Loving my bike...

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I just had to tell you that I love your bike so much that I emailed Luna today to see about building one for me! I hope you are still loving your new baby! She really is super pretty!!

Wow, Ginny- that is so cool!

Be sure to tell Margo that you got inspired by the pix and description of "Lisa from NY"'s butternut colored bike.

Well I noticed this morning that I've put almost 500 miles on my Luna now, and I know you'll be especially glad to hear that I love this bike more and more every single day. She still does seem brand new to me, though we have totally 'bonded' at this point.
Margo did a TERRIFIC job of translating my many body parts measurements and my desires into the absolutely PERFECT bike for me in every way. I am so utterly comfortable on it and I just could not be more thrilled. My previous elbow pain from my other bike is GONE, I'm faster, and my weight is so nicely centered- I don't have that yucky feeling of tipping forward too much anymore. I feel I can get more leg power behind my pedaling now. I can enjoy the nicer steering of a slightly longer stem too, yet this stem would be too long on my other bike....but not on my Luna. I can ride equally comfortably in all positions on my handlebars- how'd she manage that?? I also discovered that I can ride no-handed on my Luna and not on my other bike....more proof of being well balanced weight-wise. I just can't say enough good things about the bike Margo built for me.

I am even considering selling my beautiful Rivendell at some point in the future (!!) to replace it with a second Luna exactly the same as my current one, (or maybe just the same but with fenders and racks for errands and touring trips, and in another yummy color!). I do like having two bikes, in case one gets damaged or needs LBS adjustments, etc. This Luna does everything for me, and I don't feel the need for a different kind of bike, just a secondary bike pretty much the same.
(Last year I thought I'd go out of my mind not being able to ride the several times I had to leave my one bike in the LBS several days at a time for various minor stuff!)

Anyway, give my regards to Margo and if you need any input or other help don't hesitate to PM me.
If you go ahead with getting a Luna, you should start your own thread and keep us all posted step by step, from the planning stage to the riding!
You know how we all on TE love to hear the details of everyone's new bikes!

[ginny]

That's awesome that you have found a bike that fits so well! I have to admit that I just love the butternut color you chose... in fact, in all my bike shopping lately, I keep telling myself, I'll just pick a bike and get it powder coated a cool mellow yellow . When I emailed Luna, Margo (?) - I mentioned TE, but not you by name. I'll be sure to do that. Maybe she'll give you a screaming deal on the next bike . Did you know there is a picture of your bike on her web site? Not only do the riders look like they fit perfectly on their bikes, but the bikes are SO aesthetically pleasing as well! I'm hoping to have her build me a commuter/touring bike. I just can't find touring bikes that seem to fit well enough, and if I'm going to spend lots of time on that bike, I figured I'd start there then, at some point, upgrade from my beloved bianchi to a custom road bike.... maybe someday...

Congrats again on a well fitting a pretty bike!

[tulip]

Ginny, I have one too, and even though it was originally built for someone else, when I went to visit Margo and check out the bike, it ended up fitting me perfectly, so it's just like custom. I wrote the check then and there and had her send it to me. I'd definitely get another one, maybe an Orbit 'cross bike next time, set up for touring.

[elk]

So what is the process?

Do send her your measurements or do you go to a fitter?

and why did you pick Luna than, say, Sweetpea or Terry? Are there other women "only" builders?

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

So what is the process?

Do send her your measurements or do you go to a fitter?

You take many careful measurements and send them to her. (Unless of course you happen to live near her in Colorado and can go there) It also helps to have someone take pictures of you riding your current bike from the side, so she can see what you are dealing with now. You talk to her on the phone, and describe to her what you like about your current bike's fit, what you don't like, any aches or pains, and what you hope to improve in your new bike, your style of riding and your riding and use goals for the new bike, etc.

and why did you pick Luna than, say, Sweetpea or Terry? Are there other women "only" builders?

I did look carefully at many steel bike builders. It actually took me about 8 months to decide.
I liked the idea of a woman builder who knew a lot about the fit problems women tend to have. This was a big factor for me.
I liked SweetPea, but I was not comfortable with how short a time they had been building bikes, as opposed to Luna's 12 years experience. Also, Sweetpea had a wait list of several years for a custom frame, while Luna was only a few months. (for more comparison, a custom Rivendell is several years wait these days as well) At 54, I'm too old to wait several years for a bike that's comfortable. I got my Luna in 5 months, which I thought was good these days.
I found nothing on the Terry site about building a custom frame to individual body measurements. That was important to me, as I was really tired of riding a bike that 'almost' fit me.
Color was important to me as well, and I liked that Luna could get my bike in any color and special design elements I wanted (i designed my own bee logo). I wanted powder coat too, in matte finish. I couldn't get all those options from Terry.
I don't know of other current women steel custom bike builders with years of experience.
Hope this answers?

[tulip]

I had an acquaintance who had a Luna and she just raved about it. I started looking at Margo's website, thinking, "someday..." I had a very serious crash that broke my old Vitus bike, so I was kindof in the market for a new road bike but in no rush because I was only commuting at the time and had not done any road riding for a year since the accident.

On the Luna website, there was this red bike for sale--pre-built, but I thought it would be too small. When I went to Santa Fe (where Margo was until a year or so ago) to visit a friend, I thought I'd just call her up and talk to her about building a bike for me. So I went there and the red bike was there, and she put me on it, and it fit like a glove, so I wrote a check and she sent it to me. I had it built up by Jill at Proteus and then had a fitting. We didn't have to change out any parts, just tweak the seat position.

If you are interested, just call her up and ask. Her website explains the process pretty well, as does Bleeker.

PS: I had not heard of SweetPea before, and I was very enthused that Margo is a woman builder and understands women's fit issues, works solo (not a big factory), former racer, current rider, obviously knows her stuff, makes beautiful bikes. I want to support small builders like her. Oh, and I only want steel bikes.

[SadieKate]

I liked SweetPea, but I was not comfortable with how short a time they had been building bikes, as opposed to Luna's 12 years experience. Also, Sweetpea had a wait list of several years for a custom frame, while Luna was only a few months.

I think your concern about Natalie's experience is valid. Definitely crossed my mind though she does seem to be going about it the right way with excellent mentors and having you work with professional fitters. Totally understand your rationale here.

Just want to say that the wait list is 9 mos not several years.
http://www.sweetpeabicycles.com/blog/get-your-sweetpea/

Margo did a beautiful job with your bike.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I think your concern about Natalie's experience is valid. Definitely crossed my mind though she does seem to be going about it the right way with excellent mentors and having you work with professional fitters. Totally understand your rationale here.

Just want to say that the wait list is 9 mos not several years.
http://www.sweetpeabicycles.com/blog/get-your-sweetpea/

Margo did a beautiful job with your bike.

Thanks SK.
I should mention that when I was making my decision on which builder almost a year ago, the Sweetpea website did state that their custom waiting list at the time was 2 or 3 years. The time frame changes according to how many bikes they have in the pipeline at any given time of course, so apparently now it is (happily) shorter. 9 months is not bad at all in my opinion.
I'm sure Natalie builds wonderful bikes- they certainly look beautifully made.


I was very impressed with Margo's +/- 12 years of experience in building bikes primarily for women- and that (combined with the 5 months wait list and custom finishes) really tipped the scale for me personally.