New Bike!

[Veronica]

Wow, congrats! But I thought you were a Rivendell family.

Someone decided I needed a race bike. I had no idea he had ordered it until it showed up yesterday. And then I totally dropped him on the last climb of yesterday's ride.

I'm taking it up Diablo tomorrow, just to the Junction. It will be interesting to see how I feel doing it with a standard compact double and no mountain rear cassette. My Rivendell Legolas has a 46-33 in the front and 11 - 34 in the back. The Cervelo is a 50-34 and a 12 - 25 in the back. That means I've lost all my little gears. When I'm in the 34 - 25, it's comparable to being in the 46 - 34. Not that I've ever ridden in that gear, 'cause I'd be seriously cross chained.

Veronica

[roguedog]

Hmm.. between you and sarah.. i think we need a new bike tire warming party up here in the nor cal area )

then you two can drop the peeps like me with your new rides


let us know how you're liking it over the riv. curious about the juxtaposition.

[jobob]

Ah, another Riv disciple bites the dust.

I'm still getting used to those new-fangled brifter thingies ... I occasionally have a brain farte and shift the wrong way. Apart from that, I like them a lot.

Still haven't parted with my Brooks saddle though, it works well for me.

[aka_kim]

When I'm in the 34 - 25, it's comparable to being in the 46 - 34.

Ouch! Good thing it's a race bike!

And what a great surprise gift from Thom!

[tprevost]

Someone decided I needed a race bike. I had no idea he had ordered it until it showed up yesterday. And then I totally dropped him on the last climb of yesterday's ride.

I'm taking it up Diablo tomorrow, just to the Junction. It will be interesting to see how I feel doing it with a standard compact double and no mountain rear cassette. My Rivendell Legolas has a 46-33 in the front and 11 - 34 in the back. The Cervelo is a 50-34 and a 12 - 25 in the back. That means I've lost all my little gears. When I'm in the 34 - 25, it's comparable to being in the 46 - 34. Not that I've ever ridden in that gear, 'cause I'd be seriously cross chained.

Veronica

I'm interested in how you felt going up Diablo vs. your bikes with the low gears.... I noticed on my compact that because the bike had a 'lighter' feel that I felt more nimble and better able to push the higher gears.... still need some work on the long sustained climbs though AND, I ordered an 11-28 cog so it'll be a bit better....

Anyway, can't wait to read the report on your jaunt!!! Your new bike is SWEET!!!!

[ridenread]

That is a gorgeous bike, and your shoes and gear match it so perfectly

[maillotpois]

Hey there - really curious to know how you liked the gearing after going up Diablo. I had forgotten your Legolas had such small gears, so that must really be a switch. Just wondering how it was.

This is of course partly selfish curiosity, because I am getting a compact (w/12-28 cassette, finally released this month) on my new bike. I did the whole team ride yesterday w/o going into the small chainring on my Colnago (triple) no problem (and that bike is set up w/a 29 small chainring for brevets so it is crazy small). But I suspect there will be some times I miss my easy gear in Death Ride and in training... Ft. Ross comes to mind.

Super long and tortured story as to why I finally went with the compact... Don't want to thread hijack.

Anyway, a further review would be appreciated!

[Chile Pepper]

oooh.... lovely bike! How did the climb go? It took me a while to get used to the compact double, and I was going from a standard double with only seven on the back. Change can be hard, even when it's an improvement.

[Veronica]

FREAKIN! AWESOME!!!!!!

We decided to ride Diablo today instead of yesterday.

I took two minutes off my PB from 2006 - 48:12 from the North Gate. I was pleased that the gearing was fine. I was able to stay in the saddle over Burma Rd. which is a 9% average grade. I was in the 34 - 25 for that part, but I was not in it the entire ride, which I had feared would be the case.

Bike descends like a dream. The handling is very similar to the Legolas. It does accelerate super fast though so I was on the brakes a little more than usual.

Veronica

[jobob]

I did the whole team ride yesterday w/o going into the small chainring on my Colnago (triple) no problem

Please pardon the momentary thread hijack, everyone ...


I so freakin' hate you maillotpois!!!


Okay, that's all. Please carry on.

P.S. If you saw the goddamn ride we were on yesterday you'd hate her too.

[nscrbug]

Someone decided I needed a race bike. I had no idea he had ordered it until it showed up yesterday. And then I totally dropped him on the last climb of yesterday's ride.

I'm taking it up Diablo tomorrow, just to the Junction. It will be interesting to see how I feel doing it with a standard compact double and no mountain rear cassette. My Rivendell Legolas has a 46-33 in the front and 11 - 34 in the back. The Cervelo is a 50-34 and a 12 - 25 in the back. That means I've lost all my little gears. When I'm in the 34 - 25, it's comparable to being in the 46 - 34. Not that I've ever ridden in that gear, 'cause I'd be seriously cross chained.

Veronica

It took me awhile to get used to the 50/34 & 12-25 on my Cervelo. I'll have the bike a year, in May...and I still have trouble getting up some hills (and we don't even really have "hills" here in flatland IL!). If I end up keeping my Cervelo, I may have to think about getting an 11-28 rear cassette to give me a few more lower gears for climbing...as I have seriously used the 34/25 combination (GASP!) on several occasions.

[Selkie]

Thom is such a wonderful friend and husband! May you enjoy many happy, fast miles on your new ride.