My New Luna Bike!!

[Wahine]

Lisa that bike is beautiful in a very elegant kind of a way. I love the bee. Congratulations.

[DebW]

Sweet

[KnottedYet]

Oh, Oh, Oh! I just noticed the word "Luna" on the downtube! Wow, how elegant and subtle!

[Fredwina]

Congrats - may you tow have many happy miles together

[cosc]

Your new ride looks like she will be as smooth and sweet as honey. Congratulations!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Wow, a girl comes back from roller skating and finds so many nice posts from you all....thank you so much!

Hmmm....first to answer a few of the questions asked:

TIG welded steel frame.
The Seat tube is 'bent' in the middle to achieve standard setback as opposed to the more usual setback at the top of it where it meets the saddle. It's just a design variation, nothing 'fancy'.

It is indeed powdercoated, not paint. A matte finish (people told me that light colors don't look good in matte finish...phooey I say!) And yes Knot, I had them do the usual Luna logo but in a shade very slightly lighter than the main coat so that you have to look twice to see it. The bee was a drawing that I adjusted a bit and paid extra to have the bike painters make as a decal on both sides of the top tube. They did a good job with all the tiny feet, etc.

I dislike logos, and spent quite a bit of time this morning removing the 8 stubborn loud stickers from my new rims. Also installed the PowerGrip straps inside out to hide thier logos too.
I love PowerGrip straps on my nice wide MKS touring pedals. I can wear any shoes I want! They feel snug when your feet are in, and you just turn heel out and back to remove your foot from the diagonal strap.

The very beautiful steel headbadge is the official Luna bike headbadge and I think it is just stunning.

I waited about 5 months for this bike, which I actually think is a pretty short time for a custom. I was very happy to get it so quickly. Margo (the owner and builder at Luna Cycles) is very efficient and all her predicted dates were accurate.

I'm kind of a retro bike fan, but I did go with a carbon fork this time. A Reynolds Ouzo Pro.
The wheelsets are by Velocity, with Arrowhead rims. Black rims, hubs, and spokes.
Continental GrandPrix 4 Season tires (flat resistant) 700x25.

The bike is a 9-speed, mostly Ultegra level, except the mountain/touring gearing parts are XT etc.
Shimano ST-R600 9-speed short reach brifters.
Salsa Poco handlebars with Cinelli cork tape
Deda Logo stem
Chris King black headset.

Phil Wood bottom bracket
TA Carmina crankset
24/36/48 triple rings
Shimano XT front der.

Rear cassette 12-34 with XTR Shimano derailleur

Yes this is a very wide gear range. Believe me, at age 54, I need all the help I can get on the hills around here.

Brooks B68 saddle
Bagman rear saddlebag brace
Baggins/Rivendell 'Little Joe' saddlebag
2 water bottle cages (for those long hot rides!)

Total weight of the bike with Brooks saddle, pedals, cages, computer, etc (but without the saddlebag) is 20 pounds. That's 4 pounds lighter than my Rivendell. The Luna's tubing is lighter weight since the bike was not made for a typical man's weight.

I'm probably forgetting stuff.

My Rivendell will be my second bike. I intend to keep it and keep using it. (I need to get another saddle now!) I always felt uneasy having only one bike, if it needs fixing or gets damaged or stolen (god forbid). Two is a safe feeling.
Whether there will be a huge difference in comfort or speed between the two bikes remains to be seen. But after an around the block ride the Luna seems lighter and not as long. Turns quicker, and has the feel of a slightly smaller frame. I can't wait to go on a 15-20 mile test ride....and tomorrow's forecast is for 50 degrees and sunny!!!!- what incredible luck! I will have to get used to the brifters, after my beloved bar end shifters the new brifters seem weird. All that clicking!
I will report back after that ride for sure.

[MM_QFC!]

Thanks for all of the particulars, Lisa; your lovely new bike is just exquisite...I'll think of you from this coast, as I'm taking tomorrow off and going for a ride too - tailwinds!
Mary

[madscot13]

I really appreciate all of the information. I'm actually looking into that gearing also- and I'm not 54. (I hope that made you feel more comfortable about the gearing, although you probably are self confident enough not to need it.)

May I ask why did you choose the TA Carmina crankset? I'm just going through my options: you could have purchased an equivalent sugino xd- 500t, deore XT (even though it might be very ugly on your road bike), or any other mid range trekking cranks? I've never heard of TA carmina before, I'd like to hear your thoughts on it.

thanks and once again that is a beautiful bike. I might have to start daydreaming about my own luna

[Meg McKilty]

Oh my, that's a hot little bike!
I love the bee- I used to be a beekeeper! And the Brooks saddle is very nice.

[divingbiker]

Very nice, Lisa. I think I've got the same gearing on my Rivendell. Sometimes on big downhills I run out of gears, so I think when I go custom I'll have a bit bigger gear up front. It's interesting to see what others choose when they go custom...I'm filing it away for my future dream bike. Have fun riding it!

[Velobambina]

Gorgeous and classy, just like her owner!

[Crankin]

I can't wait until Kredo can go riding with her. I hope they get along, since they are so different...
Seriously, the bike looks gorgeous. Mazel Tov.

[OakLeaf]

Bee-autiful!

[Bron]

What an elegant-looking bike. I like the lack of glaring logos.

[tulip]

Is the frame an Eclipse or an Orbit? Very nice.