Cookie MonsterOk, maybe not everything else, but instead of making separate posts I thought I would just put all that is going on in my head currently in one post and try to keep it organized.

First lets talk about bike efficiency. I remember when I first test rode the CAAD10 how it really wanted to propel you, especially up hills. My test ride started off at the bottom of a hill, a small 5 minute climb if you will, when I got to the top I was so impressed with how it felt, I turned around and went back down only to go up again. I had never been on the hill before and I just wanted to make sure it wasn’t a fluke. It wasn’t. I got it on flat ground in an aero position and it just wanted to go. It just seemed like there was no lost power with this bike, it was very efficient, everything I put into the pedals made it to the pavement. After it’s purchase I didn’t get too many rides outside before the cold and winter came forcing me inside on to the KICKR. Now that I’m back out on the road I am still amazed at how much more efficient my new CAAD10 is. I’m riding a bigger gear now (52/36 vs 50/34), don’t even use all of the cassette except on the nastiest of climbs, and while I’m not faster on the climbs I’m finding I can ride them “easier” if that makes sense. Bigger gear, lower HR and lower perceived exertion. Sure the C’dale is lighter by a few pounds and I may be a little more fit than last year but I feel the biggest difference is going from a do everything entry level jack of all trades, master of none style bike to an upper-mid level race bike. The CAAD10 just wants to go fast and propels you up those hills.

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