I can't call myself, under any circumstance, a cyclist, I am however a guy who enjoys riding bikes. When I first got in to cycling from Mark Miller Precision Bikes, I was dead set on the Orbea Ora. An aesthetically pleasing bike with brilliant lines and great geometry. I accrued my first rig shortly thereafter and was instantly in love. So much in love that upon renewal of my rig, I bought another one just like it. My experience in cycling slowly progressed and my speed slowly increased, but all the while I was blissfully happy with Orbea, despite my lust for the Ora's big brother, Ordu.
A year had passed in my cycling world and the industry was undergoing severe aerodynamic analysis. Working for a place like Precision Bikes opened up the informational doors for all the knowledge one could seek to learn. It seemed like nothing happened in the industry that didn't go untested by John Cobb of Cobb Cycling or get processed verbally by Precision Bikes. Lo! The day had come. Quintana Roo of American Bicycle Group was releasing a bike that was to revolutionize the drag coefficiency of Time Trials and Triathlons. They would call it, Cd.01. The first production bike came off the line and landed in Precision Bikes. It sold in hours. Before the month had passed 4 were sold, 2 to one person. This frameset is retailing at 3500.00, and people are lusting this bike. I was intrigued by its design, not fast enough to be affected by the decrease in drag created by the offset Bottom Bracket. In my mind I was still happy with my Orbea, but in my heart I wanted more. I wanted more speed, more aerodynamics, more color!!!! The industry had gotten to a point where the myriad of colors representing every end of the spectrum in a peleton was lost. If the bike wasn't black, white, and red, it wasn't going to be purchased. Had you presented Marco Pantani with a bike that wasn't pink, green and yellow in 1998 he may have scoffed at you. But this new age of cyclism was stunted with the colors of the mundane. All the while myself riding a red and white bike. But the call was answered.
Imterbike was upon us. Septemeber had come and I was invited to attend this gridiron of wheels, cranks, frames and all that accompany what is to be for the next year of cycling. I spent a day taking in the venue, because thats about how long it takes to do that, and stumbled on the Quintana Roo booth. I accosted and requested to meet the rep I had been speaking to on the phone from work, Tres Courdin. Great guy, super cool, may actually be cooler than me. But I digress, Tres turned one corner and there she was. I was shocked. No, abashed, stupefied even at what graced my eyes. The last year flashed before me, the thoughts, the actions, the dreams. I asked, "did I send these guys an email of what should be done to this industry to further its growth? I don't remember doing that at all." The gods were smiling, all was well. The ambiguity of what was to become was solidified in what was here. The questions disappeared, or better even were all answered in a whisper. I wanted speed, I wanted aerodynamics, I wanted color....I wanted the next level. I GOT IT!!!!! There was no need for an introduction, we had already met. The only question left was when can you get it to me? Blast! It's a prototype and since there is only one I may not be able to have it. Says Tres Courdin who doesn't know who he is talking to. Well ladies and gentlemen, allow me in lieu of this most auspicious moment to introduce to you the sobriquet of this dramatis persona.
Cd.01
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