Kilo

Granted, this has little to do with home restoration or Klee Kai, but...

very excited my 2001 Quintana Roo Kilo arrived at work!

Off of ebay, he cost $202 plus $100 shipping.  Even MacGyver was impressed with the value.  I think there must be good deals around this time of year because it is the end of the tri-season, not quite Christmas shopping season or New Year's resolution time for some exercise equipment splurges... plus how many people that fit on a 49 frame are looking for men's bikes?  Catering to 5'2" riders, these could get painted over in pink camo with a WSD sticker and marked up a couple hundred more.  Plus tri people tend to be so gear elitist, this type of bike may fall in their blindspot.  It isn't the latest and greatest, but it was cheaper even than what I paid for my generalist bike when it was new.  This year's Roos retail at $1800 for the all carbon version (ultralight, but ultra fragile).  $1300 for the all aluminum year before on clearance.

My 12 year old Roo is aluminum with a carbon fork and came with his own pedals and water bottle cage.  Same geometry and aerobars as its contemporaries, but more classic minimalist road bike feel and less goofy carbon hair's breadth clearance between the frame and back wheel and none of the fat seat posts and bars nonsense to better feature Quintana branding.  It is a perfect mix of the beausage of a broken-in bike (the labels painted on the cranks have gotten worn off by shoes) while also being way lighter than the commuter tank I plodded through my first tri with.

It will probably stay in the lime green trainer for a couple rounds until I get used to the new position, shifters, and pedals.  It seems like I should open it up for a test ride on a less technical road like Old PCH before trying anything local.  Now if only I weren't so preoccupied with how much it has been peed on over the last decade...