First long distance ride.

[caratz]

I'm not sure my post of yesterday got here at all. I'm in Eastern France right now. The Vosges area. The ride here was really not fun. Pouring rain all the way down. When I say pouring, I mean buckets, for about 650 KM. My Stich got wet inside.

Riding a bike in sunny weather, anyone can do it, and say it's great. For emitting an opinion about a bike is more about how it will handle in our regular weather, meaning pouring rain and wind. As far as I'm concerned, there is one word that fits the GT : "Sovereign"... You can throw anything you want at it, rain, hail, wind and shitty surfaces, she'll remain impervious to all of these. While riding in the day before yesterday, it was frunstrating to have so much rain but I never felt any twitch of unsafety on it. The problems arose with my gear. Spectacles fogging up, and the Stich's problems. For the rest, no problem at all.

That's what I need from a bike, comfort in all climates, and getting me where I want, in all conditions. I do miss the bike to bike comms, but that is on its way in the next weeks.

Today the weather was better, and we rode about 160 KM of Sweepers and Twisties. Col de la Schlucht, and Col du Bonhomme were on the menu, and it was fun. Tomorrow we're riding back to Antwerp, via a fantastic route in the Vosges mountains, down to Metz. From there we'll hit Luxemburg, Vianden and St. Vith in Belgium to avoid the works on the direct road. It's a lot longer that way, but it's also a lot more fun.

I'll post when I'm back.

[caratz]

No fun route. Weather is too bad. Straight shot back.