Timeline of bike's

As some of you may know, it's been taking a little while for me to get my bike. Usually I would use my bike from last year, and hand it back when I get my new one. Unfortunately I broke my old one less than a week before leaving the states. So in New Zealand I used my old Fuji, with the Fuji stickers covered up. When I got back I was anticipating my new rig to be waiting for me, but how wrong I was. The next 40 days I was in the Wilderness (excuse the pun, but it is quite a coincidence it was 40 days), and jumped from bike to bike. So here are the bike's I've ridden this year.

1. Fuji:

The first bike for the year was the trusty old Fuji. I had to cover up all the non Orbea stickers. Luckily it was all black, so the electrical tape worked quite nicely. It was a bit odd going back to Shimano, but it was nice to riding Dura-Ace again instead of the rival, even if the frame wasn't as nice. At 61cm this was the biggest, and prob too big. The photo isn't from this year, but Nov '08, close enough.

2. Joe's Old training bike:

After getting to camp, and finding I had no bike, I was put on Joe's old training bike. Joe rides a pretty similar set up to me, so that wasn't too bad. But moving back to Rival and Force mix wasn't great after using D-A all summer. Unfortunately I don't have a picture of that bike.

3. Adam's fixie:

During camp we had an excessive amount of photography done. During this, we all had to ride behind the truck. Unfortunately we have a rider who doesn't know how to use gears. I'm not talking about Tim P, who doesn't know how to use his little chain ring, or the triathlon team, who can't use the big ring (sorry tri team), but Adam, who for some reason insists on using a fixie to ride across the country. Despite that Adam was quite comfortable on the fixie, he wasn't allowed it in front of the camera with it, so we swapped bikes. This isn't me on the fixie below, but the fixie specialist himself.

4. The photo bike:

After Joe claimed his bike back, I then took a bike which was apparently set up in a hurry for some photos. Which would explain why it wasn't running so smooth. But after a quick tune up it was running sweet. Especially with the new D-A. That's not me below, but it is the bike...

...and the prototype brakes.

5...

Well, I didn't ride this bike but I'd like a ride. Thanks Pez

5. Chris's Orca:

Since the priority was going to the Tour of California riders, my 'photo' bike quickly was taken off me for Chris to ride. Which left me with his bike from last year. That was ok, as it was the same as my race bike from last year. Was nice to ride Red again, even if I had just gotten used to Shimano again. The bike did get me up Mt Figueroa a lot quicker than last year though.

6. Alison's Teschner:

I left camp and headed for Boulder, CO where I had idea what bike I was going to ride. Luckily for me my team mate Alison was kind enough to lend me her old Teschner from last year. The bike rode pretty well, though it did feel a little different from Orbea. It did have Shimano, which I'd be riding for the rest of the year. Though I did confuse a few people by riding a bike with a name tag with an American flag reading "Alison Powers".

7. Tim P's bike:

I returned Alison's bike and headed for CA for a few days, where I remained bikeless. But I could sleep easy in the thought that soon I would be arriving in Richmond where my bike would be waiting. Unfortunately that wasn't the case. Instead I was set up on Tim's 54cm Orca.

8. My BIKE!!!

And finally I got my bike. My sweet Orbea Opal, with Selle Italia saddle (unfortunately in black, I hope it doesn't cause to much problem for my nice white bibs), Shimano Ultegra, Zeus handlebars, stem and seatpost, and wheels by... Ah, ignore that last bit, still waiting for them wheels.

Well now I have my bike it's time to get out an ride it. First race on it will be tomorrow.