It will probably be some time before I can ride this bike as fast as she deserves to be ridden but I told myself that once I lost 100 pounds I could treat myself to any bike I wanted. I accomplished that goal a few weeks back. I still have a ways to go but I’ll be riding this beauty when I get there.
This bike caught my eye back before Interbike and I’ve been drooling over her ever since. Luckily the geometry worked out for me. I had this build in mind since Interbike but it was very gratifying to see the build come together. Special thanks to Al at R&A Cycles for actually having everything I wanted in stock (I already had the wheels thanks to Tom Demerly). This wasn’t the cheapest build but it was exactly what I wanted. I took her out for a spin yesterday and I had a grin from ear to ear by the end of the ride. This bike is super stiff and very responsive. The power transfer is AMAZING and it feels like riding on air.
I need to dial in the fit still and will likely lower the stem as I get rid of the rest of my gut. This bike is even more stunning in person than it is in the photos. I wasn’t sure if I would dig the kinked top tube once I saw the bike in person but it really works well on this bike. Besides we all want a mistress that is a little kinky right?
The HED Blackdog aerobars are incredibly nice as well. They are very stiff when climbing out of the saddle though it will take some time for me to get used to not having bullhorns to grab onto. The new Dura Ace components I built this bike with are really cool. They have to be seen up close to be appreciated.
I can’t wait to get my fit dialed in and log some serious miles this weekend. I have never named a bike before but my girlfriend insisted that I give her a name so she would know who to curse at while I’m out training. I’m calling her Collette.
Ha!!! Actually I have ridden that saddle for the last 8 months. It s the most comfortable saddle I have ever ridden. I wasn’t sure what it would look like on this bike but I wasn’t going to mess with a good thing and I actually think the seat works great with the kinked top tube. I think it makes the bike really flow. Of course, there will be people who hate the look of this bike but beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
I’ll try to remember tomorrow. I’ll say that this bike photographs better with the stem level but in person the bike actually looks better with the stem angled up as it is. Strange but true.
Yeah, it was the one they had at Interbike and I got a great deal a few months back. I plan to change the yellow hub out for a black one if possible.
Keep the yellow or paint it red.
Look designed the seat tube/gap to be the aeroest combination on this frame. Not saying no gap is not right or the gap is right. But…On this frame, with the seat tube design…a gap was tested faster then no gap.
Some rear wheels will be faster then others when combined with a gap, with no gap, with certain seat stays, etc. Just as what is position is fastest for you may not be fastest for someone else…this also applies to gaps and wheels and what frame you have.
beautiful… when i lost my weight (80 pounds) i bought myself a new wallet, i wasn’t into tri’s at the time or else i might have bought a new bike too… even though my wallet is pretty damn nice haha. Congrats on the new bike and the weight loss… keep it up its the hardest thing to do but totally worth it in the end. congrats
…boy, talk about a rough crowd. The guy is all excited about his new bike (and should be after a weight loss like that). Rather than give him some kudo’s, suddenly the critics are coming out of the woodwork. Sheeesh.
