Pros:
- You can't go wrong with a road bike
- Everything's practically brand new so all the moving parts are smooth and snappy
- I don't particularly care about weight, but there is definitely something fun about very light road bikes, especially on climbs, of which there are plenty where I'm going
- I pretty much only use this bike for racing (using the same bike for riding and racing is like totally gauche), so it would be good to spend some more time together for a change
Cons:
- Using the same bike for riding and racing is like totally gauche
- I don't particularly care about weight
- I'm not crazy about the ergonomics of the cockpit, though I can't be bothered to do anything about it until the tape needs to be replaced, which at this rate will probably be never
- It's a really nice bike, though because I only use it for racing it feels kind of like packing a pair of Banana Republic slacks
So much to ponder! Good thing I don't have a real job.
16 comments:
Podium
You really can't go wrong with a road bike, although packing a carbon bike might require more attention to detail than with a metal one. If you are like me and are usually tired (and possibly hammered) when you are packing to go home from holiday, that might be a deciding factor.
What is the profile picture on your twitter please?
Yours
A. Gumby
Take the Jones. Leave the Specialized, But you can’t go wrong taking Ti. I hope it’s cool and dry where you are going. it’s so damn hot and sweaty my tinea cruris has tinea cruris.
if i was interviewing a fleet of bikes in the noir colorway, i would have a white casting couch.
what couch colorway you running?
My dog asked me to suggest that you base your decision on whether you will be packing resort wear or cruise wear.
But I can never tell if he's just messing with me.
I can rarely go right with a road bike because I almost always find something silly I want to hop over. IMHO -- drop bars are silly 97% of the time.
Not riding your race bike outside of races is for woosies. I'm sure Mr Sinyard would love you to buy a travel-specific road bike...
Take a Jones. If it gets abused by handlers, it may suffer cosmetically. If the plastic bike gets abused, you might find you don't have anything to ride.
I still like the feel of pushing skinnies on pavement, but dirt feels more free. HDEB said it all above. At this point drop bars are in my past along with most riding on the roadside. Take a Jones, just so I can read more words about it. Find something negative just to keep me from buying one.
There used to be this now-rare beast called a 'cyclocross bike' offering versatility across most turfs that could be repurposed endless ways with a few surplus parts and a three-way according to the rider's nuanced preferences. I'm not sure what's happened to them.
I have been having a similar dilemma about our trip to Maine, but I think the cabin on the lake is on a gravel road, so I think, in the end, it's gonna have to be the gravel bike. I'll just be slower on the paved roads than I'd like, but then, as I think about it, I already am anyway.
Based on the information to date...You indicated in a previous comment section that the vacation is focused on family time, so I'm assuming that means your riding is going to be by yourself when you can sneak away for most likely an overall small percentage of time of the total vacation. The area will have hills, and paved roads. Take the plastic Fred sled. I've found that when I come back to NY to visit family and take care of the old homestead, but also want to ride and I'll be riding by myself, a fast, road bike is the way to go. 17-18 average MPG (I'm assuming for you, maybe faster) allows a lot more "bang for buck", allows more creative loops, allows more scenery, than 13 average MPH (I'm assuming) on the Jones. You can get up early ride two hours, see a ton of the area, and back without anyone missing you. Riding fast, you don't feel as guilty being away....
NY Route suggestion - don't know where your vacation is, but you can do this from your home location. Last trip to NY I did the loop between Bear Mountain Bridge and Newburg Beacon Bridge, that's a great ride. 9D south is a great ride and going through Storm king is awesome.
Seems to me that you make more good and passionate points about your Jones.
Take a real break. Pack your hiking boots and tons of DEET. Walk a high hill with the wife and boys. Your legs will thank you for the rest. Your family will thank you for your presence. You will thank yourself because you brought less fucking shit on the road.
Seems like a gravel/CX bike would be the best of all compromises, no? Lacking that, I'd go for one of the Joneses. You can always make do with a fat tire on the road, but skinnies on singletrack can be a handful.
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