As a very keen amateur (amateur being the operative word), I can't help daydreaming about riding the Tour de France. I'd probably struggle to finish a single stage, let alone 21 — but that hasn't stopped me planning which Pearson bikes I'd pick for the final week. It's all about the right tool for the job, plus a heavy dose of wishful thinking.
The Forge: my climbing ally
For the brutal mountain stages, the Forge gets the call. When the road tilts up, its lightweight carbon frame would let me dance on the pedals; the aero profiling helps on the descents; and the stiff bottom bracket means nothing's wasted from my (imaginary) watts.
- Stage 17 — Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux to Superdévoluy: climb after climb; the Forge's low weight makes them just about survivable.
- Stage 19 — Embrun to Isola: up the Cime de la Bonette, naturally dropping Pogačar and Jonas on the way.
- Stage 20 — Nice to Col de la Couillole: four major climbs and, obviously, the yellow jersey sealed.
The Shift: the sprinting speedster
For the flatter, rolling days, I'd want the Shift. Its aero frame cuts the wind for high-speed chases, and it's stiff and responsive enough to put down what little power my legs can muster.
- Stage 16 — Gruissan to Nîmes: flat with crosswinds; aero efficiency keeps me near the front.
- Stage 18 — Gap to Barcelonnette: rolling terrain that suits a breakaway or a sprint.
- Stage 21 — Monaco to Nice time trial: 33.7km where the Shift's aero edge really tells.
And the unsung hero: the On & On
With all the gravel and rough roads in the earlier stages, the On & On might quietly be the MVP — a bit of Paris-Roubaix energy to keep the wheels from bouncing all over the place.
The dream build
So there it is: the Forge for the mountains, the Shift for the sprints, the On & On for the rough stuff. Pearson has a bike for every fantasy stage — now I just need a start invite.
