So, I hadn't flown at all this week, due to stupid random off-and-on rain/thunderstorms typical of Spring in Indiana. There were 15-20 mph constant winds. And, it was training night at the field. But flying had to happen! So I drug out my war-battered Mini Ultra Stick and went to the field!

When I say "war-battered", I mean it! This thing was in terrible shape when I bought it used (and fully setup) from my LHS. Since then it's endured all manner of abuse, from cartwheeling, to near-full-speed "landings", to being dropped, even halfway shut in a car door more than once. I keep pronouncing this thing "dead on next flight", but it still keeps flying. It'll probably outlive all my other planes, and all the planes I'll ever buy.

So yeah, drug out the MUS, 2 packs, and my TX, and went to the field. Chad brought his 3DHS 40" Edge. We slapped packs in and went for it. Flying these small, cheap planes in stupid wind is actually...amazing fun! The planes are so cheap that you don't really care what happens to them, so you just push them around the sky and have fun. We got in 7 flights between us in about 30 minutes and took off. Most fun I've had flying in a long time! Sometimes everyone in this hobby gets caught up in wanting and being excited about the next "big super-awesome plane", and we lose sight of just having fun with the planes and not worrying about setup, good weather, all that stuff. :D

Before the flying trip, I was at the LBS (Hodson's Bay; they rock!) to pick up my bag that finally came in, and to try out a Trek 1.5 they had ordered in. Meh.

Have you ever ridden a cheap, sub-$100 department store bike? Remember how loud, rough, and "hesitating" the derailleurs operate? Yeah, that's kind of what the front derailleur on the Trek 1.5 is like. It's a Shimano Sora, which is (scarily!) NOT their bottom-of-the-line component set. The rear derailleur wasn't too bad; it's a Tiagra.

Then, the shop d00d had me try out a Specialized Allez Sport (Double). It uses Shimano 105 components all around, and, yeah, if you want a graphic demonstration of the differences between the levels of components, this is it. Both front and rear on this thing shift ultra-smooth and quick, and nearly silent too. Ride position is good. Braking is very good.

I've got one ordered in 52cm. :D (Test bike was 54cm, which was ok, but I'd be more comfortable on the 52... so that's what it'll be!)