Down with the Flu

This week started off with cycling and ended with some of that. The mind has been stuck on debating the pro's and con's of each individual road bike.

All went well until the evening of wednesday when I started to get a case of the sniffles. I shrugged it off as a case of allergy to an obscure agent I had become exposed to but it quickly deteriorated to a sore thrat, cough and fever. Downed a number of Decolgen and even resorted to antibiotics but the URTI marched on and I developed myalgia which in effect put out all aerobic sessions. I had difficulty even coping with prolonged talking in the clinic because it just really aggravated my throat. Had to call off saturday's ride.

Had some spare time which I used to good effect clearing paperwork which had been piling up. Had to push away some overseas engagements to Taiwan and Bandung at pretty short notice. Had time to check out some cool bikes, namely trek madones and pinarello dogmas. Dream bikes for now.

I was quietly determined to ride on sunday with the usual gang and we rode 41 km in 1:35 minutes. Started off a little late as HC could not find the place.Overall a good ride and I practiced getting out of my seat to do a bit of climbing. On the straight on the coastal road though, I could not hold much and dropped back quite significantly. Gosh I really have a lot of improving to do!

The we got to chatting about bikes and JN intimated that there is a bet going on that I will end up buying the Dogma. If money could truly buy speed, I would be sorely tempted, not that I could afford to part with such princely sums but I think there is always added pressure with the acquisitions of such bikes because you should be worthy to ride these gems. What is the use of riding at 30 km/h on such machines which can take you faster potentially? The real action is the amount of wattage you can produce as you push those pedals( albeit with the correct technique of course which I still don't have!). To paraphrase the great Lance Armstrong, " it really ain"t about the bike!

SO should I even buy another bike? The Ordu seems great. A bit rough but fast and nimble and certainly I would think a spectacular buy but something in me feels like another bike. Senesible to buy another Orbea( orca) or splash out some real dough on a Pinarello/ Trek? Decisions, Decisions. Problem is after the dust is settled and the bike is bought and a hole in the pocket is burnt, my cycling would be as crap aswver. Now wouldn't that be the real tragedy?