Thinking about a new bike

**SadieKate** · 05-23-2005, 03:54 PM

Funny you should mention that, Spazz. I solved the annual and eternal birthday/Xmas gift issue for Bubba this year. I opened a savings account with an automatic transfer every payday. Bubba can pick out his own gift or supplement however he sees fit. Last I heard he's saving up for a Seven Axiom. He also has the hots for a Merlin Cyrene with the engraved head tube.

**spazzdog** · 05-23-2005, 04:48 PM

SK... let bubba know that the guy that owns SEVEN was an engineer/designer for Merlin... took his innovative ideas and started SEVEN.

**SadieKate** · 05-23-2005, 05:00 PM

Thanks, he knows that and that the Seven would be custom, but he just LOVES that engraving. I think I have him talked into the Seven because if you're going to spend that kind of money, go for the gold, urr, titanium.

**snapdragen** · 05-23-2005, 05:07 PM

Another custom option - Vanilla. Don't know what the wait time is, but the bikes I've seen are drool worthy.

**Veronica** · 05-23-2005, 06:10 PM

Originally Posted by Adventure Girl

Anybody remember Veronica screaming, "It's not heavy... It is NOT heavy" when were were in the parking lot before the Top Hat!!?? We almost couldn't pick him up!! I wish I could TIVO real life and play it back!

Well, I never thought he was heavy until I started picking up your bikes. I mean when you're usually carrying around a bunch of books, papers to grade, lunch, keys and assorted other junk in a big honking bag and you take all that off, he seems light. Besides I'm an Amazon. Thom calls me his burly wife. Who do you think did most of the heavy lifting this weekend? Well, really only half.

But still...

So now I'm toying with idea of just changing out wheels and pedals. I've been riding 27s. I've got 23s set to go on now. Once I'm not commuting I don't need my doublesided pedals. Trouble is - when you buy stuff piecemeal like that, it's more expensive. A good set of wheels is nearly $1,000! That's like 1/4 of a new uber light bike! That just doesn't sit well my Yankee frugality which occasionaly rears its ugly head. And of course I'm not going to change my saddle. Anything I can sit on for 10 hours is too important to my personal well being to nit pick over a few ounces.

And then of course there's the pounds I could lose...

V.

**SadieKate** · 05-23-2005, 07:30 PM

V, you can get some pretty nice lightweight custom wheels (like Mavic/Dura Ace) for well under $500 bucks and still have $500 leftover for a really nice town bike. Yeah, these wheels won't look like the factory-built 2 spoke jobbers but those would look funny on Fluffy anyway.

Bubba had the wheels for his Kelly built by the guy (Gorgeous George or something like that) who builds for www.speedgoat.com for an excellent price and he got DT Swiss Hugi hubs. They were less than $400 and built really well.

Since I can ride late Tuesday afternoons, you can always take Amtrak up here, ride with me, stay overnight and then ride home to Antioch in the morning. That would take care of you! You can add to your Diablo-at-a-distance photo collection.

**tatormc** · 05-24-2005, 06:35 AM

Also take a look at Giant's. Last weekend I got a Giant TCR Composite 2 and really love it. I had a beginner Giant before that and getting on the TCR is just great. It's light and handles really well. I did change the wheels to Ksyrium Elite as my hubby says these are better.

**massbikebabe** · 05-24-2005, 06:50 AM

I love my Trek, but if I had endless pockets I'd get me a Seven...been my dream bike for years. On the other hand, my husband has been a loyal Colnago rider for 20+ years. He won't even look at anything else...but then again he rides only steel and not carbon so we can't vouch for the quality of the carbon frames. Look at Seven and if you decide to buy come back east, stay with us, and I'll take you to the shop in Watertown...and then buy you an italian grinder

karen

**Veronica** · 05-24-2005, 07:26 AM

Ahh.... Italians! I plan on eating lots when I'm in Maine this summer.

V.

**slinkedog** · 05-24-2005, 07:55 AM

I really love my Specialized Roubaix Elite, but I would still love to get the all-carbon model with the triple chainring and Dura-Ace components... oh and the Mavic wheelset. I'd be sitting pretty then... but I'd be very poor.

**massbikebabe** · 05-24-2005, 09:14 AM

Sadie...

Bubba is my twin...I love both Seven and Merlin but would go with Seven because they are local fella's with an absolute passion for bikes. Also, Spazz is right...Seven was started by a former Merlin.

karen

**aka_kim** · 05-24-2005, 09:34 AM

So Zippy Vee, let's return to buying a bike. What frame material were you thinking about? Do you want to go custom? You mention the Trek Pilot as being your "style" -- why is that? Are you looking for a more upright position?

I think you need to start test riding. And you know everyone in the TE NoCal contingent will be happy to accompany you in your search

.

And, that gorgeous lugged carbon Titus is MINE! Pick something else.

**SadieKate** · 05-24-2005, 09:40 AM

Originally Posted by aka_kim

I think you need to start test riding. And you know everyone in the TE NoCal contingent will be happy to accompany you in your search

.

And, that gorgeous lugged carbon Titus is MINE! Pick something else.

I think we should each get to test ride whatever she is thinking about.

The Titus - but Kim, it isn't blue! It is cool though with its combo of retro lugs and modern carbon. I'd love to see one.

**aka_kim** · 05-24-2005, 10:06 AM

Originally Posted by SadieKate

I think we should each get to test ride whatever she is thinking about.

Exactly. It takes a community to find a bike, and we're here to help.

Originally Posted by SadieKate

The Titus - but Kim, it isn't blue! It is cool though with its combo of retro lugs and modern carbon. I'd love to see one.

I think red is the new blue, or something like that. A shop in Danville carries Titus, maybe they've got the Modena. I think the Modena may be even prettier than the Merlin Cielo, which I've always considered quite lustworthy.

**Pedal Wench** · 05-24-2005, 10:08 AM

I'll pipe in for the Italian contingency - how about a Bianchi? I'm thrilled with my XL Carbon. I never thought it would make a big difference. However, there's a hill in my neighborhood that I thought was too steep for me to climb, even with my triple - and on a Cannondale R1000, not exactly a big beefy bike to begin with! The first day out on my Bianchi, I tried it, and it was no problem - on a double. The second time, I accidently went up it again - on the big ring! It handles like a dream too - I'm much more secure and confident cornering and turning tighter circles.

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