First World Problems

How a world-wide shitstorm creates first world problems for an overly privileged white guy…

As you may have read – but probably have not – I was allowed to buy a Trek Émonda (SL 7) late last year and a Giant Revolt (Advanced 1) early this year.

The former was a trade-in for my Trek Domane, the latter came with the new tires for my Canyon SpeedMax

This array of bikes – not to mention the additional one on my Tacx Neo 2T – is enough to prove my point about being privileged and make many of you weep.

It’s the “world is on fire” and shitstorm part of my opening sentence, that is creating somewhat of a “First World Problems” challenge in actually getting what you were allowed to buy…

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Canyon SpeedMax CF8 SE

My Canyon SpeedMax was in for a parts swap and I decided to “slightly” adjust it into a “Second – and Limited – Edition”.

I needed to replace the worn out chain, cassette and (big) chain ring.

This what you get when you ride 13+ K (8.1+ K for John) on your bike all year round, I guess…

(I ride a lot more, but the other – gravel/MTB/dedicated Tacx/spinning – bikes do not wear out my Canyon.)

As I hardly ever – as in next to never – use my small chainring, and only about 5 of the 12 cogs on the cassette, I made a change to the gearing.

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Canyon SpeedMax – First Impressions

Canyon SpeedMax CF 8 eTapMid April, I got my Canyon SpeedMax CF 8 Disc Sram Force eTap AXS and I’m writing this post to give you my impressions of it.

After the LBS put it together, I took it out for a first spin on April 15th.

I took some kit with me to make (minor) adjustments, as the bike was set to match the Sensa Dura Integra‘s position and I have experienced before that this never works out.

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Canyon SpeedMax

Canyon SpeedMax CF 8 eTapWell, as expected, we’re already over 3 months into 2021 and although vaccination has started, the outlook for any return to normalcy is still grim.

But, as there’s enough to read about that elsewhere and my blog is mostly about happy things, I want to share something else.

As I mentioned in my “New Year’s” post, I had my eye on the Canyon SpeedMax ever since I rode one in September last year.

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A New Year

Wooden blocks for change year 2020 to 2021

To say that 2020 was different from any year I have lived through, is probably an understatement.

Nevertheless, it was also a year like any other, if I look purely at my cycling activities.

Sure, a couple of events I had entered to participate in, didn’t happen.

And we didn’t get to fly to Tenerife, where Paula would have been able to lay in the sun and I would have cycled El Teide 26 times.

But, Paula being the incredible kind better half I do not deserve, allowed me to get my cycling “holiday” anyway, as she offered to travel – by car – to Italy instead.

So, I had my own “Giro d’Italia 2020” and once again smashed all previous grand tours.

And myself…

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