I was invited to go do the "Tour of the Amish Country". Now this sounded like my kind of ride. Hills and distance. The kind of rides I need and love to do. The cast was set, all strongmen. The weather overcast.
No call for rain.  This would be the Parlee's debut or baptism under fire.We started out with a nice uphill and kept going up. AJ does his intervals on one hill, so it was a flurry of attacks as he did his thing. I was trying my best to raise my tempo. I knew what he was up to.
 It was good to ride with this crew. As the say, "If you want to get better,ride with better riders". My TT motor seems to working well. So on one section I did a few hard pulls and rode the TT wave. On the super long downhill attacks and counters came. I wanted to try a lead out. So I cranked it all the way up till the rev limiter hit. This proved my undoing a counter was launched on a small rise and OTB I went. Not quite recovered I couldn't quite jump on. So the TT game was on. "Oh there you are" as I finally bridged. Whew,that was tough.
We rolled into Owego to hit the cafe. So Euro we were as we rolled in it. There's an old time barber shop next door and we made a spectacle for them. The old barber was shaving a guys neck and I asked him if he did straight razor shaves. He said "Not anymore since his shoulder injury and laughed that he didn't want to cleave my face off." As he made a slicing motion through the air. We clacked in for coffee and treats.

The Parlee looked sweet outside.

After fueling up and getting more water, which the cafe owner generously provided. We discussed routes.
Chuck was racing the next day and was in for the flatter route. We all opted to stay away from 17c. So we rolled out for a few more hills and some TTT work after them. It did rain on our parade. But the camaraderie and route made it all worthwhile.
Back at the meeting point AJ said, "If all rides like this. I could quit racing." he nailed it. Then Kross crept into my head and I knew I'd be back. Maybe after worlds are over. I can become a gentlemen rider.


So since I didn't do a Parlee build blog. Here's the rundown. Parlee Z4 frame and fork. SRAM Force, NOS Flite saddle (thanks Ed.) FSA Stem and bars and HED Baston wheels rolling on  polished.White Industries hubs with polished spokes. Blue bar tape eschews the PRO look. Old school Profile cages grab the bottle no matter what. Cap it all off with Speedplay pedals to keep my old knees in order.
So the Parlee replaces the Merlin, 15,16,17 years later.  Will the Merlin still be ridden? Of course.
Sure the Scattante was in there,but I never really bonded with it. It was a tool to do the job and try carbon fiber on the cheap.
 So now there are two dream bikes in the stable. The Parlee and the Ti Pride.
What else could there be? Why the unobtainable. What else. A Storck TT bike. A Holland Exo grid kross and road rig. Do I pine for them? No. I appreciate them.


On a side note. AJ, Jake , Mills and I made the run to check out the new Ommegang cafe. Very nice.
Bought more beer. Again. The staff even gave us the team discount on our meal. Very cool.
The little gay car made for a fun trip.

So eat good food,drink good beer and love the one you're with.


Lucinda continues to grace the Ipod