won a 2011 Dolce Elite

[Jo-n-NY]

I am very excited. A couple of weeks ago I won a Men Trek 2.1. Needless to say I ride a WSD so on Saturday I picked up a Specialized Dolce Elite. This is replacing my Dolce that I sold a few years ago when my husband surprised me with the Ruby which I absolutely love. I always regretted selling my Dolce because it would have made a great secondary bike to ride on wet roads and on the trainer.

I am getting use to the SRAM and the although the same size as my previous Dolce and Ruby, the torso stretch is more comfortable as the reach is 1/2 in shorter for 2011. I am thinking of putting a shorter stem on my Ruby, however, I have read that sometimes a shorter stem gives a "twitchie" feel. I don't really know what that means. Does anyone know about that?

JoAnn

[sarahspins]

I am thinking of putting a shorter stem on my Ruby, however, I have read that sometimes a shorter stem gives a "twitchie" feel.

It really depends on what size your stem is and what kind of change you're talking about... if you have a 100mm stem and go to a 90mm, you're not likely to notice much change in handling, but you'd probably notice a chance in comfort

[hebe]

Congratulations on your win!

[alpinerabbit]

a steeper stem will reduce your reach much more than a shorter one - might try that...

[Seajay]

Agree with SS. It's a bit about proportions.
An 80mm stem on a 48 or 51cm women's bike will likely be fine. But put an 80 on a 60cm bike and probably will not handle as well as designed. Same thing the opposite. 130 on a 60cm bike is fine but not such a good idea on a 48.

[emily_in_nc]

Wow, how wonderful! How did you win the bike? Lucky you!

[sundial]

How neat! What color is your Dolce? Specialized has a neat variable angle stem that might just do the trick.

[OakLeaf]

How cool is that!

[Jo-n-NY]

Thanks ladies,

I no longer have the technical specs for my 51cm 07 Ruby so my husband will measure it. I know we have a shorter Specialized stem that he brought home when I thought I might change it out when I got the bike, but then thought it felt fine. I get no pain or anything and have 6000 miles on the Ruby. Now riding the Dolce I can feel just a more comfortable difference.

I won the bike at an organized ride that I was volunteering at. Although I was not much help because I got an aweful virus that day and wound up laying down in our van. My husband told me to buy 1 ticket and I did. My girlfriend came to drag me out of the van to claim the bike. Mind you, I never even win a scratch off lotto so this was just very unbelieveable for me.

I will give you an update when we change the stem.

Thanks again for all the suggestions.

JoAnn

[marni]

whoo hoo you rock! My parents once won a car, my husband routinely gets door prizes at our local group meetings. I have never won anything.

Someday maybe- I would love to win a trek madone, but that's just me.

Enjoy your new baby.

[jelee1311]

Congrats on your new bike! That's amazing. I just changed my stem and really didn't notice a huge difference on twichyness,but it made a huge difference on comfort. I'm so happy I did

[Selkie]

Jo - Congratulations! Couldn't have happened to a nicer person. Many happy miles on your new Dolce......

ps---I recently donated my red Dolce Comp (same vintage/make as your old one). That bike was a workhorse that logged many many miles in the rain/on wet pavement. I expect your new Dolce will be as hardy as the 2005 version. ENJOY

[Jo-n-NY]

On thank you, thank you for all the kind words.

In my research I probably have a 90mm on the Ruby and looking at the conversion chart an 80 will probably be perfect. I would imagine that is the size that my husband had brought home for me.

Since it gets dark so early now I will ride my new bike on the trainer tonight for my first trainer ride of the season. At least it gave me a new spark of excitement to get back on the trainer

yes, a pic will follow

[Jo-n-NY]

Jo - Congratulations! Couldn't have happened to a nicer person. Many happy miles on your new Dolce......

ps---I recently donated my red Dolce Comp (same vintage/make as your old one). That bike was a workhorse that logged many many miles in the rain/on wet pavement. I expect your new Dolce will be as hardy as the 2005 version. ENJOY

You are very sweet, thank you.

My Dolce Comp went to a club member who shipped it to California where her daughter lives so she would have a road bike to ride when she was visiting over there. She and her husband are the nicest people and glad that it has a good home.

[Jo-n-NY]

As promised, here is a pic of the 2011 Dolce Elite that I won with my Ruby behind it.