Trek Top Fuel

So,
Thanks to the Trek guys at Midtown for letting me give their Top Fuel a spin over the weekend.
Here are my thoughts:

• I did not realize that a FS bike could be so stiff. At first I thought that the suspension was set up for someone twice my weight, but I was using up all the travel in the rear.

• The bike came equipped with a Fox F-Series with a remote lockout. I always thought of remote lockout as kind of gimmicky, but I really dug how you could just flip it on and off if you wanted to stand and navigate through a sketchy rock garden in a big gear ( will always be a SS'er at heart). Plus on the long climbs it was nice to lockout the fork and stand to climb........the rear suspension kept my (narrow and minimally treaded) tire hooked up at all times.

• XT all around.........its solid.....I have never used trigger shifters (gripshift for life!) and even a numbskull like me was able to operate them. The XT brakes really stood out, but that should not surprise anyone.
• Wheels......meh.....I was actually surprised how quickly the Bontrager (Pro?) hubs engaged. Not light, not heavy, just OEM wheels. I am not a huge fan of bontrager wheels though. (Patterson has made me into the wheel snob I am today).

I took the bike to Platte River on Saturday for 5 laps. The first lap felt really awkward. I felt way up in the air, and was not feeling the narrow tire love, slip sliding around. The 2nd and 3rd laps marked improvement. I felt comfortable really leaning the bike into the corners, and learning to "sit down, use the gears, and ride" (4 years on a SS kind of turns you into a stand up and mash kinda rider).
The 4th and 5th laps were what it was all about. By this point I am usually in shambles after having put out tons of extra energy grinding up climbs, banging down descents, and spinning like crazy on the SS. I was tired, but I was not cramping or otherwise impaired and I was still having fun.
Then it was off to Tranqulity to see how the Top Fuel fared on a raging fast course. I turned 2 laps before my tank signaled empty and I headed back to the house for the quintessential southern mans dinner (and PBR).

So when it was all said and done I got in almost 40 miles.
Some thoughts

• The frame I rode was a large.....I need a med. the TT was just too long and made my low back sore.
• The Saddle was not meant for my bottom.
• I really dug how stiff the Fox Fork was, but I actually wish that it was as adjustable as the Reba. A little plushness goes a long way.
• Not sure I am in love with the Fox Fork, but I really need to learn how to adjust them before I start casting stones.

Al tiptoes through the tulips.......