New Bike!

[HillSlugger]

I've broken my promises to DP and paid for the Specialized Sequoia Elite (http://www.specializedbikes.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?a=b&minisite=10029&spid=13174). When I test rode it on Saturday the LBS guy said that they may not be able to get another if this one sells since Specialized has stopped production of the 2006's. I'd already decided that this is the bike I want and I didn't want to lose it. I just called the LBS and paid for it :D

Now, I'm not sure when to pick it up. I'm signed up for a ride (http://www.baltobikeclub.org/index.pl/cwc) on Saturday September 9 and wouldn't have a chance to road ride this more than once before then. Between this and my plan to swap pedals, seat, and accessories from the old bike to the new I figure I'm best off waiting until after the ride. :(

I can't wait to bring my Sweetums home! I'll post pictures!

[SouthernBelle]

Very pretty. If you are willing to wait a week and a half, you had a great deal more willpower and forebearance than I did last week.

[mimitabby]

how many miles are you going to do on that ride?
congrats on the new bike.

[HillSlugger]

how many miles are you going to do on that ride?
congrats on the new bike.
I'm doing the 26 mile Covered Bridge ride.

I could pick up the bike on Friday...;)

[Lifesgreat]

I've broken my promises to DP and paid for the Specialized Sequoia Elite (http://www.specializedbikes.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?a=b&minisite=10029&spid=13174).
I can't wait to bring my Sweetums home! I'll post pictures!

Regret lasts longer than guilt :p

Congrats!

[HillSlugger]

Regret lasts longer than guilt :p

Congrats!
Can you talk to her for me? :p

[Kalidurga]

Congratulations, Nicole! Once you've got the new bike tricked out, I guess I'll need to grow some balls (figuratively speaking, of course) and join you someday on the roads over around Brookeville/Damascus.

You could always tell your DP that if she really cares for you she'd be happy that you're so happy... Wait, I tried that line once myself and it didn't work at all. Never mind. Good luck convincing her that it was a worthwhile investment!

[Bikingmomof3]

Congrats on your new bike. Enjoy her on the covered bridege ride. :)

[bikerz]

Congrats on the bike!

Wishing you many happy miles! As of yesterday's ride, I have 2,499 miles on my Sequoia Elite since Jan 2005. Sheesh - if I had known I was that close to 2,500 I would have ridden around the parking lot a bit! :rolleyes:

P.S. I lived in the Rockville/Darnestown area when I was in Elementary and Jr High

[dingster1]

Have fun on that ride!!! I'll be rooting for you over here in Germantown:)
Waiting for pics

[HillSlugger]

You could always tell your DP that if she really cares for you she'd be happy that you're so happy... Wait, I tried that line once myself and it didn't work at all. Never mind. Good luck convincing her that it was a worthwhile investment!
She supports my riding and understands my reasons for wanting a new bike. However, she doesn't want me putting this on credit. I had proposed to come up with the money through selling of the excess stuff I've accumulated over the years. That's going so-so and I'm no where near my goal. I said I would wait to buy until Columbus Day. I just couldn't stand the chance that I'd lose the bike! Maybe I can collect now on all of my Christmas '06 and birthday '07 gifts :rolleyes:

[Bad JuJu]

She sure is a beauty! I don't blame you for wanting her now now now. Have fun on the ride, and the many happy miles you and your Sequoia will certainly have together.

[Triskeliongirl]

Big Congrats!! Did you at least get them to put a 12-27 casette on there? Don't worry about doing the 26 mile ride on the new bike. It'll be so much lighter you'll have a great time!!!

[HillSlugger]

I've just called the LBS and told them I want to pick up the bike on Saturday. I asked them to put on a quick release for the seat post and swap out the 12-25 cassette for a 12-27. With my current seat and pedals she will be all set. I'll take her out on the road Sunday (and maybe Monday) and then spin the rest of the week on the stand. Then it's off to the Civil War Century on the 9th (I'm riding the Covered Bridge Quarter Century). Hopefully I'll be comfortable with her by then. Expect pictures over the weekend and then after the ride:)

Anyone else riding in the Civil War Century?

