Ordered my new bike!

[Yen]

I feel like a kid on Christmas morning. We ordered two new Roubaix Expert Triples today -- one for me, and one for Mr. Yen. They should be at the shop by mid-week and ready next weekend.

Whooooohoooooo! The decision has been made. We feel that we're not just investing in new bikes, but also in a lot of fun that we'll enjoy together, as a couple. We plan to join a club or two, go on group rides of all sorts, meet other like-minded folks, improve our fitness, and have a great time doing it.

My next tough decision will be..... clipless or not? I'll adjust to the bike first (I'm moving from a hybrid), then decide later after we ride a few hundred miles and get the full computerized fitting. At that time, I can talk about clipless and they said I could learn on the trainer in the store. I already bought shoes that can be used clipless or not (Specialized Taho sport).

My hybrid.... bless its heart. I gave him a hug today and told him I still love him. He got me where I am now.. helped me overcome the initial fear of shifting, then traffic, and helped me lose the last 20 lbs since I bought it last March. He's been a GREAT bike. I think I'll name him "Woody". We'll keep him for short rides on trails, short commutes, and night riding.

[KnottedYet]

Congratulations! How exciting to get a new bike, and open up a new bunch of opportunities!

Woody is a good bike, it's always nice to have a zoom-zoom bike and a utility bike. (and a cruiser bike, and a mud bike, and...) Keep him, you'll be glad you did!

I have Specialized Taho shoes, too. I use them with Speedplay Frog clipless pedals. http://www.speedplay.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.frog

[Yen]

Congratulations! How exciting to get a new bike, and open up a new bunch of opportunities!

Woody is a good bike, it's always nice to have a zoom-zoom bike and a utility bike. (and a cruiser bike, and a mud bike, and...) Keep him, you'll be glad you did!

I have Specialized Taho shoes, too. I use them with Speedplay Frog clipless pedals. http://www.speedplay.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.frog

"Woody" is my 2006 Giant Cypress SX. I bought it in spring 2007, on sale. It was too big for me, but I didn't know any better at the time and we figured that it would be Hubby's if I decided it indeed was too big. Well, he ended up on a Trek 7500 instead, so Woody remained mine. "Too big" includes a top tube that is barely below my pelvic bone, and I slipped onto it a couple of times while dismounting from the bike. When winter began last year, I added an extra headlight, puncture-resistant tires with reflective rims, and two Planet Bike blinkie taillights, so it became my dependable night rider. I also added trekking bars (from Nashbar.com) and ergo grips for additional hand positions and comfort.

Last month we participated in a 50-mile memorial ride for the LAPD SWAT officer who was killed in the line of duty earlier that month. The LAPD cycling team opened the ride to any and all riders who wanted to participate. It was a very easy ride on mostly flat ground and the speed was kept slow (10-13 mph or so) so that everyone could keep up. The only hard part was a very steep, long hill at the end back up to the police academy (right outside the entrance to Dodgers Stadium). Thought I'd die, but we made it up in the granny gear on our 30+ pound hybrids. That ride was our first group ride, and introduced us to a whole new experience and the fun of riding in a group. Though we've had a blast on our hybrids, we know that to keep up in typical recreational group rides, organized rides, and the like, a road bike would be the answer.

Thanks for the tip on the pedals. Are they very easy for you to clip in/out of? We ride in mostly traffic, no nice long rural roads around here, so I'll want to be able to clip in/out fast without any trouble.

[KnottedYet]

They are very easy to clip out of. Passive release, so there is no pressure needed to clip in or out. No moving parts, so no tension to adjust. 20 degrees of float, so very kind to grumpy knees and hips.

Several TE'ers have Frogs. See if your shop will let you try a pair before you buy. (try several different kinds of pedals, just like you tried several different bikes)

[Starfish]

Congratulations! You've bought great bikes...I'm looking forward to reading all your upcoming posts...and seeing pictures!!!

[kermit]

Did I tell you the expert was an awesome bike? I know you will have a great time on that bike. I wanted to suggest Look Keo pedals if you can't find the frogs. Also very light and easy to get in and out of. My only suggestion, whatever pedal you get make sure it has some float. I mean you can move you foot side to side. Most have 6 degrees or so, thats all you need. Good luck and hope to see pics of the new bike when you get it. A Name? My husband calls his sledgehammer.

[Yen]

Starfish: Oh, don't worry.... I'll be taking pictures like a new parent.

Kermit: Thanks for another pedal suggestion and tip about the float. The clipless pedals are totally new to me and I have no idea what to look for, ask about, etc so I need to do some research before it's time. The LBS owner and fitter know I'm interested but I said I want to get totally comfortable on this bike first (fit, posture, overall comfort, shifting, etc) before I start looking at pedals.

[Jo-n-NY]

What exciting news!!!! It looks like you are off to a real fun riding season.

~ JoAnn

[sundial]

Oh boy!! Matching Roubaixs! I love mine and I put Frogs on it paired with the Specialized mtb shoes. I have really enjoyed putting in the miles on my plush bike and I'll bet you will too! Can't wait for the pics!

[tc1]

Try the frogs, I love mine. Whatever brand you get, practice practice practice unclipping. With both feet at a time, first one then the other, only one foot, any unclipping variant you can think of. Obsessively practicing this on a stretch of our local trail where there are too! many! stop signs! saved me from a nasty fall later. Yes, I am a dork but it worked to my benefit this time. But I'm not bragging, a very accomplished rider (triathlons) told me everybody falls.

Would love to see pictures of that matching pair of bikes.

[Jo-n-NY]

Specialized mtn shoes and frogs for me also. There is almost no effort what so ever to clip in and out.

~ JoAnn

[Bad JuJu]

Frogs rock!
Remember we love to see pix, so when you get those new bikes, start snapping away!

[Yen]

OK, I'll check out the Frogs! Thanks!

We're picking up the bikes tomorrow!! The fitter will get us adjusted on a trainer. Someone advised me to not leave the shop without riding the bike first (either outside or on the trainer) and going through all the gears and braking hard, just to be sure things are OK before leaving the shop. I might have never thought of that.... I might have focused solely on my fit instead. Just passing it along.

You bet I'll post pics!

[kermit]

Ditto on riding the bike. When we got my husbands, it was the first 08 roubaix that the shop had ordered. We did the fit on the trainer and went outside to take the front tire off and put the machine on the rack. The front tire would not come off and the tires were too big for the front brake assembly. Apparently the front brake and frame area require low profile tires. I'm sure your LBS will know this. We learned that hard way. We took it back inside and they swapped the tires. Good thing that happened when it did instead of on the road. Good luck and don't forget pictures.

[Starfish]

Apparently the front brake and frame area require low profile tires. I'm sure your LBS will know this. We learned that hard way. We took it back inside and they swapped the tires. Good thing that happened when it did instead of on the road. Good luck and don't forget pictures.

You know, my bike is the same way. The front tire won't come off unless deflated a bit. I did not know about any of that when I got my bike, and just lived with it for awhile. Now, I do know (or think I do ), but I have stuck with the bigger tires (25s) for their attributes compared to 23s. (More rubber on the road, a little more comfort over long days in the saddle.)

As long as I remember to seat the wheel before I inflate a new tube all the way, after a flat, it works OK. But, that is because my bike goes inside my car all in one piece...I don't have to remove the wheel all the time.

Don't want to hijack thread...if anyone has insights here on 23s vs 25s for a newer road biker, might be pertinent, though. (Are my ideas about 23s vs 25s on the right track?).