I got a new bike!

[fatbottomedgurl]

Niiiiiice! Another shortie here (I ride a 50cm and carry all might height in my torso). I've ridden my bike about 250 miles and decided I definitely want to get a compact bar. I was noticing some elbow problems, plus I just couldn't reach the levers well. I ordered one at the LBS today. Full size bars for us little gals doesn't make sense.

[Trekhawk]

Congratulations on your new bike.
Enjoy!

[Triskeliongirl]

Thanks so much everyone!

I road this morning, and the fitter was absolutely right. I felt too stretched out and couldn't ride in the drops. Spent most of my time in that position behind the drops or on the tops. I also talked to the people at the ride that were fit by him, and they all looked great on their bikes and raved about their fits. I was definitely faster. I hadn't mounted a computer yet since the bars were temporary, but judging my time rel. to DHs I was definitely faster. Just sailing up the hills. It really accerlerates well. This is the first bike I ever head that was BOTH responsive AND stable. JUST AMAZING!

So, after lunch I went to the shop and told him how the ride went. I also looked at the bar he proposed (called the 3T ergonova team, colors even match my bike, as its spec'd on the cervelo R3, my bikes sister but with more aggresive geometry: http://www.thenew3t.com/details.aspx...rgonova&d=TEAM ).

First, he let me try it on another built bike in the trainer to see how it felt. The feel was great. It has rounded drops that felt good in my hands, and not just a short reach to the hoods, but also to the levers from the drops, and shallow so I don't have to go too low which he though was causing me problems on the temporary bar. It felt great so then I committed and he put the carbon one on my bike. Then he set the levers up in different positions, and went out riding as he made adjustments. He was also trying to assess whether I needed a stem change or not but we decided I didn't. It took all afternoon, and he only wrapped the bars when everything was finalized.

Everything feels wonderful, I can ride on the hoods, drops or tops. So, ITS ALL DONE! And I finally found a shop (and fitter, the owner) I trust.

I can't wait to go for a long ride tomorrow with the new bars, but I know its just perfect now.

[Triskeliongirl]

OK guys, here is a picture of the final setup with new bars I took outside a starbucks at todays ride start.

If I liked him on the ride yesterday, after the fitting I had yesterday he was 100% even more amazing today. The fitter was right on about the new bars. I am very comfy in the drops, hoods and tops, and used them all in the brutal headwind. I was 10% faster on the same course I road a few weeks ago, with stronger headwinds and no drafting since I road alone today. He also made some saddle adjustments yesterday, so overall what impressed me today was the feeling that my body was positioned to optimize power transfer. I just felt so much stronger, like more energy was going into motion, as well as the most comfortable I've ever felt on a bike.

I decided to really take advantage of the fit that came with the new purchase to let him set it up as he thought best (but keeping my saddle height and KOP position as set by the guy that made the custom crank the same). Because I never could find a set back enough post, I used to sit on the back end of the saddle. But he was able to set it further back so that while my KOP stayed the same, I am now sitting inside the frame like I should. He also was able to tilt the nose a tad more down than my other seatposts It made all the diff in the world, in terms of power transmission AND comfort in the drops.

But the most amazing thing, is when I got the bike home, and measured the tip of the saddle to where my hands contact the hoods, the reach on my new and old bike are identical! But I still feel more powerful on Spock.

The only final change is we have some shims on order to bring the brake levers in a tad.

Yeh, he could weigh 15 lb, but my custom crank and brooks saddle that I need cuz of my accident injuries put him at 16.3 lb (that's with everything, saddle, pedals, water bottle cages).

Yes, Silver, we started with stock parts, but substituted out the seatpost for a carbon Look ergopost 2, the bars are the carbon 3T ergonova team that come on the 09 R3, and kept the original stem since its as light as any carbon one and stiff enough for me since I am not a large rider. He also subst. the 12/25 casette for a 12/27, and of course put my custom crankset on. I believe the wheels are also an upgrade. Everything else is full Dura-ace.

For now the bars are wrapped in black tape, but I saw a bike on the cervelo owners site wrapped in red that looked nice, so maybe when I need new tape I'll try that.