NBD – Better Late than Never!

So I bought this bike in September of 2023. And it's been hanging up in my garage since then. Why? A bunch of reasons, dear reader. A bunch. Chief among them being a hip injury and off-the-bike stress. So this Spring, I finally pulled it out and got a professional bike fit. Went on my very first ride yesterday. It was incredibly delightful!

• It's a 2023 GRX 810 Aspero. I know the whole world has moved onto electronic shifting. But what are you going to do when the zombie apocalypse comes and you don't have a full charge? You'll be the one who gets taken first. Not me!
• It's an MTB cassette, so what do we call this exactly – a mullet lite? A gentlemanly mullet? As a 100kg rider, I wanted a decent granny gear for Midwestern US gravel (Minnesota). Decided to put on the WTB Roadlink DM (after conferring with WTB customer support in the most #winkwink style possible). I know people have put 11-40 on this bike and haven't reported trouble. I just wanted a little bit of extra cushion with the Roadlink.
• I love this paint color. I'm usually not this flashy, but the iridescent look is just too much fun.
• I've heard people comment that the Aspero ride can be on the harsh side. Coming from an ALU gravel bike – I can't tell.
• Had some GR1600s laying around. Given that the freehub design in better than the wheels it came with, I decided to switch them out.
• It took me a long while – too long – to get the front derailleur sorted out. I summarized what I learned along the way here, in the hopes it helps someone else out.

Better late than never, my friends. Better late than never!