I got a new bike!!

[Rebekah H]

Yay! I'm over the moon. No more hubby's old mountain bike! I got the Bianchi Via Nirone 7 Dama Sora. She's such a pretty girl!

[Velocivixen]

Congratulations on your new bike. You know, we're going to want pictures. We can be a bit pushy that way. hahaha. No really though, what color? What size? Did you like the stock seat? Gears, etc.? Inquiring minds want to know.

[Rebekah H]

This is my girl! She needs a name, but I need to ride her a bit more to get to know her better. I got the 53cm, the stock seat was a little cheesy and I'm still loving my Terry Butterfly, so we changed that out, it comes with Sora components and I'm hoping to upgrade those to at least 105 in the next year or so. Switching from riding a mountain bike and shifting on flat bars was a little odd for the first couple of miles, but by mile 12 today, I was riding comfortably in the drops. Turns out, my husband sets his bikes up so that you're practically trying to kiss your toes while you ride (he likes it that way) and the positioning of riding in the drops was like riding an upright cruiser after being broken in by DH's bike!

The white handlebar tape will have to go because BLECH. It's pretty, but already dirty! I'll be replacing the wheels eventually as well because the black and red spokes are too boyish for this girly girl.

I went to The Bike Path in Mandeville, LA and the guys there were AWESOME. My husband came with me and they never talked to him unless they were making small talk/being polite. Love them. They worked on dialing in my fit but I didn't worry too much about it being perfect because I don't know what perfect is yet for me + a road bike and my hubs loves wrenching bikes so I have an in-house mechanic.

I can't wait to deck it out in all things Celeste!

[Rebekah H]

Bah! I can't get the link from Flickr to work!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/66773969@N03/6078186675/

[zoom-zoom]

That is one classy, elegant-looking bike! You are going to have so much fun!

[Rebekah H]

That is one classy, elegant-looking bike! You are going to have so much fun!

Thank you!! I already am. Y'all have been so supportive and an incredible source of information since I started riding a couple of months ago.

[khosch]

I went to The Bike Path in Mandeville, LA and the guys there were AWESOME. My husband came with me and they never talked to him unless they were making small talk/being polite. Love them.

Rebekah - I just got my Bianchi from these guys too! I opted for the 105 version, which sadly does not have as much celeste on the frame. They had celeste tape in the store so I asked Graham to tape it up with that. They are terrific and I LOVE the bike, which I have christened Lola. I also replaced the saddle with the Selle Italia Diva (in white of course).

We will see you on the Trace one of these days!

[Rebekah H]

Rebekah - I just got my Bianchi from these guys too! I opted for the 105 version, which sadly does not have as much celeste on the frame. They had celeste tape in the store so I asked Graham to tape it up with that. They are terrific and I LOVE the bike, which I have christened Lola. I also replaced the saddle with the Selle Italia Diva (in white of course).

We will see you on the Trace one of these days!

Lola's a beauty and the addition of the celeste tape is perfect! Graham was also our salesperson. He was pretty funny, which I appreciate because I can never take anything seriously when I am spending (for me) a ton of money. You should have seen me buying land for our house. It was almost embarrassing.

I'm looking forward to riding the Trace after my CF ride in a few weeks. Right now, I'm focusing on building up to keep my rotund derriere on the bike for 60 miles. I know I can do the 30, no problemo, but if I can do the 60 I will feel like Rocky. It's been such a fun process, learning that even though I am insanely out of shape (unless you count round and lumpy) and haven't exercised in years, that my body can do so much more than I ever thought it was capable of. I was running over the summer and got super discouraged when I got a raging case of shin splints that came very close to putting me on crutches stopped my fun. I love the pain and agony of running, but my body just isn't fit for it yet. Maybe next spring, because I'm a glutton for punishment. Hopefully, by then, I will be in much better shape and will have a proper supporting structure for running.

[khosch]

I'm looking forward to riding the Trace after my CF ride in a few weeks. Right now, I'm focusing on building up to keep my rotund derriere on the bike for 60 miles. I know I can do the 30, no problemo, but if I can do the 60 I will feel like Rocky.

Hey, that is terrific! I am 56 years old and just started riding last October - and my shape is also very round But what they say is true - time in the saddle translates into longer time you can stay in the saddle. Congratulations on signing up for the CF run - next year you (and I) can do the MS 150 in October!