Four years ago I worked at a bike shop and spent every day lusting after OCLV bikes. Sure, there are a ton of other amazing bikes and everybody has their tastes, but to me the Trek 5500 was exactly what I wanted. My body type fits perfect, my riding style matches, but I could never afford $3600.
My brother still works at that shop and a few months back he bought an ultegra kit from a guy who had roof-racked his bike and cashed in his insurance check for a whole new bike. I had a cheap kit. Last week a customer he talked a guy into buying a custom Serrotta came in to have his Postal frame stripped and Serrotta built up. "What are you going to do with the frameset?" - - I finally can afford the roadie I've dreamt of for years.
We built it up right away, with all the little touches I have been conjuring in my imagination of one day owning such a ride. King headset, deda bars, thompson post & stem. It rode so well. I took it to the Southern Oregon coast for some of the most beautious riding in the US of A last weekend and she performed like a champ.
This morning I woke up knowing the day would suck. The shower ran intermittently too hot or too cold, no milk for cereal, roommate left out a mess; but at least I was going to ride my new bike for an hour to work.
Rolling downhill, a beater old Plymoth tries to swerve around a bus, then stops short because he doesn't have room. I slam my breaks and feel the rear tire grease out. To my right is a man eater storm drain, to my left is certain death traffic, so I clench thhe brakes harder and endo into the trunk of the Plymoth.
I am not sure what all I did to her. I think the bars are bent, the levers are all tweaked out, and the breaks are rubbing. I know how poorly front end damage and carbon fiber mix. Shit.
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