stapfam

Just picked up the Boreas and taken it for a spin from the shop. Don't have a great deal of time to sort it today so just in case anything had to be changed- I did a 10mile ride for a Coffee and pie from the shop.

Pics will follow so you'll have to wait a bit. Impressions of the bike-Incredibly light- The wheels are very stiff and with 140psi in the tyres- they could have sent a lot of feel through to the Butt and Shoulders. I did not feel any road shock due to the C.F. Forks and seat stem. Took it up a respectable hill and that compact is going to take some getting used to. 34/27 is not as low as 30/26. Down the same hill- This thing rolls. I did the same as the giant- just rolling between the corners on the Zig-Zags but wheras on the giant I do not have to brake- I did on this one, but I found out how sticky the tyres are on the first corner.
Now as to that ballast- If I am going to get a work out on this- I am going to have to be going uphill all the time. It takes no effort to pedal it on the flat whatsoever so 20lbs of ballast on the bike should slow me down a bit.

Oh and the pie was lemon meringue.

Retro Grouch 

I carry about 20 pounds of ballast around my waist?

freeranger

Well, there is a mtn.biker (Tinker Juarez), who mostly does 24 hr. mtn.bike races now. Read an article that one of his training methods was to fill a backpack with rocks and go riding. Sounds like fun!! Should slow you down just a bit and provide a workout!

Artkansas 

Get a dirtboard and a tow rope. Tow one of your kids up the hill, then they can ride the dirtboard down.

doctor j

I think DG has some road dirt he'd part with for a song.

oilman_15106

Fill the frame with concrete. It will feel just like your old one.

Dogbait

I manage to fit all the ballast I need right on the saddle.

bcoppola

Have two helpings of pie after each ride. You'll have all the ballast you need before you know it.

(I'm onto your little game, by the way. You're just trying to make us jealous of your new bike. And, darn it, you're succeeding.)

Talarion

Have heard/read where pro mechanics will fill the dwntube w/ ice to meet UCI rules at weigh-in...
I like to use my kid's trailer, it'll hold a lot more weight than I like to train with.

ken cummings

One of the early wind trainers was a pair of "squirrel-cage" fans mounted on a roller that rested against the rear wheel. It was attached to the seat-post or saddle rails. It was used for indoor training while you were on rollers or had the front forks clamped to a stationary support. Put that on your bike. Or rig a drag brake like some tandems use for long, steep hills.

Terrierman

Have you considered one of those front wheel dynamos and a big battery pack and a nice light for night time riding? If you're wanting extra weight, you might as well get something useful out of it.

maddmaxx 

How bout a small parachute hanging out back?...........

jibi

Just go twice as far in half the time.

Good workout!

george

stapfam

Update on the bike. It is light- rolls easily and on the flat is effortless. Was disappointed in the Speed stakes though and checked out a few things. Wheel bearings and Crankset bearings are TIGHT. Untill they loosen up a bit- About another 200 miles should do it- I am going to have to put effort in on those pedals.

Motorad

Hokey Smokes, to quote a cartooned flying rodent! Is that 140 pounds per square inch? I didn't know tire pressure went up that high. What kind of tires is the bike running on and how wide? What kind of portable air pump would you have to carry, to get the pressure around 140-psi if you have to fix a flat on the road?