone that weekend, sent him a check, and ba-da-bing: bike arrives the following Thursday (complete, sans wheels, as agreed). He even included a matching team kit, still in the wrapper– a gentleman and a scholar, Mr Pate.
Frank lent me some spare wheels, and I’m off to the future. The hills on our regular training lap are still higher at the top than at the bottom, but that’s about the only thing that is the same. This bike is fast.
Now I just need to “happen” some wheels for permanent use. And a flat stem, of course.
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Will you be riding this awesome bike this weekend on Whidbey island?
How cool he sent you matching kit, first class.
That's sweet. Nothing like bikes with pedigree.
@Marko
IS there a dispensation to Rule 17 if the team kit has come directly from a team member?
Congrats! Nice Ride, I love my Felt TT bike.
I also achieved the N+1 status again this weekend with a "new to me" 2009 Cannondale Super-six Mod 1. Full Dura-ace, etc. I was also not really looking and have just been putting lots of miles on the 'Ol Waterford crit bike since I went N-1 earlier in the season, when this deal fell my way. Can't wait to get my fit dialed in and see how stiff this BB30 really is.
I guess the new cross-bike is just going to have to wait or I may have to contract the divorce lawyer.
Sweet rig. It's super cool to read about new biked.
@Chris
Similarly, the question has arisen as to what to do with the name badge. The Pate badge is pretty damn cool, but seems exactly the same amount of wrong to ride with. Jimmy it thinking up some creative solutions.
Seems like fate that the bike came with a non-standard Thomson seatpin.
@Marko
Because I'm a crap friend, I had forgotten that the ride is on the morning of his wife's charity run/walk. Despite the fact that one should only ever run while one is being chased, Jim will be doing the walk instead of joining the Cogal.
My VMH will be representing Team Awesome at the walk while we all go off to get lost on an island in Puget Sound.
Super jealous over here, but congrats on the sweet ride.
I thought the team bikes were property of the team, I didn't realize the riders got to keep them at the end of the year, but then again it makes sense, where else are they going to go?
I got to see Pate 17 times + when I went to the grand prix de montreal this year. He was part of the break and really laying down the V. The 4 weren't caught until the very end.
The name badge has to stay. How else will he be able to prove the bike was, in fact, Pate's if he doesn't keep it? Most will just think it's a replica.
Just like love. It never happens when you're looking for it, rather it smacks you upside the head when you least expect it.
Nice find Jim. I've got major carbone for Felt bikes, though I'd never have the cajones to ride a team-branded bike because then people would expect me to actually go fast and whatnot. Yours is special though, since it was actually ridden by a pro. Pure awesome.