[Triskeliongirl]

Why a quick release seat collar? It is heavier and will make it easier for someone to steal your side (unless you wanna take it in with you more easily to deter thet). Please post pics and a first ride report!

[7rider]

I've just called the LBS and told them I want to pick up the bike on Saturday. I asked them to put on a quick release for the seat post and swap out the 12-25 cassette for a 12-27. With my current seat and pedals she will be all set. I'll take her out on the road Sunday (and maybe Monday) and then spin the rest of the week on the stand. Then it's off to the Civil War Century on the 9th (I'm riding the Covered Bridge Quarter Century). Hopefully I'll be comfortable with her by then. Expect pictures over the weekend and then after the ride:)

Anyone else riding in the Civil War Century?

Nice ride!
That should be an awesome bike for the Quarter.
Many happy miles on it.
I was thinking of doing the Metric with DH as training for the Seagull Century in October. Hmmmm, maybe. Have you ever done the CWC before? They have quite a few ride options. Can you register day of???

[HillSlugger]

Why a quick release seat collar? It is heavier and will make it easier for someone to steal your side (unless you wanna take it in with you more easily to deter thet). Please post pics and a first ride report!
I'm not really concernd about the weight. I'm more interested in the ability to take off my seat and post when the bike is unattended on my bike rack, it might get rained on, or to put it upright into the back of DP's Rav4.

I'll post "new bike" pictures tomorrow, a first ride report on Sunday (tropical storm Ernesto weather permitting) and CWC pictures after the 9th.

[HillSlugger]

Nice ride!
That should be an awesome bike for the Quarter.
Many happy miles on it.
I was thinking of doing the Metric with DH as training for the Seagull Century in October. Hmmmm, maybe. Have you ever done the CWC before? They have quite a few ride options. Can you register day of???

The early registration (save $5) closed 8/30. Online registration continues through 9/6. They say that day-of registration should be available but that they can't guarantee being overwhelmed. They are expencting 1500 riders!

[HillSlugger]

I picked up my new bike from the LBS this afternoon. The bike is great but the LBS screwed up. I called them on Thursday and asked them to put on a quick release seat bolt and to swap out the cassette. They said no problem. I called yesterday to see if it was done and ready for me and I was told yes. This morning I called again to verify that everything was ready. Now, I was told that nothing had been done and that the cassette wouldn't be available until Thursday! Damn them! Now have to make another trip back there and I won't have a chance to road ride it with the new cassette before my ride on Saturday :mad:

At the moment I feel really tentative on the bike. It's much more responsive than my old hybrid and the tires are much thinner so I feel like I can't hold it in a straight line. Hopefully it will feel better tomorrow when I take it out for a real ride. Watch for a ride report tomorrow.

A good picture of the bike but not a great one of me:

http://home.comcast.net/~nicole.thomas14/NewBike_0345.jpg

[Triskeliongirl]

Don't worry, it won't feel very differnt with the new casette, it will just give you one more gear. She looks great!! ENJOY!!! Don't worry about feeling shaky either. It takes time to adjust to a road postion and skinny tires, but just ride her and you'll be adjusted in no time.

[HillSlugger]

I took the new Specialized Sequoia Elite out for her first road ride. It was awesome! It is so responsive; you push and it leaps forward.

I started out really tentative, very nervous on those very narrow tires (down to 25c from the 32c I've been riding on the hybrid) and slightly damp roads left over from Ernesto. I soon fell into a pretty nice rhythm. The fitter at the LBS did a nice job and everything felt pretty good. The mechanics, on the other hand, didn't have the brakes set quite right and I needed to back off the rear brakes.

I did my longest ride ever, 30.4 miles at 14.3mph average. That, in spite of my poor shifting and mis-shifting (big lever -> larger ring, small lever -> smaller ring. Sounds so simple until you're in the middle of it all ;) ) I do miss the low gears of my hybrid and had to walk part of a hill.

I've got a lot to get used to with the new position required by the road bike. I've got too much pressure on my hands, but they still didn't get numb like they did on the hybrid. My shoulders and neck are sore, but not too bad. I even used the drops several times.

All in all, it was a great ride. I can't wait for next Saturday and the Covered Bridge ride.

[pooks]

Congrats! It sounds like you bought a great bike for you!