Oscar

shouting across the interwebs: “New Bike Day!”
interwebs: “When ya gonna race him?”
Collective shoulder shrug.

Meet Oscar. My 3T Exploro Team gnar shredding tank colored yet not tank weight at all gravel bike. While I expected to have debuted this new bike at a race near you, he’ll have to settle for the trails near me. Solo. On my ride the other day, I was thinking that Oscar “deserves more pomp and circumstance than we can afford today” – Captain Pike, Star Trek. It’s an interesting time to be alive. We’re all {supposed to be} cooped up, waiting this thing out. Meanwhile, those essential workers are basically slaving away, so that we can help flatten this curve. Personally, I’ve been filled with anxiety, fear, sorrow, guilt, grief, and “all the feels” pulling my mind in all the directions. I’ve been consuming way too much media, social and informational, and it leaves me feeling full. Yet also, empty. Helpless.

Phew. Okay. This is a new bike day post. “Buon Compleanno, Oscar!” He’s an Italian bred machine. He and his siblings made it to us before that entire country became overrun with the virus. He was built in Iowa, and then shipped to North Carolina for the final assembly. I picked him up at camp with my Velocio // Exploro teammates, where they each received their new bike too. There was a lot of work in getting these bikes to us before what was to be our first race of the season. BrittLee did an amazing job coordinating the efforts, and we are all super thankful to Bicycle Gallery in NC for the insane amount of work and effort put in to get these bikes race ready. And in the end, just photo shoot ready, as the Croatan Buck Fifty was cancelled less than 48 hours before the start, due to a state mandated order of no gatherings above 50.

It’s crazy to think that it was only two weeks ago that I was riding on some pretty great east coast gravel, with some very awesome women, on our new matching machines. Brett Rothmeyer was there to capture some fantastic images. We had a blast getting to know each other in such a short amount of time. You can check out the album on the Matches to Burn website. I look back and see real smiles. And feel real laughter. It was definitely a pivotal weekend. People ask where were you during 9/11, and I think I’ll always remember where I was when the US started taking Covid-19 seriously. I was supposed to be on a 3 week trip. Team Camp, Chicago, mentoring at the BFF team camp in Lexington, then to Cincinnati visiting the in-laws, and finally, Springfield for Grandma’s 90th. Instead, I was trying to get my flights changed and head home. {Thank you, American Airlines, for doing the right thing, and getting me home.}

Two team rides later, Oscar was put in my case, and flew across the country to his new home. He claimed his prime spot on the bike rack {move on down, fellow family members!} and has secured himself as the primary steed in my stable.

Here’s the rundown for the bike nerds:
Frame // 3T Exploro Team, custom painted for Velocio // Exploro in Olive, Navy, and Apophyllite Green
Group // Sram Force AXS 1x w/the “Mullet Build” aka Eagle AXS rear derailleur, the 10/50 cassette, and 44T front chainring mounted to the Quarq Force AXS power meter
Wheels // Stan’s Grail CB7 pro
Tires // Schwalbe G-One Speed 700×35 currently. Uber stoked to toss on the 700×38 tan sidewall next
Saddle // Fizik Vento Argo R1 large
Cockpit // Fizik R1 Bull 40c-c handlebar, Fizik R1 80x6d stem, Fizik Vento Solocush Tacky handlebar tape in Navy
Computer // Stages Cycling L50

We are insanely spoiled. I’m feeling so lucky to be a part of a squad full of so many amazing women and backed by so many great companies. Once we are given the green light, we’ll be out racing these green machines. In the meantime, be safe. Be well. Be good.