boomana

Got in a short 20 miles on the Gunnar with the SMP saddle. I still like it a lot, though need to get in a 50-miler + to be sure. The Selle Anatomica was just fine out of the box doing a bit over 60 miles, and this SMP could be as well. Now seems like I have a couple options for bum. Nice.

Rain rain go away.

I'm sure I'll be happy with the bike. I'd be thrilled to be able to ride over 10,000 miles

Thanks Brent! It's true what they say: pics don't do it justice. Joe Bell's paint job is amazing. I can't stop smiling. It's better than I planned. Raffy, I'm going with a mid compact. My physical therapist wanted me to have a triple, but that's not happening. 52/36. I think.

Wow. Gotta say that sucks. I hope physical therapy works for you. Did 60 miles with the Selle Anatomica right out of the box. Perfect. I'm now on my way to visit my baby after receiving this text ten minutes ago.

Do you have a ballpark timeframe for your Kirk yet?

Holland, I will not be getting a power meter. I'm a recreational rider at best. I like being able to go fast enough to ride with friends, but have no racing ambitions or abilities. I'm already almost embarrassed by having a bike(s) way better than my ability, but a power meter would be shameful. I took the Enves off the Calfee, and put on the Bontrager Race X Lite wheels with new Vittoiro Rubino Pros tires. They'd just been hanging in my storage closet, and I'd never ridden on them. I went for a short ride, I'm quite pleased with them, and even more pleased that I'm not feeling the need to buy more wheels.

Nice to see you ready for the big ride this weekend, Dan. Wish I were with you guys.

It's far worse, Gene. I'm an old lady acting like a little girl on Christmas Eve.

I am now. Holland, I'm going with DA9000. I've only ridden Shimano, and unlike the haters hiding out in this thread, I like it. I was going to go Di2, but that's really over the top for where I ride and the type of rider I am, and though I could justify dropping 9 grand-ish on a bike, all things included, it's funny how I couldn't justify going just that bit more. If I'm still able to ride as I do now in five/six years, I'll get another bike, and maybe go electronic. Last day of work before vacation....new bike arriving tomorrow....if I can get through today, life is good.

Thanks, guys. I'm particularly happy with having gone with the stencil rather than the decal. Love the way that looks.

I bought the enves I've been using for the past many months, on both the Gunnar and the Calfee, for the Kirk. I figured I'd get that expense out of the way early. They're already at my lbs waiting for the frame to arrive. What's funny is I'm not a white bike person either, but after months of obsessing about color choices, this is the one that I felt good about every time I went back to it. I wanted a color scheme I wouldn't be tired of in six months or two years, but made the frame pop. I just wanted a clean, classic, and a bit retro look. I think Joe nailed it.

I'm good with saddles, but thanks, Dan. I'm going with a Selle Anatomica (have both a vintage brown and black to try) to start, but if it doesn't suit me, I'm taking the Brooks off my Gunnar and starting there. I have the SMP I want to put on the Gunnar anyway. The bike turned out a little more primary colored that I had envisioned, but I think once it's built up, I'm going to be thrilled. I don't think the pics can show how the pearl white, cobalt blue and candy red will show up in the sunshine.

It will arrive on Saturday. Depending on when it shows up and how busy Vince and Ethan are that day, I may be riding on Saturday evening

^ You can do a century before that. In six months, I went from feeling faint after three slow miles to being ready to ride 165 in a two-day event. I'm old and out of shape. You're young and ready to go. Congrats on the new bike. On good news, I just got another email from Dave. He got the frame and will send it out tomorrow morning. Apparently, the UPS driver broke his tooth during lunch, and stopped to go to the dentist before making the rest of his deliveries.

Bah. As the this morning, Dave was expecting to both receive and send out my frame today. As of five minutes ago, he still hadn't received the frame, meaning the bike won't be in Florida this week, meaning it won't be build up until early/mid next week at best. I'm starting to get really frustrated. So close and yet...........

Come to Sebring first weekend in December. John, Mike, Raffy, and I will all be there.

Happy belated!

I also have a Lezyne S Caddy. I carry phone, ID, cash, and snacks in my jersey.

I have an orange Road Holland jersey that I like a lot. On more exciting news: Dave emialed me and it looks like he's expecting the frame today/tomorrow, and said he'd have it shipped to me by the 21st/22nd. I'm biiting the bullet and paying for faster shipping rather than UPS ground. I really want the bike built up and ridden around a couple days before Sebring. Looks like it can happen.

This. More bike riding, not less.

Okay, that did not look like fun.

Happy birthday to you!

So after my saddle misadventures, I went straight from yesterday's ride to a local shop and tried out a couple saddles. I rode an SMP pro for about a half hour and absolutely loved it, but it was too narrow and my sitbones were right on the edge and not happy about it. Found out today that there's a slightly wider model, the Avant, so I bought it, risking a bit over $200, but after yesterday's audition, I'm thinking it's worth the risk.

Great kitty. She seems to have settled in quite quickly, and nice that she's so affectionate.