Pegasus is here!

Until now, I have never ridden a Pegasus because I was scared that, once I had, there was no going back. So I didn’t really know the potential of the frame that I picked up more than 10 days ago.

[singlepic id=71 w=320 h=240 float=]

Which was a good thing. Mail-order companies’ failures meant that I ended up having to go begging around on Twitter to get the final part I needed. And the first weekend I had the Pegasus was spent on the turbo trainer.

Mark Goldie sorted me out though (thanks!), and Saturday was my first ride. A few hours at a relaxed pace with lots of photo stops – it was a good way to ease back into riding something other than a loaded snow bike. My new bike was great to look at and light to pick up, but not yet setting my world on fire. There was a slight rattle from the front and a big rattle from the back. Frequently, I would stare at my rigid singlespeed, wondering what the heck could be loose when there’s hardly anything there in the first place. It blitzed up hills, but the slightest bump of a root would knock my confidence with horrible noises and mask any feel I had for the trail underneath me. I had to figure out what was going on.

I was mystified about the rattling in the rear, but I had a good idea what was causing it up-front: I have often killed headset bearings by over-tightening them, so these days I tend to go too far the other way. On my second ride, I tightened the headset… And suddenly, my riding world changed.

Not only could I dance up climbs, but I could sing through singletrack so lightly that it felt there would be no end to the speed. It isn’t just like the Swift has lost weight, it’s taken up running, boxing, and yoga too. It’s lighter, angrier, and more agile. The Pegasus has been giving me a very pure and outstandingly fast ride. It flatters me when I do well and leaves no excuses when I do not-so-well.

I’ve done over 100 miles on it in the week that it’s been built up and it has been fantastic! Bring on the SDW single-crossing tomorrow!