Took the Carbon Fiber plunge today

I ordered a Specialized Roubaix Pro today, should be in next Friday. It took me forever to decide between the double chain ring on the Pro or the triple on the Comp. I guess I was feeling a little pumped up after my graduation from nursing school this afternoon, because I decided double ring it will be. Then it took me FOREVER to decide on pedals. I use mountain bike eggbeaters on the Allez and ultimately went with road bike eggbeaters...which took forever to chose a color, ultimately pink. Hey, I ride with guys, and I've just GOT to show my feminine side.

I'm keeping the Allez. My son's girlfriend wants to ride with my son. Tonight we had lessons on how to use clipless pedals in the driveway and on the grass. She's a sport, took a fall, and kept trying. Oh to be 16 again. (She's my size so my bike shoes and helmet fit her).

Anyways, I am excited about the new bike. Ben (who has a Roubaix Pro) and our LBS guys say that there is no comparison between it and my Allez Sport. There better be a BIG comparison for the cost difference! :eek:

congrats on your new carbon baby, and double congrats for finishing nursing school. I was a long struggling nursing student also. Went to diploma school, then got a BSN and when my baby went to kindergarten I went back a third time for a masters degree. I am "considering a phd" but then again hell has yet to freeze over :)

karen

ps- I thought there was a big difference between the allez and the roubaix,
comfort wise that is hence the price tag

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Originally Posted by massbikebabe

ps- I thought there was a big difference between the allez and the roubaix,
comfort wise that is hence the price tag

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Oh there is, and that is the one of the big reasons I am going for the Roubaix. Our roads are incredibly rough. I think the stuff TXDOT uses is called chip seal. They will just rattle you to death. Ben went from a Specialized Sequoia Elite to the Roubaix and said it was instant relief from all the vibration, I can only imagine what it will feel like to go from my Allez to the Roubaix.

Congrats on your BSN! I've got over 100 hours towards a bio/math degree, so once I get that RN it won't take much for the BSN...that is if I have the stamina. This summer I am taking a two and half week psych class online, then a microbiology class online (the only two prereqs I need for RN school). I have to retake my ACT because when I was in high school I scored a 17 and the school I want to go to wants at least a 20. Which brings to mind, the WHOLE idea of ACT or SAT is to prove you can make it in college. Well, I've got a 4.0 I think I've more than proven that. I take that test on June 11 and then the NCLEX-PN on July 26. Some days I feel a little overwhelmed.

Off to bike!

hang in there, you will do fine...

two of the easiest exams I ever took were nclex-rn, and then the nurse practitoner boards. Remeber they are testing you on GENERAL knowledge. The hardest exam I ever sat for was the GRE for grad school, but now that I am considering the "terminal degree", (phd), the GRE's ain't looking so tough anymore. I remeber when I first sat for the nclex to become a nurse 20+ years ago I thought, well, it's this or the phone company. I had a friend at the phone company who was making big money to my mere new nurse salary.

I have loved being a nurse and I hope you do too. It is a profession filled with more minuses than pluses but the pluses take you very far. My daughter is going to art school next year, but my son wants to pursue nursing...he will make a good nurse...helicopter nurse as he says!!

karen

VERY jealous of your Roubaix Pro! I test drove the Comp before I bought my Roubaix Elite. I REALLY need the triple! You will most cretainly see a huge difference over your Allez. The Pro/Comp are so much better than the Elite, but we just couldn't afford the Comp.

Have FUN riding your bike!!! :cool:

It's all about the carbon! I just went (two weeks ago!) from an aluminum Cannondale to a Bianchi carbon, and the difference is dramatic! I has having all kinds of issues with hand-numbness and saddle woes, and I don't have a single complaint. I just did 165 miles this weekend and my hands feel great. Did the same thing last weekend, and my hands feel great! It was really worth it for me.

More importantly, congrats on the nursing! Nurses make all the difference in the world! I have to have fairly regular breast biopsies, and almost as important as getting my usual surgeon, I insist on the nurse who works with him - I won't get the operation unless she's on duty that day.

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Originally Posted by massbikebabe

hang in there, you will do fine...
my son wants to pursue nursing...he will make a good nurse...helicopter nurse as he says!!

karen

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Thanks for the encouragement. I've loved everything about nursing so far, it is sort of scary because I don't plan on working until maybe August til January, as I am busy studying the tests and online college classes (which BTW are NOT the piece of cake one would think!).

As for your son, my cousin, who is like a brother to me, very, very dear, has been a paramedic for 14 years, even has had special training equal to the whole paramedic two year schooling on open airways, well, he just got on with Critical Air and I am so PROUD of him. He loves what he does. I hope your son is able to achieve that dream.


Slinkedog: the Elite comes in the best color of all! I'm jealous because I want a blue one but the Pro only comes in the black. AND after today's punishing ride of 16 miles uphill, into the wind, 95 degrees, I am seriously wondering if I need the triple chain ring. Overall we did 27.8 miles. It is a new loop for us, and we had no idea how punishing this loop would be. Also, made the mistake of starting out at 10:40 a.m. Way too late to start in Texas right now. What happened to the weather slowing getting warmer?

Audo-A: good to know carbon is worth it. Word up is that other industries are starting to use carbon and the cost of the carbon frames will go up, to compensate and keep the carbon bikes affordable they (and we know that 'they' are the smartest, most knowledgable people on the planet) will downgrade components. I tried on some carbon tri-shoes. I really liked them because they were cooler on my feet. Just didn't have my size.

I'm glad you see nurses in a favorable light. When I went through my yearly cancer check Friday the OR nurses were great. BTW, another year cancer clean! :p