A Scott CR1 Team Issue bicycle - i.e. like they gave to the racing cycling teams, in 2005. Full carbon-fibre frame and forks, and all the other top-notch lightweight bits of that time. Back then it had a RRP of a mere US$5,278.99 (according to this review).

I always have a problem with asking for or accepting things from people, but in 2010 I was struck dumb when this secondhand one was given, yes that's right, GIVEN, to me. Sure it has the odd bump and scrape, but still...

Such a fantastic bike... that is totally wasted on me. I have great difficulty going out on it. Indeed, only three times I can think of. The first being to try it. Second to test adjusted settings And the last being over two years ago, was to show some curious folk at work. It just isn't me. Too fast; too flash... too much. I already had a bike I used for triathlons (years ago) that I really like, though hardly use these days. Saved up for ages to buy that secondhand too. It's fairly low key and nothing special really, much like myself and my style! This thing I find scary. Intimidating. I regret, and feel guilty at having accepted it. As I said, I was struck dumb.

These days I suspect my back wouldn't like it either...



(Congratulations to Chris Froome on winning the Tour de France - it would suit him better!)

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Other stuff:

Cycled in to Inverness for an early morning swim.

Finally pinpointed the D300 shutter delay issue - only after much experimentation. When set to save 14-bit RAW files it has the delay. Set it to 12-bit RAW, or JPG format files, and there's no problem. 14-bit RAW files are large, so you'd expect the camera to take longer to save the files (i.e. after you've taken the photo). You would not expect it to take longer before it took the photo! Sent an e-mail to Nikon guru Thom Hogan to ask if he's ever come across this weird effect.