boomana

Congrats, Brent!

Thanks. I was figuring about three months from today, so I'm not far off. Those are my favs, but I didn't even know they existed. Here's what I'm talking about.

I've only changed my mind thirty or forty times so far. I anticipate many more. I'm probably going to talk to Joe, give him a few ideas, and let him choose.

I don't know them, but I'd be willing to lay money on the probability that there are at least a couple of frame builders as...er...colorful as Ray is and with a similar business model.

And I missed this post as I was typing mine. Thanks for the info re JK Special, which is what he is recommending to me based on what I told him about how I like to ride: weekend warrior 40-50 mile rides, lots of solo and some small group riding, pleasure only, and hopefully doing some charity centuries, etc. Guess I'm going lugged!

Thanks, guys! I actually thought of you when I was talking to Dave. I had already pretty much decided to go with mechanical, but talking with Dave helped my decision. His take was that all the new mechanical gruppos are as good as anyone needs (he rides Dura Ace and SRAM Red), but Di2 is as good as everyone says it is, but for most people it's the fun factor of it that makes it worthwhile and the fun doesn't wear off even after hundreds of rides. I'm not good enough of a rider, nor will I ever be, to justify a few thousand dollars worth of that version of fun. If I were riding 300 miles a week in terrain where you actually have to shift a lot, yes, but that's not going to happen. I feel good with my decision. My physical therapist wants me to get a granny gear, so I still have some decisions to make along those lines. The ankle thing has made a leap in improvements in the past two weeks. Thanks for asking. My conditioning is shot to hell, but about a week ago, I had one of those click moments where I just knew I was going to be okay, and I really had been thinking, up 'til then, it was kinda all over for me. I'm back to where I was last year at this time, which is about 15-16 mph and probably 30-40 miles max. That's a really good starting point as far as I'm concerned, even if frustrating. I'm going to take it slow, but the good thing about being injured is that I've taken this time to really focus on my pedaling technique, and am riding far more efficiently than before, have a difference sense of what I'm doing, I'll be over 40 pounds lighter in a couple weeks, and my core is a hell of a lot stronger than when I started out last year, though my legs are weaker. I broke out my rowing machine to help bring back my cardio since I'm going to take the riding thing bit by bit. I think in about six months, I'm going to be back in the game, as they say. I'm motivated, and the Kirk has me really motivated as I kinda feel I have to earn that bike. Parris, about how long was the time between when Dave started the build and when you got your frame? Of course you couldn't! I gave you a wide open door.

He sent the fitting forms and questionnaire.

ETA, I'm guessing, is still maybe three (four?) months away. I'm getting all the measurement stuff done this weekend and check mailed off. He's going to do a blueprint (though that's probably not what it's called), then we'll have a couple conversations, then a week to do the build. The part I'm not sure about is how long it will take for Joe Bell to get to the paint job. Parris may be able to jump in here with at least a ballpark timeframe. I'm going to have Vince from Tune Cycles do the build, and despite all the ShimaNO folks lurking everywhere, I'm going with Dura Ace 9000. On the very good news front, he's changed his decal to something I like better, though I'm not yet aware of the color options for it, which will influence what way I will go with paint. I also haven't decided if fillet brazed or lugged, and I'll probably decide that once I've at least narrowed down paint choices. If he has a creme colored decal option, I have a pretty good idea. It took me a couple hundred hours of obsessiveness to decide on a builder, but I've spent many more hours than that debating paint colors, and am now hopelessly overwhelmed, changing my mind every time I see something else I like.

btw, I am over-the-moon excited!

I just got off the phone with Dave Kirk. I'm going ahead with the build, but I'm going to stay with a mechanical group instead of the Di2 fun I was planning on as it just more expensive than I can justify based on the realities of my ankle and my future riding adventures.

Bought one of these today, a 1UP USA bike rack. Called UHaul for a hitch, and it's almost as expensive as the rack. Oh well. At least I'll stop losing paint on bikes due to the stupid rack I have now.

