My new road bike *WARNING* Lotsa pics!

[Jiffer]

She's beautiful! I'm so jealous! I've been waiting for 4 weeks for my Cannondale to come in! Everyone around me is getting new bikes and I'm sitting around picking my nose waiting. My LBS said it should be in within a week. Maybe tomorrow! I don't know what the hold up is, but I'm going crazy. It's fun to look at pics of other people's bikes since I can't take any of my own!

I'm cracking up at all your comments on the color coordination down to the white bottle holder on the white post and the red on red! Are we so totally girls or what?! I'm the exact same way. My new bike is black and I decided pink will be my accent color. I'm getting pink grip tape, pink bottle holders and bottles, pink tool bag and possibly a pink saddle (if the Terry Damselfly I ordered works out). And, of course, I'm on the look out for pink jerseys to match. I find it's much harder to find pink jersey's than you'd think. The black cycling shorts will, of course, match the black bike!

My husband and I ride a red Burley and I make sure we coordinate with that as well. Everything is red, black and white. We have matching jerseys and helmets. However, much to my dismay, we only have one set of matching jerseys. Sometimes we don't technically match if one of our jerseys is dirty, but we pretty much always at least coordinate with the red, black and white and on the "important" rides, we make sure we have the correct matching jerseys on! We have matching red jackets, too. Today I was in charge of filling the bottles and ensured they all coordinated. Sometimes he goofs up and we have a blue and yellow bottle on our red bike! What is he THINKING!

We have tandem friends who never match and I always tease them about it. They wear all sorts of bizarre colors. I tell them they should match and be "really really good looking" like us!

[SalsaMTB]

Here is the first ride summary....

Some friends had stopped into the shop on Sunday and told us about the charity ride. I've never done an organized road ride and thought it would be a blast, so we said we would join them. I've never done a ride over 35 miles and this one was 62, so I was really hoping everything on this new bike would be set up properly. There was a lot of pressure on her to perform

After only 3 hours of sleep (dh had people over a bit too late) I awoke and got ready for the ride. I was way more motivated than expected due to the new bike. We get to the ride, take out our bikes and my bike was beaming with pride. I couldn't wait to get on! We started the ride and it was perfect. The bike fit like a glove. After 25 miles, it felt like nothing. I felt like I could ride forever on this bike, the miles kept adding up with what felt like very little effort. Everything just came together so well and felt so great underneath me. She responded in the way I wanted her to. The ride was smooth, but a bit stiff in the rear. She plowed through the downhills, and climbed really well. The handling was unbelievable, I really felt like I could shift my weight well and take the corners at a lot more speed than before. Overall a fantastic ride. I couldn't believe after my longest ride on a brand new bike that I had no aches and pains!!

As for the SRAM groupset, I'm impressed. The rear derailluer shifing was spot on. It was extremely easy to use, intuitive, and smooth. There is a solid click when you shift and it's very responsive. The FD, well, that's going to take a little getting used to. To shift from the big chainring to the little is great. It's extremely fast and smooth. Going from the little back up to the big....well, that is a bit difficult. It required a long stroke and quite a bit of effort. That is the only negative I have about the Sram group. Luckily, my area is flat so I don't use the small too often, but for other girls who do use it frequently, I would definitely try it out before you purchase. This was my first ride though, so I'll have to see if there is anything I can do to improve it a bit.

[maillotpois]

Congratulations on your new ride! That is just a great bike! I have been drooling over that bike for about three years. Glad to hear it rides so well, too!


Too many bikes, too little time (and money)! :P

[gnat23]

And, of course, I'm on the look out for pink jerseys to match. I find it's much harder to find pink jersey's than you'd think.

Hah! Tell me about it.

As someone who REALLY gets into the pink, I think the backlash against the color has actually made it more difficult overall!

-- gnat! (you shoulda seen me on the day I had blue/green shorts, blue bike, orange jacket, pink armwarmers, purple gloves...)

[Jo-n-NY]

Sending you warm wishes and best of luck with your beautiful new bike. In addition congratulations on your first long ride and for charity at that!!!!

~ JoAnn

[ShubieGA]

Dang that bike looks sweet! My favorite colors. Makes me think about a road bike purchase!

[teawoman]

Wow! That is REAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLY NICE!

[sandra]

WOW!!! It is a beauty. I want that handlebar tape!

[sundial]

Gorgeous, just GORGEOUS!!!!!!!

Are you a hot roadie chick or WHAT?!

[postiechic]

hey Salsa.....i've just come across your post. I'm considering buying a streetfire .So I was wondering how you've been finding it. Is it comfy on the longer rides? Which saddle did you put on it? I wish I could get a red one - red is the best color ever!...but I have to settle for blue - which is cool too.

cheers
V...