Rental bike #2, a Giant TCR Composite 1, had a decidedly easier day.
The local monsoon season having finally drawn to its violent close, I decided to give Red Rock another try. Today’s rental was a Giant TCR, a more race-oriented bike with ergonomics to match. Frankly, it was just uncomfortable, and I can’t imagine being stretched out like that for anything longer than the 25 miles I did. The saddle in particular didn’t suit me at all, and I spent a lot of time shifting side-to-side to stop things from going numb. Still, it was a capable bike, blessed with the same Shimano Ultegra lineup as the Defy I rode a couple days ago, and the more aggressive geometry did seem to make the bike lunge forward just a touch harder when the pedals were stomped.
The views I missed the first time around…
My performance on the ascent wasn’t much more impressive than the previous day, but I had even more reason to take my time, as the sky and the temperature was the best you could order from the weather catalog, and I was able to really take in my surroundings.
Nice, friendly, white puffies. I much prefer them, I think.
I stopped three times on the climb to the uppermost overlook, which was probably once more than I really needed to. If I get to go back some time, I can definitely see myself trying to conquer the climb all at once, provided the weather cooperates again.
It goes on and on, the desert.
(Click for full size)