Let me know. This one really bugs me. Nate, dang. I couldn't do that. I'm a wimp in anything below 60.

Congrats, Brent! Get riding! I did another 20 miles this morning. Still slow, but felt good. I also got a freaking ticket for $166 for failing to yield to pedestrians right near Atlantic. What's messed up is that I had latched on to a group of about 20 people, and I wasn't even at the end, but saw a mother and two small girls waiting near the crosswalk, and I slowed down, unclipped and was waiting to see what they were doing, so the group zoomed on. The mother was holding the hand of the younger, about two, and clearly not interested in crossing the street, as she was bent over talking to the little one. Meanwhile the older girl, about four, takes off into the street. I yell, and the mother leaves the one and runs out and grabs the other, but since I wasn't at a complete stop, and had yelled, drawing attention to myself, I get pulled over. Meanwhile, literally dozens of cyclists are blowing through the light and the crosswalk without even bothering look right in front of us, and I get a ticket, in my opinion, for being stupid enough to separate myself from the group, slow down and care about that kid. No, I did not come to a full stop. Yes, I did swerve into the street to avoid the kid, but it was pretty clear I had one foot off the pedal already, and was yielding. Azzhole could have given me a warning. Not sure how to even deal with this since it's considered a moving violation and could affect my license, insurance, etc. Bah.

Happy birthday!

Love the new bikes, especially the DeSalvo. I did get out this morning for about 20 slow miles. Felt good. Had physical therapy around noon, which also went well. Things are looking up. Also, as of this morning, I am officially 30 pounds lighter than I was on the day the accident happened. Fifteen more pounds to go, but I think a combo of every thing I'm trying to do right now (computrainer twice a week, physical therapy three times a week, weight training three days a week, diet, and now outside riding once or twice a week) can't help but mean good things soon. I'm definitely getting out tomorrow for another ride. I'm hoping in about two months I will be able to join the Florida crew for a group ride.

Yay for Peter. So, I'm definitely planning on getting out for the first time in awhile tomorrow morning. It's supposed to be in the high 30s in the morning, so let's see how my plan plays out in reality.

Happy day-after-birthday!!! Celebrate twice!

Sick and injured people, feel better! CJ, love the pic of you and girlfriend! I'm in bed. My mother's been visiting for the past six weeks, and I'm taking her to the airport at 3:30AM tomorrow. Egad. I'm both sad she's leaving and eager to get my home back to myself. Nighty night, peoples.

I agree with you guys, but it was a group activity so I didn't get to choose the grade. They got steeper, but I was already off the bike by then. I did fairly well on the warm up, which was milder hills. What's interesting is after all the prescription anti-inflammatories I've tried, Kirkland Naproxen works best. I was feeling good by this afternoon, though I had decreased mobility by physical therapy time. My physical therapist, who is also a cyclist, recommends I get a granny gear. Not a bad idea. I'm taking mom to the airport at some ungodly hour tomorrow, but I should have my weekends free to get in some rides. At least I live in the flatlands, so shouldn't be a problem.

happy belated. Sorry I missed this!

Sorry, pigmode. That sounds horrible! Nice! I've been doing well on the Computrainer with low-key stuff, so I tried some higher grade hills this morning. I got to 7.0, and my ankle wasn't having it at all. I could feel it puffing up like a blow fish while I was pedaling. Stopped after a very short time. Sucks. I don't know how I'm going to get my legs back in shape if I keep having to stop as soon as they start working.

pigmode, what happened?

Wowza. Hurt back doesn't sound good on any level. Hope you/it gets better soon.

Yay, Nate. I'm still doing stuff on the computrainer, but last week's sinus infection interfered. I'm in bed already, planning on 6AM tomorrow. Mom's leaving town this week, so I should be freed up to do more weekend riding. Liking physical therapy. Don't know how it' going to affect anything for real, but I'm getting short-term results (is looser when I walk out of the office), and I'll take 'em.

Great pics, Bonnie! And happiest of birthdays to you! Why haven't we been to Bay Bays?