First big ride of the year...
 

Well, Saturday was the first big ride of the year, the Buena Vista Bike Fest century in Buena Vista, Co. Mother nature cooperated and it was a clear sunny day with temps in the high 60's. Not surprisingly I didn't see any other C&V bikes on the ride but the old Bottecchia handled it in fine form. I was more than a bit concerned as this winter dragged on well into what should have been Spring and left precious little time to build up some mileage in preparation (and I loathe in-door trainers). I made some event specific changes to the bike to tailor my gearing to the anticipated climbing, replacing my Campagnolo Nuovo Record derailleur with a more or less period correct Campagnolo 1st generation Rally long cage derailleur and a 14-34 (yes that's three-four) freewheel. Here's the Bott at the top of Tennesee pass, elevation 10,424-ft (3177-m I think).

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z...aride003-1.jpg

Your water bottle and pump arrangement are just what I'm setting the Motobecane up with for the Trek Across Maine.
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so you rode up tennessee pass with a 42/34? That is still a pretty tall gear...I nominate you for C&V stud of the week!

I don't know about that but I'll take any complements I can get. :D Actually I have a Nervar Star with "Alpine" 52-40 rings in front so low gear is now a 40/34, 31.5 gear inches but at least I wasn't riding no sissy triple ;)

(Now somebody will probably point out that I had Look clipless pedals instead of some manly clips and straps but oh well, you can't please everybody.) :)

The handlebar mount bottle cage is really nice. At the moment the pump is just for show since the head broke. I carry CO2 in my jersey.