My New Luna Bike!!

[Blueberry]

Lisa-

The is bee--you--tee--ful (sorry, I couldn't resist!).

Looking forward to your maiden voyage report

CA

[short cut sally]

Lisa, love the color of that bike. and at first i wasnt so sure about that matte finish, then i took a second look and decided i really like that. the color and finish is so different from what i've seen and i think that's what i like about it. i do have a question, with it being a matte finish, it should wash the same as any bike with the regular shiny finish correct? I am assuming it must have like a clear coat or something? enjoy your bike..hope you got to ride it today, it might have been near 50 today but man, are those winds out there today horrible, at least in my area of the state..

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Well, had my first actual ride today- 16 miles on a beautiful sunny Spring day about 40 degrees.

There are things about this bike that are identical to my older bike (my Rivendell)- the saddle, handlebars, pedals, gearing range....those things were blessedly familiar and so they eased and diminished the 'oh how weirdly different!' factor for me.

The brifters are taking a bit of time to get used to from my old bar end shifters. I'm sure I will get used to them but I do already miss being able to zip through 3 or 4 cassette gears at once when confronted with a sudden steep altitude change. I'll get the hang of these things. They remind me of click beetles.

The new bike is 4 pounds lighter (mostly because of lighter tubing more appropriate for my weight) and the top tube is shorter and the stem is 2cm longer. Overall this makes the new Luna feel a little quicker, smaller feeling, and more responsive. A little more 'get up and go'. It also turns better than the slightly longer Rivendell.
I am slightly more bent forward, but still I look way more upright than typical roadbike riders. Happily, I have no back or neck issues.

I do feel that I can get behind my pedaling a little more- meaning that I think my butt is further behind the crank. I always felt a bit too balanced on top of the crank on the other bike- felt I could never get far enough back to get more power, even though the reach was already too long. So I must be better balanced now. That was a major issue I was hoping to improve, so that's good.
The nasty left elbow pain/ache that I usually always get after 10 miles no matter what did not materialize today- only a very slight twinge happened but it never got any worse. I was very glad about that- it's been an ongoing biking discomfort for 2 years. Again this indicates to me that my weight is better distributed back (off my hands) and the reach is less long.

Another treat was being able to actually wrap my fingers around the brake levers for a change! Love those short reach levers with shims!

The first few miles I was not really sure if I was indeed more comfortable overall or not. Things were different enough to feel confusing, and there was no dramatic orgasmic "Oh My God this bike is incredible!" revelation like some people have. But by the last five miles I just started feeling very natural on it and I felt connected to it. My Rivendell feels a little longer and heavier and I always feel a bit like I am riding on top of this great machine. This bike feels more like I am connected to it and I feel in control of it more. The differences are more subtle and complex than I thought they would be.
I really like this bike and was quite comfortable on it by the end of the ride.
I bet it will feel better and better every ride now. Already my two biggest problems seem much improved- the "elbow pain with weight on hands/reach" thing, and the "getting my center of gravity back more and getting power-behind-my-pedaling" thing.

It's a keeper.

It told me it's a 'girl', by the way. My Rivendell Rambouillet has always definitely been a 'boy'.



P.S. Shelly yes it has ClearCoat finish on top. It'll get the same dings and scratches as any other bike. I've come to terms with that concept.

[Triskeliongirl]

One thing I noticed in the pic, is your bars seem tilted up at quite a high angle. You may have had to do that on the riv to shorten the reach, but maybe its making your positioning on the brifters sub-optimal. If the reach is correct, you should be able to angle the bars so the drops are either parallel to the ground, or pointed only slightly up. If you feel good with how your hands are contacting the brifters, then maybe you just need time to get used to the new shifting.

But overall from your description, it sounds like the fit is great, just that perhaps the fit of the riv wasn't as bad as you thought. Being one with the bike, and balanced over your bike is key, so its great that all feels right!

[madscot13]

It'll get the same dings and scratches as any other bike. I've come to terms with that concept.

how does one come to terms with that?

