Introducing the newest addition to my stable

[SadieKate]

Yes ma'am I am, thanks for asking. We're about to put in the order for the frame. I guess it'll be done sometime in August. I have Chris's recommendations on the components, which I'm researching now. Campy for me, it looks like Centaur for the most part. I may try a compact double... or not. Fortunately I feel well-versed on this topic, largely due to the help of one SadieKate, who is a walking encyclopedia on gearing. Madame, thank you very much! Wheels are a different story. (I'm referring to my lack of knowledge, not SK's.) Wheels are just the big round things that decorate the ends of the bike. Now I'm reading about wheels.

Ah, shucks. Thanks, ma'am. Your can read my thread over on Serotta about the Carmina crank if you really want to make your head swim.

Next to the frame, wheels are the next most important choice for ride quality. Consider carefully, especially since you're a lightweight (no pun intended here).

[melissam]

Melissam - congratulations on the new bike. That sure is a beauty.

Trek -- hey, good to hear from you! I hope you're enjoying life down under!

Ah, sweet!

Bummer about the crankset though - hope you get it sorted (or that it's innocuous and just something that makes the bike YOURS )

I'm more embarrassed that I didn't notice it when I was test riding, checking the bike out. It seems rather harmless -- didn't notice any issues during the test ride. Besides, I'm in the process of getting a custom crankset due to my leg length discrepancy, so the whole thing's likely to get replaced.

Yes ma'am I am, thanks for asking. We're about to put in the order for the frame. I guess it'll be done sometime in August. I have Chris's recommendations on the components, which I'm researching now. Campy for me, it looks like Centaur for the most part. I may try a compact double... or not. Fortunately I feel well-versed on this topic, largely due to the help of one SadieKate, who is a walking encyclopedia on gearing. Madame, thank you very much! Wheels are a different story. (I'm referring to my lack of knowledge, not SK's.) Wheels are just the big round things that decorate the ends of the bike. Now I'm reading about wheels.

Wow - Friday yours will be done? So we know what you're doing over the 4th!

Friday I'm getting the fit dialed in. We think that since the Camena has a shorter top tube than my Trek, I can use a longer stem and the bike will handle better. Funny, I really don't have any complaints about my Trek or its handling. But hey, if it can be even better, who am I to argue!

What kind of wheels are you thinking of getting? I'm pretty sure that SK can give good wheel advice as well as gearing advice...

That is a very nice stable of bikes you have there. And your pup is cute, too. I think you will love the Camena.

I have a Merlin Atreus. It was only made for 2005 and then morphed into the Works line. I got it for a pretty good end of the year deal.

Thanks, ilima -- I'll let Gizmo know that you've joined his fan club! Atreus - very nice! I had to go to the Merlin site to check it out.

Nice stable there! The Camena is very, very classy.

Wow, weird on the crank. Did you contact the seller about that? I'd feel a little cranky about that (pun intended). However, if you post over on the Serotta forum that you're looking for left arm, someone just might have something. That group has an amazing collection of "stuff" stored up. Guess I shouldn't talk.

If you want to know more than you really want about my crank situation on that bike, read here:
http://www.serotta.com/forum/showthr...ghlight=cranky

I'm running a 26-40-50 Record crank and will probably be replacing it with a TA so I can run 26-36-50. I bet your custom crank will use TA rings because you can get so many sizes in so many BCDs.

SK, thanks for the tip on the Serotta forum. I think the whole thing will be replaced by the custom crankset, so I'm not that worried about it. (Which reminds me, I should call Tom Slocum and see if I get a discount for a second custom crankset. It's only money, right?)

Hey, Tom makes custom chainrings - you could probably get a 36 from him. Not sure how far along you are in switching out your crankset, but just in case, here's a link to his chainring page:
http://www.hscycle.com/Pages/chainring.html

Looks like he uses FSA rings or makes his own.

[dachshund]

While we're waiting for the - Ahem - report from milissam,

Ah, shucks. Thanks, ma'am. Your can read my thread over on Serotta about the Carmina crank if you really want to make your head swim.

I am... it is. Glad to see you got that Bocce ball thing under control. But I digress.

Next to the frame, wheels are the next most important choice for ride quality. Consider carefully, especially since you're a lightweight (no pun intended here).

Yes, that's next.

[melissam]

While we're waiting for the - Ahem - report from milissam,

I have a great report to give, but it'll have to wait as we're about to have a party at our house!