new bike for wife

[yetigooch]

Well, I finally completed building my wife a new road bike. It took awhile to choose the frame and components but here's is what I decided:

Look 585 Elle (51cm) ; Campy Chorus 11; FSA stem; Ruby SL bar; Fi'zik saddleZipp 202 Tubulars; Look Keo carbon pedals.

weight: 14.3 lbs

My wife and I went on a ride last week and she loves the bike. However, she asked me to ride faster next time (we were already cruising above 22mph into a headwind).....May I should add some weight to the bike..or better yet....I should get a new bike :0)

[Tri Girl]

Pretty bike!!! I guess you're due for an upgrade now, too, huh?
That, or add a 5 lb weight inside the seat tube...

[DDH]

beautiful bike!!! I bet she loves it.

[maillotpois]

that is lovely! my husband doesnt get me jewlery - he gets me bikes! your wife and I are lucky women.

[snapdragen]

I L.O.V.E the pink hoods!

[Kelly728]

Niiiice.
As much as I pretend I don't, I am secretly coveting a pink "girly" bike.

[Roadrunner]

Lovely bike. I am envious. Maybe you shouldput extra weight on it, or get yourself a nice upgrade.

[ehirsch83]

nice bike, but... to play devil's advocate.
Isn't it kind of cruel to put your wife on tubulars? Kind of sucks when she flats out there, why even have the seat bag on the bike? Does she know how to change a tubular, which isn't safe to do on the road anyways, b/c the tire can roll off?

[yetigooch]

nice bike, but... to play devil's advocate.
Isn't it kind of cruel to put your wife on tubulars? Kind of sucks when she flats out there, why even have the seat bag on the bike? Does she know how to change a tubular, which isn't safe to do on the road anyways, b/c the tire can roll off?

The tubulars have Stan's no tube sealant in them (they'll seal any puncture up to a 1 inch gash). This stuff works...I use it in my tubeless mountain bike tires and they have saved me many of flats. As for the seat pack, it carries a canister of Vittoria sealant that will inflate the tire and seal any punctures (a back up to the Stan's sealant). It also carries her cell phone. Tubulars are not as high maintenance as they use to be. the tires are better designed than before and are more puncture resistant (as long as you don't buy cheap quality ones). Why tubulars? Because the ride quality of tubulars is far more superior than clinchers.

[yetigooch]

nice bike, but... to play devil's advocate.
Isn't it kind of cruel to put your wife on tubulars? Kind of sucks when she flats out there, why even have the seat bag on the bike? Does she know how to change a tubular, which isn't safe to do on the road anyways, b/c the tire can roll off?

Let me clarify.....Tubulars have a superior ride quality than clinchers IMHO. This is not a fact but just my opinion.

[Miranda]

What a lovely gift! Beautiful bike. It is one I considered when getting my new roadie this year. Hope she has many happy and safe miles on it.

[Mr. Bloom]

The tubulars have Stan's no tube sealant in them (they'll seal any puncture up to a 1 inch gash). This stuff works...I use it in my tubeless mountain bike tires and they have saved me many of flats. As for the seat pack, it carries a canister of Vittoria sealant that will inflate the tire and seal any punctures (a back up to the Stan's sealant). It also carries her cell phone. Tubulars are not as high maintenance as they use to be. the tires are better designed than before and are more puncture resistant (as long as you don't buy cheap quality ones). Why tubulars? Because the ride quality of tubulars is far more superior than clinchers.

Hmmm...I just learned something!

[7rider]

Let me clarify.....Tubulars have a superior ride quality than clinchers IMHO. This is not a fact but just my opinion.

An opinion shared by many, I understand, although have never experienced myself.

A friend recently built up a Colnago C50 for his wife, but opted for Edge composite clinchers (which where surprisingly easy to remove the tire from for deep dish wheels when we were out for a ride and she did flat). I wonder if he knows about all this stuff. He runs tubulars himself.

Beautiful bike, BTW. My friend also went with the black, white, and pink color scheme and it's a knockout.

[yetigooch]

An opinion shared by many, I understand, although have never experienced myself.

A friend recently built up a Colnago C50 for his wife, but opted for Edge composite clinchers (which where surprisingly easy to remove the tire from for deep dish wheels when we were out for a ride and she did flat). I wonder if he knows about all this stuff. He runs tubulars himself.

Beautiful bike, BTW. My friend also went with the black, white, and pink color scheme and it's a knockout.

I was going to go the Edge composite wheels also (beautiful and awesome wheels)....but the nipples are internal and since I true the wheels myself I would have to take the tubulars off everytime I needed to straighten them out. I went with the Zipps because the nipples are external. I think if Edge had external nipples I would have gone that route.