The wait is longer than the holiday...

The trouble with planning a holiday months and months in advance is that once the bookings have been made, the money has been paid, the details sorted, there's nothing to do but wait...and wait...and wait. Dreams of rolling around the Washington volcanoes and Oregon Crater courtesy of Bicycle Adventures are obsessing me. Wait, wait, wait...

Wait also for news of your bike, ordered specially for the trip. I've ordered a bike, custom framed titanium with S&S couplers so I never again have to lug around a full size bike case, which is a royal pain in the arse! And expensive - domestic US airlines charge like a wounded bull for the privilege of carting your bike around for you!

Bike is from Dean Bicycles - specifically the El Diente (why a bike is called 'The Tooth' is beyond me!). Dean are value-for-money, have excellent components options - my bike is Dura Ace spec with FSA SLK Lite 53/39 chainset and cranks, ceramic bottom bracket, various Ritchey WSC carbon and alu bits - and will deliver to my bike shop of choice in the Portland where I land to commence my tours. Linky to the Dean site follows:

Dean Bikes El Diente

Wait for the time until you depart is upon you: God it takes forever! Get me out of here!

In the interim, I've been pottering around various online cycle supply websites, purchasing bits and pieces for the new ride, just to keep myself sane. Once again, Probikekit has been a great site. Having purchased a new helmet and shoes from them toward the end of last year, I again recently raided the piggybank for some essentials for the new bike:

• Shimano Ultegra Ice Grey Pedals: The new wide-platform pedal from Shimano in a cool silvery-grey. Great pedal - I originally bought them for the new bike, but they looked so good I whacked them on my Masi and had to buy another pair for the new bike, coz they ain't coming off the Masi :)
• Shimano Flight Deck Wireless Computer: Have a wired one on the Masi and it's been faultless, plus I really like the hood integration, so a no-wire FD for the new bike it is.
• Vittoria Diamante Pro Red/Black tyres: Always been a Michelin Pro guy, but as the red Pro 2s couldn't be found, decided to try something different. The two tours should give them a good workout!

No problems with the ship time from ProBike (they're in the UK and it's a fair way to Oz) and very happy with the prices. Check 'em out at:

ProBikeKit

Haven't finalised the wheels yet, but I'm pretty much sold on a custom build up set from Universal Cycles in Portland:

• DT Swiss RR 1.2 Rims: black with spokes 24 front and 28 rear. Like the slightly aero rims and the Brand


• Shimano Dura-Ace HB-7800/7850 Hubs: like the Shim DA hub's performance and looks


• Wheelsmith Alloy nipples: red of course :)


• Sapim CX-Ray Spokes: silver - should look nice with the mirrored Shim hubs and the black/red/white of the DT rims

Universal are another online presence with a great range and nice site - once again, have a look:

Universal Cycles

One good thing about waiting? Well, July will rocket past with the TdF soon to be playing on a screen near you. Yes, with all its scandals, pumped up riders, radios up the whazoo etc etc, it's still a great viewing spectacle. All I can say is 'Go Cadel'!

Ride safe and long.