I ordered my new bike!

[kelownagirl]

Well I tried many bikes and found a number that were close but the Trek Madone 5.1 won out! Not only was it a great ride, it's bea-u-ti-ful too! I won't get it for 7-10 days so I won't be able to ride it for my metric century next weekend but, ah well... DH rode a brand new Trek Madone 5.2 home today. But he promised to ride his old bike next Sunday, for my sake. What a nice guy! :)

Now I have to decide a few things:

1. Should I stick with 165's like I have on my current bike? (One guy said stay with 165's, the other was leaning toward me switching to 170's)

2. Should I get aerobars? (Here's my long, involved thinking on that one. I have aerobars on my current bike. I like them well enough and I want to keep them on my old bike for the trainer. However, because I have short legs, I can get lower (and feel more power) when I'm in the drops, than when I am in aero. The tri route here is windy and hilly and not really conducive to tri bikes and/or aero bars. Can I get "aero" enough if I'm in the drops? Should I even bother with aerobars? And if I do, should I get the regular ones, or the fancy ones that are straight and have bar end shifters (or do those only come on tri bikes?) )

3. I liked the ergonomic (?) bar on the Ruby. Should I get something similar on this bike if I don't go with aero bars?

4. I didn't like the Bontrager seat. They only have one halfway decent seat for me to try so I guess that'll be it. I might just have to go back to Penticton and buy the Specialized saddle they had on the Ruby.

5. I THINK it was has 11-25, if so, I think I''ll switch to a 12-27 on the compact. I'm used to a triple. :o

[Trekhawk]

Beautiful Bike!!
ENJOY:)

[HillSlugger]

Why not try your existing aerobars on this bike and then decide which way to go?

[kelownagirl]

Why not try your existing aerobars on this bike and then decide which way to go?

Yup, you're right. Duh. :rolleyes:

[HillSlugger]

Oh course, I'd never want to get in the way of someone buying biking stuff! ;)

[Fujichants]

Sweet ride! I just read Bicycling Magazine named it third runner up in its best women's road bike review.

[kelownagirl]

Sweet ride! I just read Bicycling Magazine named it third runner up in its best women's road bike review.

Yeah, I read that too. I tried all three of those bikes but this was the one I liked best but they were all sweet rides!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Congratulations!!! :D :D :D

[Wahine]

Congrats KG!! Try the aerobars you have but for where you live I wouldn't worry too much about having them. Everything is up or down so if you like the be in the drops, you may not need the aerobars at all and it is certainly much easier to climb on a standard handle bar set up.

I agree about the gearing change bu maybe you could even go to a 11-27? I would definitely go with the 27 at least.

[bounceswoosh]

Congrats!

I just got the 4.5 a month ago. I like it a lot. DH has a 5.2 and loves it.

Bontrager seats are IMO mediocre. Definitely worth looking for something you like better. I swapped mine out for a Specialized saddle that seems to be working well for me.

[Crankin]

Stick with the 165s. My LBS tried to convince me I would be "more powerful" with the 170s when I got my new bike. I felt like I was struggling to pedal, especially since I'm a spinner. After a week or two I got the 165s put on.

[short cut sally]

Beautiful bike...enjoy--which of course you will:D

[Tuckervill]

Nice bike! The Bontrager saddle sucks and I don't even have to feel it to know. lol.

Congratulations!

Karen

[alpinerabbit]

I agree about the gearing change bu maybe you could even go to a 11-27? I would definitely go with the 27 at least.

What I have. 11-27 and a compact takes me up 15%. Haven't tried 20 yet which I used to tackle with a 29. But I believe I can prolly do it.

[sundial]

Nice bike! The Bontrager saddle sucks and I don't even have to feel it to know. lol.

Congratulations!

Karen

Yeah, Trek is notorious for putting bad saddles on their bikes. :rolleyes: Go with a Specialized Toupe. :cool:

Your bike is HOT!!!

[Aggie_Ama]

Gorgeous!! I saw that exact bike at the LBS yesterday, it is a sexy bike. I love the cables routed through the frame.

[kelownagirl]

What I have. 11-27 and a compact takes me up 15%. Haven't tried 20 yet which I used to tackle with a 29. But I believe I can prolly do it.

Yes, I think you're both right. I was typing in that cassette from my bad memory think. 11-27 sounds like the correct version.

I think I'll stay with the 165's as well.

[Pika]

Wow KG- that bike looks fast- and will be speeding along with you on it, I bet:)
wrt the aero bars- likely a good idea to use your old pair for now- when we were riding in Oliver the other day it was pretty windy and a crosswind so it was difficult to stay in the aero postion- one of the girls I was riding with ( she has a cerevelo woth the tribar bar end shifters) had a really difficult time and actually never rode aero the whole day! I was glad to be able to move around when I felt the wind gusts from the side.

Either way the bike looks great- makes me want a new one all over again!

[chicago]

purty!!, congrats!!!:p

[CarbonCandy]

The bike is gorgeous! And it rides like a dream! Congrats! :]

[spindizzy]

Congrats! Gorgeous bike.

[KatyLady]

Wow! That is one sexy bike! I suspect the clock is going to tick extra slow over the next week while you're waiting for it.

[NbyNW]

Yay! How exciting! Glad you found something that you'll be happy with. Can't wait to hear about your first ride on it!

[teawoman]

Just wanted to say congrats!!! No advice since I'm still a total noob.:p