Llandegla Blue on New Frame

First time out on the new medium framed Bianchi Mutt today.

After some first doubts, now its actually built up with the Pace forks, better components etc., I'm happy with the look of the 120 year anniversay frame's metallic black, metallic silver and celeste colour scheme.  Don't think I'll miss the Desert Bronze bike when its gone.

Climbing is somewhat easier - because I'm not reaching forward so much, there's more room for me to breathe deeply when climbing and some of the stomach cramping I used to get has gone.  Agility is also up - easier to throw the bike in a different direction, when its needed.  Overall it feels much lighter but I don't think that's down to the physical weight difference in the frames - I'm sure that's only a few grammes, so it much be more down to the riding position and the feel.

First run was on the Llandegla blue run today as my son Callum (he's 9) accompanied me.  We usually ride the green together, but that has a water splash over quite a large stream - its about 10cm deep and about 3m wide, and we decided that would be too cold to go through as you need to cross it about 6 times - once per lap of the reservoirs peripheral tracks.  So we did the blue which includes the full red route climb.  We took our time, but Callum on his steel framed, single speed, 20" wheeled bike got up there - what a great performance, and he got a round of applause from a group of 10 or so other riders at the top.  He found some of the berms and the speed of some of the downhills on the very bumpy surface a challenge, but came through it all really well.  Great ride Callum!