The Cervelo is SO fast! It climbs well and it holds it speed. It's like the bike just wants to go fast. I was worried I would not have the leg strength for a compact double, but it's been all right, even on some 18% grades. And it has not bothered my knees. My smallest gear on it is a 34 - 25 which is substantially taller than the 33 - 34 on my Legolas. But I think two years of strength training has really paid off.

The ride I did today is one I do often. It has a downhill section into a tight right hand corner that on either of my Rivs I would not brake on. But the Cervelo accelerates so quickly on the downhills, that I really have to watch my speed.

One I thing I do really notice is how smooth it feels on chip seal. One end of this road has got just the nastiest chip seal and on my Rivs I could really feel it. On the Cervelo when the pavement changes back to the good stuff, I barely notice it.

It's got Sram Force for shifting. Since I have bar end shifters on my other two bikes I really didn't care what it had, as long as it worked. It didn't take too long to get use to it. But I still find myself reaching for those bar ends.

I've got 149 miles on the Cervelo now. Most of them hilly or downright mountainous. I am really happy with it. When I first got it, I thought I could feel cross winds more - like the wind was tossing me around a bit. But the more miles I get on it, the less I'm noticing that.

Thom is still earning "points" for surprising me with it. Of course "points" aren't redeemable for anything and have no cash value.

Veronica