Picked up my new bike last night! :D :D :D :D
Her name is Jessica Rabbit, because she's so sexy. She's an Eddy Merckx Fuga, (a model from 2002) that I bought new, with the frame being a very generous gift from my DBF! It was the only Merckx in my size that wouldn't have to be shipped from Belgium, and she was greatly reduced since she's been sitting for so long waiting for me--a fact I'm sure she won't let me forget!
She fits like my favorite pair of jeans, the ones with the tiny bit of lycra blended in. She's white and silver, with red swirls. She's aluminum with carbon stays, fork, and seatpost. She wears Ultegra components, Dura Ace hubs, Mavic Open Pro wheels, red Michelin Pro tires, and has 3T handlebars. Her saddle is a silver Terry Zero, which I'll get used to no matter what! It's pretty good so far, but needs a little breaking in.
Since she was a special order, I couldn't test ride her. I wondered if it was really going to be very different from my Dolce, which is a great bike that I've been very happy riding for several years now. Well, it's so completely different that it blew my mind. The sensation of riding her is a lot like flying a hang-glider. It feels like she can ride around the world with one pedal stroke. It takes no effort to make her move. She just wants to go.
I have to admit, she's a little scary. I can ride my Dolce hands-free around corners and curves without any fear of falling. Riding that bike is like riding a friendly old horse who knows the way home. Take my hands off her handlebars, and Jessica Rabbit may decide to go on some journey of her own devices, leaving me by the wayside! She's a total vamp. Hands on, she's a lady. Cornering and descending are fantasic. She's not really bad, she's just drawn that way!
I'll be a slave to this bike. I'm totally entranced by her. I've never felt this way about an object before. I'm in LOVE!
