Story for Tailwinds And PB's

Not every bike ride needs to be hours in length or have targets met to have a story to tell.  Today I felt a bit second hand but exceptionally mild conditions tempted me out the door on my 2006 Trek Madone.
Very early in the short outing, a few kilometers at most, the blunt realisation that the bike really isn't that 'good' anymore hit home and it's this fact that is the story of the ride.
What was state of the art ten years ago is now dated and superceeded even by entry level bikes costing less than £500.  OK, not in the weight department but in far more tangible areas such as comfort and handling the Trek seriously shows it's age.  The rough road surfaces on the lanes I regularly ride are made to feel far easier on my Boardman Road Comp than I realised.  The jarring of every little defect pounding my back and arms on the Madone quickly brought that fact home.  Leaning into a wet corner with the Trek trying hard not to turn in where the Boardman (and even my Carrera TdF) simply go where I point them was another eye opener.
I have done a great many wonderful things on the Madone, riding Alpe d'Huez multiple times and a 100 mile charity ride for Sussex Air Ambulance the highlights, consequently it will always occupy a special place in my affections.  As a swansong for it I took full advantage of a decent tailwind on two favourite Strava sections gaining a full 30 seconds on one and 6 with a sprint to the top of another.  Take a bow Madone, you've earned your retirement.
'Maddy' is now deep cleaned and ready to go on 'display' in my bike room.  I may even ride it now and again, if for no other reason than to remind myself just how good even cheap bikes are these days.