Electra VS Louisa

I, like many other tri-geeks, have nicknamed my bikes over the years.  My Louis Garneau TT 8.8 Carbon Pro is now referred to as "Louisa".  Louisa is a time-trial dream machine that I will be using for at least the next three years, in non-drafting triathlons.  It is equipped with a SRAM Red groupset, a Zipp Disc and 404 tubular wheelset, Vittoria Corsa Evo CX tubular tires, and even has a Cinqo Quarq powermeter that is paired with a Garmin 705.  It is certainly a bike that would make any tri-geek smile.  But Louisa now has some major competition, and might be dethrone Louisa from the pointiest point of tri-geekdom. 

Introducing Electra:
Frameset: Louis Garneau Sonix 6.4 Pro
Groupset: Dura-Ace DI2 7920
Wheelset: Zipp 303 Clinchers
Tires: Zipp Tangente
Pedals: Look Keo Carbon Fiber
Computer: Garmin 705

 
Electra is the road steed that I will be using in ITU draft-legal triathlons and various bike crits and road races.  Why the nickname Electra?  Well that was the first name that came to mind after Lenard from the The Bicycle Shop kindly offered to strap on the revolutionary Electronic Dura-Ace Groupset (DI2 7970).  DI2 stands for "Digital Integrated Intelligence".  A fancy name for a very fancy piece of engineering.  After drooling for awhile, I took Electra for a spin and wow, it is remarkable how fast and precise the shifting is.  I have always been a big fan of mechanical dura-ace STI, but this takes shifting to another stratosphere.  Gone are the days of chain drop and/or rub.  I am not sure if it will make me faster, but it sure is a ridiculous fun, and--I am like a 4-year old boy playing with a Tonka truck for the first time.  Here is a link that talks more about DI2, and includes a video.  So how much does it cost?  Well, if you are asking that question, then this luxury item is not for you.  But if price is of no option, and you want the very best, then electronic dura-ace will surely make you feel like a kid permanently living in Toys R Us.

 
Above is a pic of Lenard (owner of The Bicycle Shop) and I, about to escort Louisa and Elecctra to the Mazda 5.  A huge monster thanks to the crew at TBS for working hard in putting these bikes together.  I would have had no clue on how to put the dura-ace components on.  Now that they are on, it is amazing how low maintenance the DI2 groupset is.  No cables, and the batteries only need to be quickly recharged every 2000k of riding.

It's all about the ride!  And I have one more ride to talk about that just arrived this past weekend, that will surely make both Louisa and Electra very jealous, and  Annika very happy--but that is for the next post...