Only started back on April 1st after the winters lay off and for April I used the N+1 Pinnie. Then in May I set up the TCR for the Night ride. So Boreas had not been ridden for Months. This is the best bike I have and is my Favourite but only ride it when the situation demands it-Like when I am out with the Faster group and I need that bit of assistance. It rides beautifully and is comfortable. Unfortunately not the ideal one for hills after the layoff but I put the Tiagra 12/30 cassette on the handbuilts last week so it was time to try it out. Only a Pie ride to the seafront and it was Raspberry Cheesecake.


But on the way down I passed one of our Cycle lanes at a set of traffic lights and I said I would post a pic on another thread. At Traffic lights- where a cycle lane is in place- The front 10ft of the road is set up for cycles. Cars have to sit behind so you can position yourself for where you are going.



The markings are getting worn but you can see how it works- and Cars do not enter-even if bikes are not there. (Too many cops looking for an easy nick).

But a few things on the ride. That Tiagra cassette----I was worried that the spacing was going to be too wide for comfort but I was proved wrong. That lower gear does give a wider space but it is just about acceptable. But so far to the Pie stop- I had done a flat ride and had not tried it out- so up the ZigZags. Only 8% for a mile but it is the mile before at 3 to 5 that gets you. So up the hill and with the compact 50/34- I did not need the 30 on the small ring. At least I kept the cadence well up but that is not how I climb hills so up into the big ring and crosschain

I am wondering if a triple is necessary now. I did struggle a bit at the top but I have never climbed this hill in the big rig It works. May have been the thrill of being on Boreas but something was working well today and it definitely wasn't me after the low mileage done so far this year.

So quick trip back along the MUP and it was empty---Except for the cyclists I was passing. None coming the other way- no walkers and NO dogs getting in the way. Only downside was I got to my home town at school chucking out time- Senior school. You try to give warning that you are coming up and they either ignore you- or make comments that are rude- insulting or means that they would like to have their heads kicked in. But one Pic of Boreas-For the few that have not seen the bike before- and just to remind you this is an Aluminium lightweight frame and forks in Race geometry and weighs in at a fraction over 15lbs. No wonder it is my favourite bike.

Raspberry cheesecake and a cuppa joe. Yum!

Stap,
Glad you are liking the Tiagra cassette for the hills there. Just don't let the Pinnie get to sulking for not being ridden. they have feelings you know. I have found the 50/34 compact is perfect for me on the CAAD, I didn't like the triple on the R500T and went to a standard double, had doubts but decided to go with the compact double and love it. What little pimples we have here for hills are so short and below category anything below what I have with the 11-26 would be useless for me. Your Boreas is still one of my favorite bikes.

Bill

“A Good Nothing Ride” I had one of those this morning. Found a bike trail that I didn’t know existed before hand. Road about 2 miles of it but didn’t go to the end. I’ll check it out another day. Was chased by one dog. Isn’t one of the reasons God let men invent bikes was so dogs could chase them?

There was no pie when I got home. I will need to speak to my daughter about that. She makes an apple pie that is so good it would make a wild cat slap its momma.

Didn't sound or seem from the pics as a nothing ride to me. You will have ot come up with something more mundane than that.

For me- it was a "Mundane" ride. No struggling on the hills except on the bit where I was trying the 30t in the big ring- No Computer so no speed to attain-No heart monitor so I do not know if I worked on the bike and it didn't feel like it either. Highlight was the Cheesecake but that was a bit special.

And therein lies my point

You do know that the 34/21 gives you basically the same gear as the 50/30 without committing the sin of crosschaining, don't you? I'm very disappointed.

BTW, we have those spaces set aside for bikes at some intersections on this side of the pond as well. Typically, they are painted green and are called "green boxes".