may the SRAM Force be with you

Once in a while The Scot makes a purchase that defies his logic, and completely goes against the QPR ethos.  Some might call this an ‘emotional’ purchase, or ‘buying with the heart’.  Somehow I manage to logically justify these types of purchases and push aside the emotion.  In my head an emotional purchase is just plain wrong, illogical, Spock-like!  Why spend so much on something that can be had for much, much less?  Sometimes you just need to throw logic out the window and listen to your heart.

If you love something you must have it, right?  That new CD from your favorite band, that new pair of shoes, a date with that hawt girl,  that hawt Cervelo RS that you’ve been eying for the last year, or so…  You get the picture.

So, what’s this Cervelo all about?  Well, Cervelo is a Canadian company who makes bikes used by enthusiasts and professionals the world over.  In fact Cervelo’s have become some of the most sought after bikes in the world.  They’ve won the Tour De France, the Paris Roubaix and many other races.

The RS, my model, is made of carbon fiber (the same stuff F1 cars are made of) and weighs in at 16.4 pounds.  Pretty damn light!  The geometry of the frame is such that it’s more comfortable than a pure race bike as you’re positioned slightly more upright, but not drastically so.  The bike is no slouch though, he likes to get up and go!  The frames engineering and design make for a comfortable ride, but if you want to lay the power down there’s no slack.  You simply jet forward with every pedal stroke.  It also soaks up bumps like no other road bike I’ve ever ridden.

Interestingly I realized today that I have only ever owned Canadian bikes throughout my entire life.

When I was a kid, I had a CCM cruiser.  I then had a Norco BMX.  I graduated to a Canadian made Raleigh 10 speed, then bought a proper race bike from a company called Miele (not the same as the appliance maker).  My most recent bike was a Devinci, and now the Cervelo.  Mind you, the Cervelo frame is made in China.  You just can’t make Carbon frames inexpensively in North America.  Can someone please explain why this is?

I bet you’re wondering how much this beast cost me?  Well, I won’t divulge the price I paid, but suffice it to say that the fine folks at Wheels of Bloor in Toronto hooked me up with a deal that was acceptable to The Bastard.  It was kinda like getting your dream car for the price of a Toyota Camry.

I’m a big fan of buying from ‘local’ manufacturers when possible.  While most bits and pieces are now made in China you are still supporting your jobs in your country when you buy from a ‘local’ manufacturer.  And if you are flush with cash there are several boutique frame makers who can customize a Titanium frame to your exact measurements for a few grand.