Can't Decide!

[Tri Girl]

Oh, bring the credit card for sure. There will be so much that you'll want and HAVE to have that you'll need it along.
I hope you not only learn a lot, but find something that you LOVE. From my experience, a good fitting includes measuring your body all over, then plugging those numbers into a magical formula that gives you a "cockpit" measurement and lots of other confusing things. I've bought 5 bikes new and all my fittings were detailed and took a couple hours to get just right. I make my LBS work for it.

Have fun and be sure to report back on Saturday so we can hear all about your experience.

[Kelly728]

You are looking at the proud owner of a Jamis Ventura Race! (Nope not the women's version either..)

Just wanted to thank everyone who suggested going to Proteus for my bike. It was complete information overload when I first got in, but I test rode a Felt (not sure of the model), the Jamis Ventura, and Orbea Aqua (tried both Campy and Shimano versions). For the first time I could actually feel a difference between bikes, knowing what I flat out did not feel comfortable in. It was pretty tough deciding between the Jamis and Orbea but I took the Jamis out for a 2nd spin and think it felt "right". With a few in store adjustments I brought the bike home. I am heading back in 2 weeks for a full fitting of the bike. I really have to work on not rounding out my back which I tend to do due to some neck problems. Can't wait to go play a bit tomorrow!

Now..In that 2 weeks I need to find shoes and pedals... Back at square one with cluelessness.

[Kelly728]

...no one is even peaking back for my report?

*sigh*

[divingbiker]

...no one is even peaking back for my report?

*sigh*

Sorry, I missed it. So glad that you had a good experience at Proteus! Jill is great. I must get back there and take more food for the shop cat...

And of course, we want pictures!

[salsabike]

Kelly, what size did you end up with?

[DebTX]

Congratulations Kelly!
I know how hard it is to go from clueless to clipless...
Sounds like you did a great job teasing through it all

Ride her in good health!

[Kelly728]

Kelly, what size did you end up with?

51cm
Thought I mentioned that, oops!

I'll get some pictures of beautiful soon, once I find the connector cable for my camera. Now I need to get some MUCH warmer clothes (rode a mile and had to stop because I was so cold) and decide between spd or frogs.

[uforgot]

I just had to go to the Jamis website and take a peek! Very nice, although I still want to see pics of the actual bike.

The geometry of your bike is almost the same as my Surly! 525 top tube. How long of a stem will you have on it? It's good to have my measurements verified. It's not often I get to read the adventures of another long legged, short armed rider. Why did you not go with the femme version? Was the top tube at 515 too short for eventual racing or just too cramped? I want the details of what they said. I'm having a virtual fitting through you!lol

I saw that you had to wear petite tops for short arms, and regular pants. I always had to purchase "tall" pants when 30" inseams were the norm, and petite tops. I wondered what tall women wore, and then when I started riding and trying to get correctly fitting bikes, I realized that we are actually not the norm. Your running attire cracked me up.

[Aquila]

Congrats!

Now you have to post pictures so we can all ooh and ahh

[Kelly728]

Uforgot- I am going in for my full bike fitting in 2 weeks and I'll give you a thorough report! The bike in my non-cycling educated brain is still a bit big reach wise, but a lot of adjustments still need to be made.

Apparently I'm not as disproportionate as I thought.

[Tri Girl]

I've been so busy, I haven't been back to check up on you. Congrats on your new bike!!!! I can't wait to see your beauty!

[ilima]

...no one is even peaking back for my report?

*sigh*

I'm back. The Jamis is a nice bike! I think you'll be happy with it for a long time.

[tantrumbean]

I had a similar problem when I started road bike searching, only difference is I'm long-legged, short-armed and 6ft tall - which means none of the wsd bikes are big enough and most of the men's are too long in the reach. It's a nightmare. Funnily enough, both my bikes have ended being Trek's, after testing loads of others... (only picking the road bike up from the shop on Saturday, so can't comment on what it will be like in the long run), but there appears to be something in the trek geometry that agrees with my akward proportions...

[Kelly728]

[OakLeaf]

Very nice!