Rode an Orbea Diva w/ Campy Record Today
I've been talking a long time about test riding some bikes, but I haven't done it until now. My current bike is the only road bike I've ever had, so I have a lot of info in my head from reading, but little experience with actual road bikes (except mine).
Anyhow, I really enjoyed my experience today with Chris at Redmond Cycle. Very pleasant and informative, and nothing of the kind of cr@p I've heard from some guys in some other shops in the Seattle metro area.
The bike was as light as feather. This was my first use of Campy (Record compact), and I can't say the hoods are going to be for me. The braking was fabulous (although reach to levers was still a bit long for me), and the front DR shifted like a dream. Other than that, it sure would take some getting used to, for me. I found the rear shifting to be a little finicky compared to what I'm used to (a triple 105/XTR mix that I find very forgiving and easy). This was a compact with a 34 small CR and a 12-26 on the back.
I was expecting the full carbon frame to feel a little smoother than it did. It felt great, mind you. I just expected it to feel smoother than my bike (aluminum with carbon fork and seatstays, with the Specialized zertz inserts...as well as bar phat gel). I'm thinking maybe with the shorter chainstays and 23's instead of 25's, that might be why.
The thing climbed great, and accelerated on the flats amazingly. When I stood up, it just shot off in a hurry.
I need to learn how to test bikes, I think. I was disappointed that I couldn't find a quiet winding road to test...between trying to get the hang of the Campy stuff, and dodging cars on the road, and pedestrians and dogs and stuff on the trail, it was hard to feel like I got a taste of the real handling.
I also felt like I would have liked to get down a little lower.
And, sometimes, in the hoods, I felt almost too stretched out. But, in the drops, sprinting hard, I actually let my butt hang a bit off the back of the saddle...really wanting to get back. So, that seems a little contradictory. Too long in the hoods, too short in the drops? Actually, my bike now feels that way a little. :confused:
OK...end of ramblings. ;) :rolleyes: