New Bike!

[7rider]

I've just called the LBS and told them I want to pick up the bike on Saturday. I asked them to put on a quick release for the seat post and swap out the 12-25 cassette for a 12-27. With my current seat and pedals she will be all set. I'll take her out on the road Sunday (and maybe Monday) and then spin the rest of the week on the stand. Then it's off to the Civil War Century on the 9th (I'm riding the Covered Bridge Quarter Century). Hopefully I'll be comfortable with her by then. Expect pictures over the weekend and then after the ride

Anyone else riding in the Civil War Century?

Nice ride!
That should be an awesome bike for the Quarter.
Many happy miles on it.
I was thinking of doing the Metric with DH as training for the Seagull Century in October. Hmmmm, maybe. Have you ever done the CWC before? They have quite a few ride options. Can you register day of???

[HillSlugger]

Why a quick release seat collar? It is heavier and will make it easier for someone to steal your side (unless you wanna take it in with you more easily to deter thet). Please post pics and a first ride report!

I'm not really concernd about the weight. I'm more interested in the ability to take off my seat and post when the bike is unattended on my bike rack, it might get rained on, or to put it upright into the back of DP's Rav4.

I'll post "new bike" pictures tomorrow, a first ride report on Sunday (tropical storm Ernesto weather permitting) and CWC pictures after the 9th.

[HillSlugger]

Nice ride!
That should be an awesome bike for the Quarter.
Many happy miles on it.
I was thinking of doing the Metric with DH as training for the Seagull Century in October. Hmmmm, maybe. Have you ever done the CWC before? They have quite a few ride options. Can you register day of???

The early registration (save $5) closed 8/30. Online registration continues through 9/6. They say that day-of registration should be available but that they can't guarantee being overwhelmed. They are expencting 1500 riders!

[HillSlugger]

I picked up my new bike from the LBS this afternoon. The bike is great but the LBS screwed up. I called them on Thursday and asked them to put on a quick release seat bolt and to swap out the cassette. They said no problem. I called yesterday to see if it was done and ready for me and I was told yes. This morning I called again to verify that everything was ready. Now, I was told that nothing had been done and that the cassette wouldn't be available until Thursday! Damn them! Now have to make another trip back there and I won't have a chance to road ride it with the new cassette before my ride on Saturday

At the moment I feel really tentative on the bike. It's much more responsive than my old hybrid and the tires are much thinner so I feel like I can't hold it in a straight line. Hopefully it will feel better tomorrow when I take it out for a real ride. Watch for a ride report tomorrow.

A good picture of the bike but not a great one of me:

[Triskeliongirl]

Don't worry, it won't feel very differnt with the new casette, it will just give you one more gear. She looks great!! ENJOY!!! Don't worry about feeling shaky either. It takes time to adjust to a road postion and skinny tires, but just ride her and you'll be adjusted in no time.

[HillSlugger]

I took the new Specialized Sequoia Elite out for her first road ride. It was awesome! It is so responsive; you push and it leaps forward.

I started out really tentative, very nervous on those very narrow tires (down to 25c from the 32c I've been riding on the hybrid) and slightly damp roads left over from Ernesto. I soon fell into a pretty nice rhythm. The fitter at the LBS did a nice job and everything felt pretty good. The mechanics, on the other hand, didn't have the brakes set quite right and I needed to back off the rear brakes.

I did my longest ride ever, 30.4 miles at 14.3mph average. That, in spite of my poor shifting and mis-shifting (big lever -> larger ring, small lever -> smaller ring. Sounds so simple until you're in the middle of it all ) I do miss the low gears of my hybrid and had to walk part of a hill.

I've got a lot to get used to with the new position required by the road bike. I've got too much pressure on my hands, but they still didn't get numb like they did on the hybrid. My shoulders and neck are sore, but not too bad. I even used the drops several times.

All in all, it was a great ride. I can't wait for next Saturday and the Covered Bridge ride.

[pooks]

Congrats! It sounds like you bought a great bike for you!