Okay, the first day I took it out only for a few miles, about five, with my allen wrenches to make any adjustments and to just get a feel for the bike. It was GREAT! Very comfy, felt like a real bike! Well, it IS a real bike, but you know what I mean. Handles very well on the flats, climbs, and sprinting.

The next day (yesterday) I did a 15 mile loop that took me an hour, same as on my other bike. The ride is very comfortable; it feels like riding my other bike. The only thing I have to get used to is using the bar end shifters; my hands keep flicking at the brake levers to shift. I did a climb-the only one around-and the bike is solid and great climbing both seated and standing. I even did a little sprint race with my friend, which was great fun.

I haven't folded it yet; I put it in my car with BOTH wheels on! I have a small car--a VW Rabbit. I put the back seat backs down and in went the bike just as it is. Folded, I bet I could fit it in the way back without putting the seatbacks down. I'll practice folding it tonight. I need to practice packing it into its suitcase before my trip. It's like changing a tire-practice, practice, practice.

It's a Pocket Rocket Pro. I struggled with which model to get, and decided on spending $$ on the frame because that's the only thing that I cannot upgrade later. I went through alot of configurations, but settled on Shimano 105 components. The bar end shifters are Dura Ace, I guess because they don't make 105 shifters? I'm not complaining! My pedals are SPD and my saddle is Terry Butterfly (same as all my bikes).

I got the bike in one month from ordering, but that was unusually fast. Usual times are 6-8 weeks, but they were able to fit me in (because of my Southern charm ?? I think they get busier as the weather warms up. Because of the rush, they forgot a few niggling things, but they are sending those.

As for the stem, I frankly thought it would come with the fit-stem. They made the stem from my measurements and since I was trying to keep the price low (VERY relative), they skipped the fit-stem part. Fine, it seems to work, and if it doesn't, I'll send it back. But so far so good.

My friend took a picture of me riding, so when I get that I'll post it.