I'd like to introduce you to...

[uforgot]

Very nice! Have a blast on it!

[kaybee]

Beautiful bike! Congratulations. Love the "basic black." It's like the little black dress of the bike world!

KB

[Owlie]

Very nice. I love the black and white.

[ClockworkOrange]

Yesssss, love the colour of the bike, really smart and tasteful.

Happy times and safe riding on her.

Clock

[Cait]

Yay, congrats! I also got my first road bike this week (Bianchi Dama Bianca) so I share your excitement.

The paint scheme is sweet. One of the hardest things for me to find was a bike that didn't look too feminine. Yours definitely fits my taste

Enjoy!

[OakLeaf]

Very nice.

[sjane]

Love the matte black!

[Seajay]

The set up looks really neutral. Great! Its possible the hands/neck issues are caused by a handlebar that is a tad wide. Since the Secteur is the "men's" version of the Dolce...it may come stock with a bar intendeded for someone with wider shoulders. It also is going to come stock with the men's saddle.
Have fun with your new bike

[esmorin]

1) awesome bike!!! I got a Dolce earlier this summer and I LOVVVE it!

2) to the not-so-newbies out there - why is the "pie plate" such a newbie mark? I know they get yellow and yucky...but don't they actually serve a purpose like preventing a situation like ncsrbug described? This isn't the first time that I've heard that 'real' cyclists don't keep them on the bike...anyone know why? i am just curious. i want to take mine off, but am afraid that my first ride with it off, it would be just my luck, my chain would get sucked into my wheel!

[WindingRoad]

I take my scissors to the pliable pie plate ones, just makes the hubs easier to clean when I wipe my bike down. They are supposed to keep you from shifting the chain off the cogs into the wheel but most derailleurs have a setting that won't let you do that anyways. I have yet to drop a chain off my cogs back there and I take that plate thingie off all my bikes even my cheapie commuter/hybrid. The reflectors on a road bike can be dangerous. Those wheels spin really fast and if a reflector comes off while you are going down a hill it's going to hurt someone. That's why they make you take them off in order to race. Plus they are really rinky dink too, they come off rather easily.

[sgtiger]

New bike, yay! It looks fast and fun. I hope you have many happy miles with it.

[esmorin]

Thanks for the explanation!

[Gowest]

Classic black and white....love it....of course my last few frames have all been black and white.....

lose the reflectors......my first road ride and my buddy David ripped them off and threw them in the bushes......never had the ring on the rear cassette. Oh and he laughed at me for going on a 30 mile ride with a camelback...(mountain biker before road cyclist)

oh - and with a bike that fast...consider clipless pedals.

[Nolagirl]

A couple of niggles, like my hands getting sore on the hoods inbetween my thumb and forefinger and a bit of neck strain but

Lesley,

That is one FINE bike! I test road a Specialized Dolce Sport and loved it - like butter. Just couldn't afford it. I am a total newbie, haven't been on a bike in 15yrs and just bought my entry-level road bike. Jamis Ventura Sport (new and got it less than MSRP). I had my 3rd ride today, did 18 miles and suffered the exact same issues. Got off the bike about an hour ago and my neck is still tense. Anyone have any idea what causes that or what I may need to adjust?

[Jiffer]

Sweet bike! Now all you need is some pink handlebar tape. Haha!

Have you had or are you planning on getting a professional bike fit? Very important.