MY Guru frame has arrived at the LBS!

[Crankin]

OK, well this bike has a compact double... no one has told me they won't work with a compact. We had no response to our emails, from early AM, which is a bit unusual. DH is on the phone now.
I know that that R700s will be fine... I am just pissed that nothing for small/short people gets upgraded or redesigned like everything else. In fact, I just read something that stated Shimano actually increased the size of some of their shifters. With all of the small women who are on TE, it seems like just this group is enough to show the need is there!
You know, I am not sure what the silver sleeves are, as I have not actually seen the frame (little thing called work). But, I am guessing it has something to do with the s and s couplers.
I did find some innersoles that are specially made for people like me who can't tolerate the thicker ones. Actually, I feel fine riding without any in the shoes, but eventually I will get them.
However, I am surprised at how quickly the frame got built. That's a good sign. It's the components that are causing an issue. At least it appears that i will get to ride this bike before the snow flies.
I know someone from the shop is trolling the internet, looking for comments about them, so I hope they read this.

[Owlie]

Such a pretty blue.

I'm sorry you're having component issues, though.

[laura*]

You know, I am not sure what the silver sleeves are, as I have not actually seen the frame (little thing called work). But, I am guessing it has something to do with the s and s couplers.

The silver sleeves ARE the S & S couplers.

[ladyicon]

Beautiful frame, was it built to your size? I loved the Guru fitting machine in the background, it was the only fitting that actually worked for me.

[redrhodie]

I can't wait to see it done, so I can imagine how you must feel! What color tape are you doing?

[Crankin]

Thanks, Laura. I am not the mechanics person in the family. Although, I know a lot more than the LBS suspects and I am keeping them on their toes, thanks to you guys.
Yes, Ladyicon, I had the Guru fit. So, the frame is good. I can already tell by the head tube and top tube that this will be right for me.
I do love the blue color, and i am not one to obsess about color for my bikes. I chose it, because once, I walked into the LBS shortly after I bought my Kuota, and there was a small sized looking bike, leaning against a wall, in a very similar color that I had a very strong attraction to. It turned out to be a Trek 5200, the bike I had just traded in, but mine was the typical carbon color. This bike just called out to me. Since this is the only time I have actually been "attracted" to a bike, I went with this color.
Yea, I chose bar tape. Black. I m very, ah, hard on tape. I have really nice red tape on my Kuota which is totally scuffed up and dirty, and it got this way after about 2 weeks of riding. As I said, I really don't obsess or even care about color, so this was a no-brainer for me. I was more concerned that I got the same very thin, no padding type of tape DH has been putting on my current bike.
So... the bad news last. LBS called Shimano and yes, they still make the R700s. They just won't be available until DECEMBER. Yea, so DH's bike will be ready next week and I have to wait 3 months? NOOOOOO. They are calling around to see if they can find any, anywhere. I would be willing to try one of the other options, as even the R700s are not as short reach (by about 4 mm) as what I have now. This just sucks. Did all of the big name bike manufacturers use up these brifters in the new 2012 models? Or do they just not care about women? I am thinking of contacting Margo, (Luna) to see if she has any ideas as to where I could find these things!
ETA:
OK, I found the brifters on-line, in several places. Email sent to LBS. Seriously, in their quest to do all things from independent businesses this wasn't tried first? And they wonder why I don't buy most of my cycling stuff there? I don't mind spending the $ for my bike, but I don't need $200.00 jerseys. The owner went kind of ballistic on me last week when I mentioned I won't shop in the newer outdoor/Ibex type store that opened across the street, because I won't spend 3X the amount on stuff like my Shaks, as opposed to getting them on-line. I know this is off topic, but still. Yes, I realize these people want to stay in business, it's good for the town, and there's enough super wealthy people in this town who don't care, but I have the right to feel this way. The woman in the picture with my frame is a new employee and very nice, but she's a real techie/engineer, so totally unlike me, it feels weird. She's trying to keep the peace between me and the shop owner, who still keeps talking to me about how the cycling world doesn't think women will spend $ to get high quality components, and that's why they don't make them in small sizes, etc. Well, this woman is willing to spend, and don't keep talking to me about this.

[Owlie]

Ugh, Crankin, I've gotten the same speech from my LBS, about how manufacturers (and shops) don't think women want to spend $$$ on cycling, so finding higher-end components and frames (and actually, pretty much anything!) for women is much harder--either on the manufacturer side (one of the bikes I've been looking at doesn't have a Ultegra-equipped women's version) or on the shop side (good luck finding a wsd with better than partial 105 on the floor!) He sympathized, but then said there wasn't really a market and that having one around would be a very expensive use of floor space.

[OakLeaf]

But then again, I was just looking, and Ultegra cranks come in 160mm now! Short legs = ok, weetie hands = not ok.