I *heart* my enablers...

[zoom-zoom]

So our LBS buddy and I have been conspiring to get this lovely bike in my size off of his sales floor (he's been working on getting this bike in my hands for at least 6 months and now needs room for the 2012 models to roll-in soon):
http://www.freewheelerbikeshop.com/upload/Conquest.jpg
Blue on the actual bike is a much brighter, royal metallic...really pretty.

Last time we were in the shop I told him that I had visions of lime green accoutrements, to match the shop's new jerseys. So he sprinted around the shop grabbing things...

Bar tape:
http://www.wrenchscience.com/DBImages/400h/FIZ_HT_Micro_grn_2011.jpg

Cages (same cages I've had on my 2 road bikes):
http://www.westbrookcycles.co.uk/images/products/medium/1289916515-18214500.jpg

And, the creme de la creme...a special saddle:
http://sassa-bike.blog.so-net.ne.jp/_images/blog/_7e8/sassa-bike/fizik20test20saddle.jpg
I'm not sure exactly which model...I think he said it does have the pressure-relief channel. He even thought he might have a women's test saddle in those colors. But he insists that the bike HAS to have that green saddle. And my butt (or girl bits) will probably hate it, but I can't say no to Mike, because he's hilarious and it would be like saying no to an eager 10 year old boy. And if I only use that saddle for show during cyclocross races I won't actually be ON the saddle all that much. ;)

Apparently it's a done deal...as of Friday my awesome DH gave Mike the go-ahead to start putting the bike together (swapping out the stock Shimano parts with SRAM Apex, since I have Rival on my roadie).

*squee* :D

[Orange utopia]

SWEEEEEEET! Love the green accents.

[emily_in_nc]

Lucky you - how wonderful!

I *heart* the color scheme! :p

[Owlie]

That's going to look pretty awesome!

[Catrin]

Sweet! The colors will be great together and you are going to have fun on her!

[zoom-zoom]

Sweet! The colors will be great together and you are going to have fun on her!

Heh, except I think the bike's a boy. I've kinda settled on the name Ed, after this guy on the left:
http://sloblogs.thetribunenews.com/shelikestowatch/files/2008/10/shaun-ed-and-zombies2.jpg
(Shaun of the Dead is one of my all-time favorite movies)

The running joke since I first started lusting after a cyclocross bike was that it would be the perfect vehicle for surviving the zombie apocalypse. I have plans of slapping a sticker like this one on it somewhere, too. ;)
http://cn1.kaboodle.com/hi/img/b/0/0/156/5/AAAACzI6DOwAAAAAAVZYLg.jpg?v=1305436508000

[Tri Girl]

Yes!!! So glad you gave that bike a good home. ;)

Can't wait to see it all put together!!

[Velocivixen]

Oh what a beauty. It looks like it's a Redline. Is that right? What model? I want to see photos when it's all together. Will you name it?

[zoom-zoom]

Oh what a beauty. It looks like it's a Redline. Is that right? What model? I want to see photos when it's all together. Will you name it?

Yep--just the standard Redline Conquest. He's gonna be named Ed (see my explanation up a couple of posts). :D

[7rider]

Cool.
Will need some lime green tires (http://www.biketiresdirect.com/product/maxxis-detonator-road-tire) (for your road riding training).

[zoom-zoom]

Cool.
Will need some lime green tires (http://www.biketiresdirect.com/product/maxxis-detonator-road-tire) (for your road riding training).

Ha, those are hot! Though I won't likely have any reason for slicks, since I already have my lovely road bike. I wish cyclocross tires came in colors. If some company did that I am sure they would sell--it would make it easier to identify riders on a course, too.

[sgtiger]

Heh, can't fight it when your DH and LBS buddy are in cahoots, so you might as well enjoy it. I can't wait to see pics (hint,hint) of your bike when it's all built up, zoom-zoom.

[zoom-zoom]

Heh, can't fight it when your DH and LBS buddy are in cahoots, so you might as well enjoy it. I can't wait to see pics (hint,hint) of your bike when it's all built up, zoom-zoom.

Oh, there will definitely be pictures! :D

[mariacycle]

love the color scheme! can't wait to see the pictures :)

[Bike Writer]

WOW! What a great looking bike. It's gorgeous just like it is and with those accents in lime VA-VA-VOOM for Zoom-Zoom.

Yipee, what a great DH.

Congrats Kirsten.

