Trek Valencia Experience : Ride #1 (of 10)
Ride No.: 1
Ride Type: Easy Commute
Distance: 10 miles

Wow.

First impressions mean a lot and my first ride on the Valencia was almost surprisingly good. Here are my initial thoughts based on an easy, 10-mile commute to a local restaurant with my Dad. This was a fun, casual ride in chilly temps.

Ride: The frame seems to handle bumps very well despite a lack of any suspension. Not sure if this is a benefit of the Cro-Moly steel forks or the tires/rim. The ride was firm but not jarring over the bumps. It was also “peppy”. I’m thinking this is due in no small part to the big, 700c wheels.

Ride Position: I’m really liking this. More upright than my mountain bike, allowing a comfortable look forward for developing traffic situations but not too upright to make the bike feel like a “comfort” bike. I got out of the saddle a few times and it felt just fine despite the more upright riding position.

Handlebars: The Trek “Urban Alloy” handlebars look, at first glance, a little awkward with their almost bird-like appearance. The grips are swept backward and are nice and wide on the ends (they are the new “ergo grips”). The result? A very comfortable hand position that supports the more upright riding position. Space is a little limited for accessories due to the curve in the bar but I had room to mount both my Blackburn X8 headlamps so I’m happy.

Saddle: Surprisingly comfortable. We’ll see how it fares on my much more difficult commute to work but first impressions are good. This is surprising because I make it a point to almost always replace the stock saddle on bikes I purchase. They’re usually uncomfortable and an after thought by the bike manufacturer.

All in all, the bike has made a solidly positive first impression. On Tuesday, it’ll be subjected to my somewhat punishing commute to/from work. I’ll encounter rough roads, hills and more. Ride #2 should put the Valencia to the test!