New Bike! New Bike! New Bike!

Holy Cow :eek: - I can't believe I did it!! I've been looking at bikes for the past month, researching, second guessing and not able to pull the trigger. I road a Cannondale Synapse Carbon Feminine 3 on last Sunday's club ride - 35 miles. Nice bike. Road a Trek Madone 4.5 WSD this morning, the Cannondale Synapse Carbon Feminine 5, a Specialized Ruby Elite and Ruby Expert. I liked the Ruby's, but not a fan of the shop. The Cannondale/Trek shop (offered) let me take their bikes to the River Trail to test, the Specialized dealer kept me in the crappy parking lot - plus he doesn't fit (and says bad things about the other shop). I stopped at the Orbea shop - turned around on the way home. Um, I fell hard. I bought an Orbea Diva. OMG! I did get a great price, but OMG! :eek: :eek: :eek: It's my dream bike, stopped by my fav store a month ago and it was gone! They stopped carrying the line when the Orbea Outlet store went full service. I walked in today and there it was - same bike (they turned it back to in to Orbea after they dropped/lost the line). My dream bike - at a discount. I still can't believe it did it. Wow - I'm so excited!

Pictures!

Orbeas are gorgeous.

Oh, nice! Please, pics!!! :D

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2735/...1681ca0fda.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4026/...06e9f033ab.jpg
I love this pic - my dog is checking out my new bike - lol

* stand was a GWP

Lovely! A friend of mine has that exact bike - the color is beautiful!

wow. Do orbeas come with display stands?

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Originally Posted by Catriona

wow. Do orbeas come with display stands?

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Yeah, that's what I want to know too!

It is quite fetching and deserves a special stand!

Wow congratulations!!! And welcome to the Orbea club :D I did not get a bike stand when I got my bike! Probably because it wasn't an Orbea only store. But I was also lucky enough to get my bike on a discount, because the bike shop I got it from was having a 25% off all bikes sale on black friday. I was actually planning on saving up and getting it in the spring, but how can you resist that much in savings? Anyways, again congratulations. The Diva is a higher end bike than my Dama Onix TLT, so I'm positive it will give you just as much joy, if not more than mine. I am IN LOVE with my bike, and I'm so happy for you. Have fun!!!

-Jessica

P.S. - It also looks like you have speedplay pedals?? Me too! Mine are in pink though of course:)

Wow, that is one breathtaking bicycle! Best wishes for many happy and safe miles of riding with it. I've never ridden an Orbea, but have heard glowing reports from people who own them.

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Originally Posted by Catriona

wow. Do orbeas come with display stands?

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heh - if you could see it up close, it's bent and the letters are peeling off :rolleyes:. It is nice though - and heavy! This was an Orbea Outlet store that just went full service. Orbea's warehouse is in North Little Rock, AR - guessing that's why we have the Orbea store.

Someone talk me down - I did the club ride this afternoon (boy was it windy!). I couldn't get comfortable on the handlebars after about 15 miles (I'm thinking that changing the stem to a longer one would help and raising the handlebars - at least I hope). I've emailed the manager, 'cause I'm really concerned. I also had pain between my shoulder blades by the end of the ride - possibly because I was cramped. The bike also felt twitcher than the Cannondale Synapose. I'm really panicked here. Can this be fixed?

Thanks!

How tall are you? What size frame did you get? I'm short, 5'2, got the 49 cm frame. Was concerned it was too big (sounds like opposite of your problem), and should have gone with the 46. But we put on compact handle bars, moved the seat forward, and put a shorter stem on it, and will put an even shorter one on in the future. Happy with the handlebar height, no pain between my shoulders, just my low back (which I think it just about getting used to sitting different than I was used to on my previous bike bcause it's getting better). I was really squirrelly on the bike initially, because it responds so quickly to every little movement, but I got used to it and how to handle it. So, do you think the frame was too small? At any rate, I'm sure the people at the shop will take care of you!

-Jessica

The wind probably did not help your first ride. I am sure your shop will tweak the fit until you feel right. If you don't feel the shop is enough, look for a pro trainer who can do a pro fit. That's a beautiful bike!

Your seat looks like it's aimed upwards a bit - which might contribute to the twitchy - not enough weight on the front of the bike could contribute to twitchy.

But a more responsive bike may just feel twitchy to you until you get used to it.


But generally on a bike you should get it fitted and have handlebars/stem etc to fit you...

Since you saved so much, maybe you can get a professional fitting - I don't know if the orbea store offers fitting.

It is a lovely bike and a fantastic ride, isn't it! Enjoy and have fun!

Now that is a beautiful bike. I hope you have many, many, happy miles together :D

Max

I love the color and the stand is awesome! Congrats!

The bike is gorgeous and I like the stand too... :)

Congrats on the bike. It is pretty. I also agree, take it in to get fitted. Don't panic yet. I bought a new bike in the summer and had issues, but after a bringing it back a few times it rides like a charm.

there's an orbea _outlet_ store??? :eek::eek:

nice bike. i've heard lots of reports from newly converted orbea owners - they often sound like they've just seen the light :p:D

i like that they seem pretty women friendly in their designs.

congrats.

Thanks everyone for the congratulations. I rode the bike again Monday night (after also reading Keepers post about the Onix she bought in June not working out and recently purchasing a Ruby) and still having shoulder blade pain, decided that the bike needed to go back. I couldn't take the chance that after 9 months we still couldn't get the fit right and I'd quit riding because it was no longer enjoyable. I can't afford that kind of mistake. I ride to relieve stress and having my back spasm was definitely not stress relief! I loved that bike, but the race geometry was more aggressive than I can handle at this time. Sigh.

Congrats on your new Orbea! It looks like it's ready to take off with or without rider.:p:cool:

Awwwwww. Good decision though Violet, good job not letting the new-bike exhilaration overwhelm your good sense. I know you'll find the bike, and when you do, it'll make last week's excitement seem ho-hum. :)