[zoom-zoom]

Thanks...I wish I already had it, since all this rain has made for some very muddy backroads! :D

[zoom-zoom]

Introducing "Little Rock" (after the little badass girl in "Zombieland"). We decided this bike isn't big and lumbering enough to be SotD's "Ed."
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/267461_2151275705756_1362296891_2526412_3686670_n.jpg

The saddle will probably have to go back to the shop, eventually. It's a loaner saddle. I may see about getting my hands on one for good, though, if I like it. But it's pretty domed and smooshy, so I don't have much faith that it will be a good saddle, long term, anyhow.

[Owlie]

Rawr! Very nice!

[emily_in_nc]

D*mn, that's one HAWT bike! :p

Too bad about the saddle; it's gorgeous. Maybe if you go for the tires with lime green, a black saddle will be okay. Or always wear lime green jerseys. Lime green helmet?

Serious bike envy here! :D

[Catrin]

Very striking bike! Love the lime green with the blue, congrats!

[zoom-zoom]

D*mn, that's one HAWT bike! :p

Too bad about the saddle; it's gorgeous. Maybe if you go for the tires with lime green, a black saddle will be okay. Or always wear lime green jerseys. Lime green helmet?

Serious bike envy here! :D

Well the color scheme was inspired by our LBS's new jerseys, which feature royal blue and lime green...and I love the jersey, so I'd have no problem with that. :D I have a feeling the saddle will be too squishy for my tastes, anyhow. I may see about buying a Fizik Arione Donna test saddle in that color, if possible.

[Owlie]

White might work too if you can't find a green one, if such saddles exist. I'd have said the SI that you used to have comes in blue, but that's really not a helpful suggestion. ;)

[zoom-zoom]

White might work too if you can't find a green one, if such saddles exist. I'd have said the SI that you used to have comes in blue, but that's really not a helpful suggestion. ;)

I wish more companies did custom colors. It appears that Fizik may not be offering their custom saddle service, anymore, either. Bummer. I had thought it would be fun to have one made in lime and royal blue.

[Owlie]

Yeah, I know. I wish more than super-narrow team-branded saddles came in red. (There is the SI saddle that almost worked, but no thanks.) I've had my eye on a black Surly Cross Check as an all-arounder and tank. I'd put a red saddle, bar tape and tires on it if I could! (Or orange...or pale blue...or...):rolleyes:

(While we're at it, do you think I can persuade my Jett and my SI to breed? Their offspring would be ideal, actually.)

[zoom-zoom]

Yeah, I know. I wish more than super-narrow team-branded saddles came in red. (There is the SI saddle that almost worked, but no thanks.) I've had my eye on a black Surly Cross Check as an all-arounder and tank. I'd put a red saddle, bar tape and tires on it if I could! (Or orange...or pale blue...or...):rolleyes:

(While we're at it, do you think I can persuade my Jett and my SI to breed? Their offspring would be ideal, actually.)

Ha, wouldn't that be awesome if we could plug a bunch of attributes into a machine and have it spit-out the perfect saddle?! :D

The Cross Check is a sweet bike. I borrowed a friend's a couple of months ago for a dirt/gravel road ride. Really smooth and stable...but, holy crap, what a tank! I don't know how she did cyclocross races on that. It's HEAVY! I could barely lift it standing. To run with that and hop over barriers...ow!

[redrhodie]

You need a Liquigas jersey! Happy new bike! It's beautiful!

[Dr.Doo]

Cor! Gorgeous steed. Wishing you much fun together.

+1 for bike envy.

[Owlie]

Ha, wouldn't that be awesome if we could plug a bunch of attributes into a machine and have it spit-out the perfect saddle?! :D

The Cross Check is a sweet bike. I borrowed a friend's a couple of months ago for a dirt/gravel road ride. Really smooth and stable...but, holy crap, what a tank! I don't know how she did cyclocross races on that. It's HEAVY! I could barely lift it standing. To run with that and hop over barriers...ow!

Good job I want it as a tank! (It'd be a winter and unpaved trail bike.) If it is that heavy...wow. My roadie, fully loaded, is quite enough.
Enough threadjacking from me. Back to the very lovely bike at hand.
Little Rock is lighter, I assume? :D

[zoom-zoom]

Little Rock is lighter, I assume? :D

I think she is just under 21#s, so not super light. But I think the Surly was closer to 30. My road bike is just over 17.

[Tri Girl]

LOVE the green on there! Hot, indeed!!!:D:D:D:D

[Kerry1976]

This bike is awesome! and I so totally love the name "Little Rock."