Loving my bike...

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Well, I've had quite a little 'journey' in getting familiar with my new Luna custom bike after it arrived a couple months ago...

First, I had a nasty head cold/ailment when it arrived in early Spring. I couldn't ride anything at the moment. I tried, but was having lots of trouble trouble with learning the gearing (going from bar end shifters to brifters). Couldn't get the hang of it at all.

Then came a week of freezing rain and slush. No biking.

Right when the weather turned nice, I injured my hip while roller skating and that put me totally out of commission for 3 weeks. Could barely limp around and terrible pain.

Then my hip got better, and the weather was good!...
Started riding it, but was having trouble with the shifting- kept dropping my chain no matter what I did.
We had to do a LOT of little test rides combined with many minute derailleur adjustments- that took a couple more days of endless adjusting, testriding, and re-adjusting.

Finally, we seemed to hit the magic sweet spot for the shifting smoothness!

Then immediately a week of rainstorms hit.

FINALLY, 2 months after the bike had arrived, the shifting/my health/the weather have all come together, the stars have aligned properly, and I can at last get a feel for how the bike fits me. Yikes but that took a long time! I managed to get like 3 good longer rides on it and everything is humming along, purring like a kitten.

Anyhow, I rode 20 miles today and the bike felt just wonderful. I can now truly say that I LOVE my new bike. It's sweet.
I feel better weight balanced on it, and it feels like I am connected to the machine as opposed to just riding on top of it. I no longer feel like my weight is too far forward on my hands as with my longer top tube bike. I am comfortable in all the various hand positions on the bars- tops, hoods, drops. Plus, I can actually get a firm wrap-around grip on my brakes- a real delight!

It's a honey.



more pix of my Luna Bike




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[LBTC]

BSG - what a wonderful post!!! Thank you! You've made me happy all over again!

I am soooo glad you love your bike! It's the sweetest feeling! And didn't all those delays just make this so much sweeter? Enjoy her every moment!

Will you name her?

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

[Mr. Bloom]

kept dropping my chain no matter what I did.

Silver got me one of these:

http://www.rei.com/product/670913

Wow! What a difference!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Silver got me one of these:

http://www.rei.com/product/670913

Wow! What a difference!

Yes, we have a similar one coming in the mail. DH had some dropping problems on one of his bikes and that gizmo helped a lot.
I don't seem to be dropping my chain anymore now though- I think we got everything fine tuned really well.

Still can't think of a good name. It will come....

[LainiePants]

Wow, that must have been unbearable, having a bike that awesome (and new!) and not being able to enjoy it like it deserves! I'm glad things have turned around for you two.

And I love the matching yellow bar tape! Very slick

[smurfalicious]

Oh my gosh she's beautiful! That color is awesome! I never would have picked it but boy if I ever get a custom job I may have to consider it. She looks so classy with the Brooks and your adorable bag on the back.

*sigh* I know about having toys you can't play with but hopefully tomorrow. At least my not riding isn't from injury, sorry to hear you've been so accident prone lately.

[elk]

wonderful!! I think the spell must have broken...the roads open up and back we go!!

I'm still waiting for a photo of Lisa ON her Luna.....

[Crankin]

Glad you are feeling better, the weather Gods are finally smiling, and you've got the shifting down. Now you will be all set when we ride to your house in July!
OK, it's 5:15 AM and I have to get ready to leave on my commute.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Glad you are feeling better, the weather Gods are finally smiling, and you've got the shifting down. Now you will be all set when we ride to your house in July!

You mean August 1st or 2nd, right?

Yes I've got the shifting down and the derailleurs are finally perfectly adjusted!

[mimitabby]

Yay Lisa!
You won't need that gadget on your nice bike! we had it put on our clunky old tandem, and it helped some of the time. On a nice bike like your Luna, once it's in tune, you should never need that thing. I don't see your inclinometer!

[CarbonCandy]

Oh its gorgeous! Glad you finally got some riding in!

[littlegrasshopp]

now THAT'S a beautiful bike!! I'll bet you have lots of people turning heads to check it out!! So glad you're finally able to ride when you want!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Yay Lisa!
You won't need that gadget on your nice bike! we had it put on our clunky old tandem, and it helped some of the time. On a nice bike like your Luna, once it's in tune, you should never need that thing. I don't see your inclinometer!

Those pix are from a few weeks ago anyway. No, I have not installed my nifty 'Hill-O-Meter' that you sent me just yet.

[Bad JuJu]

Thanks for sharing that great photo--she's such a beauty. My, but you've had a frustrating time of it waiting to get in some good miles, but now tell the truth--it was all worth it, right?

[DDH]

What a great looking bike Lisa, I love it. I'm glad you love it too. Hope to see many more pictures of the things the two of you get to see together.

Congratulations on the stars finally alligning for you.