Monday:
Pick up the bike, notice gears out of whack, replace chain which falls off 2 minutes into the ride.
Checked the print out and am fairly sure that check CC05 'Gear system' was not carried out.
Tuesday:
stiff as hell in the back (to be expected as I'm used to a more upright riding posture) but also in the thighs. Work out on my way to work that it is because the seat is so evil I am hovering about 1cm above it for most of the journey.
Getting to work takes far longer than usual as I have not mastered these drop handle bars and can only brake when my hands are on top. Steering is also a challenge as my hands are close together. Negotiate the hill cursing the slippery gears all the way.
At the end of the day I take the bike back to the EBC to get the gears realigned. I stop on the way for a gel seat to ease the saddle discomfort. After waiting for half an hour the mechanic returns it to me saying it was weird but the back cable had been really loose and that it is now 'sweet'.
It isn't.
Wednesday
Tackle the hill and hope that the gears have miraculously realigned themselves overnight which they haven't so clunk my way to school. On the ride home I begin to notice that I feel a little more in control.
Thursday
Still clunking and clicking my way to work and quite frankly I am finishing too late to take it back to the shop, that will have to wait until the weekend. I am however, feeling a lot more comfortable with the riding position. For the first couple of days I was convinced that I wouldn't be able to manage five miles on this thing, let alone 50.
Friday
I'm in control. I have mastered reaching the brakes from all hand positions and am steering with confidence. I feel so good that I take a detour on the way home. The bike feels smooth and aerodynamic when I get going and despite the continued gear slipping I'm beginning to enjoy the ride.
I'll be off on a longer ride over the weekend.
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