Giant Liv Invite Comax

[Crankin]

You will love your Crux, Helene.
My Guru is a custom titanium road bike with couplers that allow me to break it apart and travel with it in a regular, airline approved size suitcase, without getting charged more $. It also has a rack and very low gearing. So, for the traveling reason alone, I will keep it, even though we've only traveled with them once in the suitcase. Plus, I had been commuting on this bike, because I can put a pannier on it. Since I got my Silque, I've been so in love with it, I've been either commuting in clothes I can wear all day, bringing my clothes to the clinic on days I drive, or using little backpack that doesn't bother me. Because I am sort of training/preparing to ride in France, on a bike that has 2 less low gears than the Guru, and one less than my Silque, I am sticking to the Silque! Also, I would never have only one bike. At one point, I had 3. For example, last year, my shifter cable broke and got caught up in the brifter on my Kuota. Since I had the short reach brifters that are not made anymore, we had to order the parts from the UK. I would have been without a bike for 10 days, in the beginning of the season (April) if I had not had a second bike.
I don't consider this wasteful at all. This is what we do with almost all of our time. If I want to try another type of riding, I will buy the correct bike and not sell what I have. I sold my mountain bike because it was clear I sucked at it, but now I wish I had a bike for dirt roads. I also wish I didn't sell my little hybrid, Jamis Coda.

[Helene2013]

According to my LBS, he said I should not have problems riding it and he took my measurements and compared with the Amira to make sure it would fit me well. Crossing fingers he's right. It is a more upright position too, at least compared to my Amira.

The main problem with the Kuota was that the fork had a curb at the end of it. So it made the steering less stable for me. No matter what changes I brought to the Kuota, the fork remained the issue for handling.

At the time when I could no longer stand riding the Kuota (I was just too afraid and unstable on it), the store told me that the Amira was more aggressive than the Kuota but more stable too. And so far, I love this Amira, but for the look. haha I just don't know why I can't like it. It just does not "talk" to me. We were riding in Burlington (VT) this weekend and a woman stopped by when we were at a rest area and said: I truly love you bike.

Hummmm it seems everybody likes it but me!!! hahaha

The only reason I would sell the Amira is if the Crux rode just as good on the road....which I'd doubt because of weight and tire width. I don't care if I lost 2km/h speed on it. But it would matter if I could not finish climbing properly. At least the Amira's got such a good kick when you spin those pedals!

The Kuota was a 48. The Amira is a 51 and the Crux is a 49. So we will have to see how it turns out. But for now, it does not scare me... I so hope I'm right as I fell in love with this new beast and it's just a frame...still in the box! hihi

[pll]

One thing to consider: cross wheelsets are typically the same type of rims that you get on road bikes (save for the disk brakes in your case, but disk brakes are starting to appear in road bikes, too), so you can put skinny tires on them or have a spare set ready to go for when the need arises. I know someone who can win road races on her titanium cross bike (heavier than many carbon bikes), despite the more upright geometry, higher bottom bracket, etc. Sometimes it's not all about the bike. Enjoy it! I can't wait to see your pictures of it.

[Helene2013]

Went to my bike shop yesterday to speak to owner about parts for it. It is already being prepared (mechanics thought I was picking it up this weekend...nope! Only in 2 weeks - gotta wait some more). Will bring the other parts I have home and purchased elsewhere as they did not carry those (bar tape, pedal/toe in, etc.)

Starting to look like a bike.

[pll]

So pretty!