True Substance

Well I did it again.  N+1.  Acquired a new bicycle.  Not that I really needed one.  Just something to fill a certain niche.  Something that is a step closer to the perfect bicycle.  Something faster than the current touring bike.  Something that will allow me to procrastinate on fixing the others.  From the UK I present the Verenti Substance.

I found this bicycle on the Northern Ireland bicycle website ChainReactionCycles.  They started out small and then figured out to use the internet and became a wonderful supplier of bicycles and bicycle accessories.  But researching the bike I found out that Verenti is the house brand of another UK recreational supplier name Wiggle.  Wiggle had a better price so there I went and clicked BUY NOW.  The name Verenti is a play on letters for the Latin word for Truth but due to legal and copyright issues they spelled it differently.

What drew my attention is that Verenti has named several of their bicycles after album titles of the band New Order.  Substance, Technique and Movement.  How could I not support this?

Now many of my readers or people who will see me on this will attack me and say "hey bastard, what about the LBS??  Ihey need your money!!"  My answer is below.  Also, I am accessorizing it from LBS.  Already made two stops at Barr for flasher, computer and cages.

1988 Trek 820 Europa Cycles
1989 Trek 7000 Europa Cycles
1990 used 1986 Trek 7000 Europa Cycles
1991 Gary Fisher tandem Bike World
1993(?) Cannondale R400 used Bike World
1994 Trek 2200 Bike World
1996 Trek 930 Bike World
1996 Trek 520 used Barr Bicycle
1997 Schwinn Stardust Barr Bicycle
somewhere in the 90s two Trek mountain Cub kids bikes Bicycle World
Early 2000s two youth MTBs 1 from Bike World Warehouse the other Barr
2001 Cannondale RT3000 tandem Bike World
Sometime in the mid 2000s a BMX bike Rassy's
2007 Trek 1600 Bike World
2007 Trek FX 7.5 Bike World
2008 LeMond Versailles Bike World
2011 Giant Via Bike World
2015 Trek Soho Bike World Warehouse
several from the Collective
2015 Specialized Crossroads from Fred's

I think that is it.

So there's a bicycle named after a New Order lp that has disc brakes, wide tires, braze on for front and rear racks and a Tiagra 2x10 groupo, how could I resist?  Given that it is last year's  model and 40% off thus below the $800 tariff/import fee threshold, why not??  Reviews have been positive.  this could become my fast touring bike, gravel racer or geared commuter.  Basically, it is a steel frame bicycle with disc brakes, rack mounts and the newer style of STI brake/shifters that have the cables routed underneath the bar wrap.  I'm have tempted to swap its parts with the LeMond.

Once fully assembled it sat there for like a week.

Ordered on a Thursday it arrived on the Following Wednesday.  Incredible!  I went home sick that day.  I guess when I puked in my office my boss realized that I should be there.  went straight home and straight to bed.  Fritz started barking later I saw the box outside in my back yard as i instructed DHL.  I love DHL.  Most carry bag services will just leave a not on your door and tell you to go to their place to pick up the goods.  not DHL.  they will call you at 630 am and say they are coming.  This time they texted me and asked how i wanted this handled.  my reply, carry it through the gate and leave it next to my trash receptacles.  They understood and honored my request.

Bubble wrap

The box was filled with airbags which was used for a photo.  The box contained a plastic flimsey with the packing checklist that was signed off and signed by the person that assembled and packed the bike.  The Shimano instructions for the various components were included.  Nice!  Overall, I was impressed with the packaging.  Having received several bicycles from Bikes Direct, this was impressive.  Assembling was easy though the hardest part was removing the protective wrap and cutting all the twit ties.  Other than that put front wheel on, put handle bars on.  Put pedals on.  I was surprised that the tires did not need airing.  Because I was ill and the weather was shit I had to wait a few days before the maiden voyage.  One last shout out to Wiggle.  the "MADE IN TIAWAN" sticker was placed on the the bottom of the BB instead of the head tube!  Nice!!  I may leave it on!!

The maiden voyage happened about 6 am on a Sunday morning.  Had to go to my ATM to find out how bad my spending was.  Had to stop at the store for something. Rolled downtown and took a few photos for Bicycle Ride & Seek, the best reason to be on FaceBook.  First thing I noticed was that the bike fit me very well.  The smallest frame available was a 50 cm and they asked what my inseam was.  I must have received the shortest stem.  My hands naturally fell into the brake hoods.  Another thing, they asked what side i wanted the front brake lever on.  Interesting...  Later that day Mary and rode to TNT Vietnamese restaurant.  Think I rode a total of 20 miles that day.  Then more crap weather.

The bicycle rack behind Iowa Heart Hospital

Friday was its second outing.  Had an appointment at Iowa heart hospital.  6 month check up.  I like getting there an hour early so I can meditate and calm down and then brag about riding a bicycle to visit my cardiologist.  I do stand by what I said that bicycling prevented my heart attack despite a clogged artery.  it certainly gave me strength to survive.  After the all clear, heart and lungs sounded good and EKG was good but BP still a bit high I was allowed to leave.  First trip was for breakfast at fuzzy Tacos because i could not think of anywhere else to go and I needed to end the fast RIGHT NOW.  Also stopped next door at DSM Brew for the coffee I had avoided until after Iowa Heart.  Then some photos for Ride&Seek and finally a visit to Gomez barber on the south side.  Next was to meet Craig for a ride to Cumming but we found a kewl spot for a few beers and then a bottle of wine at Jasper Winery.  Avoid riding past Confluence so we could get to Court Avenue Brew Pub for mugs and wings.  It was a windy day anyway.  Mary met us there and we drank are fill, rode our separate ways and went to bed.  Successful ride.

Craig's 520 hidden in this photo from secret location.

OF NOTE  We picked up a take and bake pizza at Hy Vee and managed to carry it home on the back of Mary's single speed without bungee cords.  I tied two plastic grocery bags together and used them as a makeshift strap.  the pizza never fell off the bike!

FUTURE

Originally I billed this as my fast touring bicycle.  I am hoping that Mary will want one since she could use a new touring bike.  But she is thrifty and I will have to put some TLC in hers to erase winter abuse.  I am considering the Gent's Race in April if a team needs a helping hand.