New Bike!!!

[Surlygirl]

Well I'm still in shock, but Hubby bought me a new Orbea Dama Race last night. It was a my birthday present. I took one for a test ride and I couldn't believe how much faster it was than my poor old Surly. Same as you Lynne, going from a cross bike to a road bike was a shock. I wasn't sure about the aluminum frame but it has a carbon fork and carbon stays and its a gorgeous purple. Now all I have to do is wait, the purple ones are backordered. Tap, Tap, Tap, Tap.
Oh and I have a new favorite bike shop. Gear Works Cyclery in Leominster, Mass. They rock.

I think I'll keep the Surly as my beater bike, put the big old tires on it and use it in the spring when its muddy and wet. I'm sure I won't want to get my new baby dirty. Maybe I should change my name from Surlygirl to Orbeababe.

[massbikebabe]

hey grrls...

congrats on the new rides. Jody, I expect to see you flying thru hills of Worcester soon. How long do you have to wait??

karen

[RoadRaven]

Hey there Surly, must be something in the air for all these new bikes to be about.

Nice to be able to go a bit faster - glad you are enjoying it. Keep us posted on how it goes.

My birthdays not til August, I'll have to live vicariously through you both in the meantime...

[Surlygirl]

Thanks Karen, Thanks Roadraven and congrats Lynne. Didn't mean to hijack your new bike thread, just wanted to join in your fun.

Karen, my bike won't be in for a couple of weeks yet. I still have to decide if I'm changing my handlebars and crankset or robbing the Surly. I have Ultegra 9 speed now so I may just swap those over. Darren at gear Works thinks I should put the new women's Specialized handlebars on, they have a damping collor where the stem attaches. A stem. There's a new one, with a shorter top tube, I can actually have a decent length stem.
As for flying up the hills in Worcester, well I don't know about that, though on the test ride last night I rode up a hill and wasn't even wheezing at the top.

[emily_in_nc]

All new bikes require a photo! C'mon ladies, don't forget!

And MEGA congratulations to you both! There's just about nothing more exciting than a new bike!!!

~ Emily

[Biking Chick]

All new bikes require a photo! C'mon ladies, don't forget!

And MEGA congratulations to you both! There's just about nothing more exciting than a new bike!!!

~ Emily

I concur with Emily ... photos please!

Congrat's to you both! Don't forget to post to the list after that first long ride!

[Surlygirl]

You can see mine at
orbea-usa.com
Its the Dama Race. I'll post a pic when I actually get my bike.

[Lynne]

Just got back and showered from the ride. A bit over 46 miles, didn't have my computer hooked up, but the BF did and he did 16.4mph average (he did a few sprints as he's training for racing), so I figure I came in a bit under 16mph, which beats my best time so far by a little bit I think. And did I mention there was a painful hill almost at the end that's about a mile long? I started off a bit slow, getting used to the bike. But, late in the ride, after I came up the hill, my BF was at the top...apparently another woman had just gone by and I could just see her. He says "You going to catch up to her??" Of course, I had to...I have the better bike and how shameful if I couldn't even catch her BTW, that was some more uphill, just not a *hill*...so I caught her, passed her and kept going up up up.

I'm mostly sore (I'm going to hit the hot tub tonight), but not tired like I was on the previous similiar ride, (which was less steep at the end) which was only a few weeks ago.

No, I didn't quite live up to my bike's expectations of me, but I'll keep trying. My goal is 17mph average on a longer ride like this one with hills.

I'm seriously hoping I continue to improve at the rate I have...that the next 6 mos will show tremendous increases in my ability. We'll see.

Oh, and I'd love to post a picture...how do you do that here?

Oh, and hey, post away! No one's stealing my thunder...I'm so happy just to have this beautiful bike...I'm sure everyone else feels the same when they get a new bike. I'm happy to share the thread.

Oh, and Surlgirl...my BF is doing exactly what you doing...upgrading from his Surly. (his is a road bike, steel frame...heavy as an elephant...omg!!) He's getting a super nice light bike now, but will keep the Surly and do what you're doing with yours. He has such loyalty to that lovely blue bike...it's kind of sweet :-)

[Biking Chick]

You can see mine at
orbea-usa.com
Its the Dama Race. I'll post a pic when I actually get my bike.

Nice ride Surly - I love the linea purple!!!

I hope hubby knows that new bike = new outfit

Congrats again - let us know when she/he whispers her/his name to you

[emily_in_nc]

You can see mine at
orbea-usa.com
Its the Dama Race. I'll post a pic when I actually get my bike.

ohmigod...<breathing loud>....the pink one....wish...i...hadn't....seen....that

DANGER lurks at that website!

~Emily, in serious bike lust

P.S. The purple is great too; in fact, all three colors are scrumptious. I just have a weakness for pink!