Ok, so I went to the Montréal Salon du Vélo today. I’m running a bit of a fever, so forgive me if this seems disjointed…
I spoke with the Cervelo rep (Emma, I think? everything is a bit fuzzy), I got to fondle Ivan Basso’s Bayonne (I really hope that is not slang for something else), touch (actually touch) the P3C (when nobody was looking), and actually see a rare beasty in these here parts, a Soloist.
The Soloist is THE bike that I have wanted for, oh, 3 years now. I have been determined to get one at the beginning of every season, but my LBS, to whom I am very loyal, keeps swaying me with prodeals (money talks…) from the brands they carry (TREK, Klein). Now don’t get me wrong. These are great bikes. The Klein was plenty stiff and light, and a great deal (probably a bit too stiff for me, though, as I have lower back issues). The TREK 5200 fits me pretty well (I probably need a zero-offset seatpost to make up for long legs with short femurs), and the carbon is certainly comfortable, but TREK is EVERYWHERE!!! I can’t go on a group ride without seeing 5 or 10 others with the same bike. The trouble is now, there are too many of them around to be able to sell last year’s used model at a decent price. Check out Ebay, and do a seach on Trek 5200, 2004. You’ll see what I mean…
Now, back to the Cervelos (which, coincidentally, used to be based in Montreal… I actually met Gerard at the Montreal Triathlon probably the first year they came out with the P2 (~1995 or so?). Alas, I was a poor student at the time and could not afford to jump on board early…). There is a serious lack of dealers around here. My LBS, which is located in an upscale part of town, is scared to bring in anything that isn’t TREK, or proven. Well, given the hype on the net regarding Cervelo (2’nd most wanted team replica bike, behind, you guessed it, TREK), I don’t know what it would take to prove to them that this is ***the brand. ***
As it stands now, I’ll be riding the TREK for the next season. Man, it sucks to be not quite worth sponsoring, but at the same time to be smitten with crazy bike-lust! Anyway, whine-whine-whine.
Thanks for listening. Those of you who have Soloists, think of me on your next ride…I think I’ll go lie down now…