[7rider]

.. and there was no dramatic orgasmic "Oh My God this bike is incredible!" revelation like some people have. But by the last five miles I just started feeling very natural on it and I felt connected to it.

I can see that. When you go from one high-quality, well made bicycle to another high-quality well made - and custom - bicycle...I would not be surprised at your statement. I felt the same way going from my stock Seven to my custom Seven. Improved fit...different ride, and yeah...better "connection" to the bike.

And, Mr. SR500...you are SUCH a guy! I was heavily influenced by guys at the start of my riding (even the women who influenced me were more "guy like" in their habits/styles), and consequently, I .. um.. travel light. Tiny Pedros bag. But 90% of the other women I see out there have great big honkin' saddle bags. Like they're going on an expedition. It's a girl thing.

[Starfish]

Lisa, that is a gorgeous, classic bike. LOVE the bee!!

It's a girl thing.

I dunno. I think it might be a personality type thing. My ex-husband always rode with a full trunk rack...he wanted to be uber-prepared for anything. But then, that was how he travelled in a car, too. Me, I can dash off for a long road trip with just a toothbrush. That said, my bike bag is not super big, not super small. I think it is a personality thing.

Lisa, again...gorgeous bike.

[GLC1968]

I always feel a bit like I am riding on top of this great machine. This bike feels more like I am connected to it and I feel in control of it more.

I felt this exact same feeling when I went from both of my first two bikes to my current bike. Mine's not custom, but because I finally got a good fit, I'm amazed how I went from feeling like I was riding a machine to feeling like the machine was connected to me. I never could explain it right and I think you just did!

Congrats! (and it does get better with each and every ride!)

I dunno. I think it might be a personality type thing. My ex-husband always rode with a full trunk rack...he wanted to be uber-prepared for anything. But then, that was how he travelled in a car, too. Me, I can dash off for a long road trip with just a toothbrush. That said, my bike bag is not super big, not super small. I think it is a personality thing.

Ditto. MY DH does the same thing and I much prefer to travel light...especially on the bike!

[Aggie_Ama]

Lisa- Get your DH to take some action shots!!

My saddle bag is a mountain wedge, carries a tube, tire levers, CO2, tampon, small thing of sunscreen, eye drops and a tiny bottle of Aleve. My jersey pockets have cell phone, wallet and food stuff now plus arm warmers in the cooler months. DH is too proud to put one on his bike and carries everything in his jersey pockets. For a while my bike was nekkid (no bag) and looked great but I looked like a pack mule! I can't carry a big bag cause my bike is so tiny, I am going to have to find a handlebar bag before I ride the mountains this fall.

[Mr. SR500]

I can see that. When you go from one high-quality, well made bicycle to another high-quality well made - and custom - bicycle...I would not be surprised at your statement. I felt the same way going from my stock Seven to my custom Seven. Improved fit...different ride, and yeah...better "connection" to the bike.

And, Mr. SR500...you are SUCH a guy! I was heavily influenced by guys at the start of my riding (even the women who influenced me were more "guy like" in their habits/styles), and consequently, I .. um.. travel light. Tiny Pedros bag. But 90% of the other women I see out there have great big honkin' saddle bags. Like they're going on an expedition. It's a girl thing.

Fair enough I use a little 25 cu in bag, and gave Kim a 50 for her new bike. Several of the guys I ride with go bag free and just stuff things into their jersey pockets, but I've also seen some handlebar bags - on womens bike, so maybe a girls thing. So far I've been good to go with my little bag: spare tube, mini-tool, patch kit, CO2 w/2 cartridges, tire lever, and a little cash. I carry my phone, food, and keys in my pocket.

[VeloVT]

I wish I could manage a super small bag. I can pack everything I need into a 45ci bag if I have to, but not much smaller (and I'm more comfortable with the large TImbuk2 bag which is something more like 80ci ). Guess I'll just have to keep working on it...

[bean fidhleir]

Beautiful bike! Now let's hope your Riv doesn't get the displacement mopes.