I wrote a post a while back about regrets/bikeshops/fit, etc. After two years, it was determined that I was on the wrong size bike, by two fitters. I'm not UPSET that the guy that first fit me believed that I should be on a 48cm Jamis Ventura Elite. I *should* have shopped around, that was my little regret. I've been on a lot of group rides, and I'm one of the shortest riders. I only know one person that is a little shorter than me.
Anyways - After a bit of a hassle with the original bike shop that sold me the bike (and I ain't going back again ever...not after the way I was treated when I asked to order the smaller frame). I went to someone else, and even though he doesn't sell Jamis bikes, he still took over and called Jamis and got the frame that was on hold for me (HUGE plus to Jamis...they want me to be HAPPY, so they sent me a frame for a very good deal).
I got the frame, and the LBS transferred all the components I had over, with brand new cable wires (which I didn't ask for!), new handlebar tape, adjustments and a fit. My former bike was red/black/white, and since she's was "built/put together" in Vegas, I named her Roulette. The new one is the exact same frame materials (carbon/alu mix), with Sea Foam green instead of red - I call her Roulette 2.0! The nice thing was the frame came in without a front fork (I don't know why it came without a fork, but whatever), and on Roulette 1.0, has red in it. My bike guy who is also a custom bike painter, painted the red part silver to match the lettering of Jamis (too hard to match the sea foam green) for free.
I rode her for about 28 miles the next day, and rode for 70 miles on Saturday (longest ride ever by the way!!) - NO shoulder issues, NO feeling like I'm reaching out too much, NO neck issues, NO knee issues...it was just a BREEZE to do the 70 miles!! The only nagging thing was my butt in the saddle, but even so, that wasn't that bad.
The differences between the two frames were the top tube length - 44cm is about 7 inches shorter, and Seat angle is steeper...not much, but a little, as well as more room for standover height! No more rubbing against my girly bits when I'm not clipped in! God that was annoying!
Here she is! 44cm Jamis Ventura Race/Elite (Race frame with Ultegra components...she's a mutt, like me!) A few people have approached my bike and said, "your bike is TINY!", and they didn't know that they make 44cm frame with 700c wheels. I was very very lucky that it does...otherwise I'll have to sell my Cosmic Carbones (Xmas Gift)!!
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6177/...2774fb2086.jpg
I'm going to wait to wear out my tires before buying new ones. Since my old bike had red in it, I got red tires, so ignore the little mixed up colors. lol!
