i'm wearing sweats to the next ride :mad:
Sweats are even better at times...they are easier to see through in the right light. :p:D

I had her weighed with full bottles at my lbs, and she came in at 26 pounds.

ME, none of the bike weights you see ever include water bottle weight. Two 24 oz bottles is over 3 lbs alone. So you're bike is not the behemoth you are imagining. Now, that doesn't mean you shouldn't buy a new bike, of course. :)

she probably has a 10 lb camera too..

Ok, what type of riding do you do? Oh, centuries, doubles, etc. Check out Bentup cycles in Encino. (http://bentupcycles.com/index.cfm) Dana has a Corsa 24 on the rack, and I think a medium Ti Aero. You need to go high-tech and ride in comfort. With the miles you do, I'd seriously recommend a Bacchetta recumbent. Anyway, do yourself a HUGE favor, head up to BentUp, Balboa Exit off the 101, go north his shop is 3-4 miles down on the right hand side. Just browse and take a few test rides. Of course, if you're OCP, or race UCI then forget it. :)
But if you want to be all relaxed at the end of a 1200k ride like this guy (http://picasaweb.google.com/rob.hawks/ParisBrestParis/photo#5103548876338867650), then consider a bent. :)

Riding a bent on a 1200K is cheating. Just not right.

What is the HID and its battery for? Not enough hours in the day?

She does too much climbing for a bent.

Bianchis are hott. With two 't's.

I like cheap mass produced bikes. Economies of scale means cheap goods for me.

I agree with Pheard. Keep Patsy, get a bike with springs, bounce along the singletrack, and get ddddrrrrrttttyyy.

another bike to consider would be the Litespeed Bella.. Womens specific full Ti bike.. I have seen them with 105 sell for 2k.. you should fit either a medium or large..

http://litespeed.com/bikes/new/bella.aspx

found one onsale w/ultegra, very nice pink color..

http://www.bikesmart.com/index.cfm?menu=browse&cid=BIK&ssid=PAOHADPEDHHGPLCM&ap=2599.00&StartRow=1


Litespeed rep talks about the bella, you need windows media..

mms://84.233.150.200/url1/cycling/374/Litespeed_Bella_256.wmv

If you go down to the tripl chain rings you'll see the Trek 5000 WSD for $1400 and the Madone for $2000. Im sure you can get them for a bit less then that. Personally I dont think you should settle for less then you want. Get an 07 Madone now. They are on sale at great prices because the new models are out. Other then that I really like the Cannondale CAAD 8 and 9. :D Ive found that most Trek retailers will price match other dealers prices, so it pays to do a bit of searching.

ME, I think it is important that you go ride several bikes. You will be amazed at the difference between all bikes that you will only realize after a ride.

Also, you may want to take a gander at the Look 555. I have heard they are selling for sub 2k these days :)

Great advice, and yes they are. I forgot all about that.:o

I haven't seen it yet, but have you looked at Terry bikes? Made for women only, apparently, and somewhere in the general area code of your price range: http://www.terrybicycles.com/cycling_savvy/index.html

That site also describes women specific sizing issues, but I just can't find it right now...

If you go down to the tripl chain rings you'll see the Trek 5000 WSD for $1400 and the Madone for $2000. Im sure you can get them for a bit less then that. Personally I dont think you should settle for less then you want. Get an 07 Madone now. They are on sale at great prices because the new models are out. Other then that I really like the Cannondale CAAD 8 and 9. :D Ive found that most Trek retailers will price match other dealers prices, so it pays to do a bit of searching.

Thanks, Sean. :) I thought about it last night, and I am leaning toward the Madone (but of course). I'm so ditzy, I never dreamed I could get one in that price range. I am now going to start seriously looking and getting my $$ ready to spend. I also will need to sell Patsy, and that is a process in and of itself. But my mouth is already watering...:D

I agree with Pheard. Keep Patsy, get a bike with springs, bounce along the singletrack, and get ddddrrrrrttttyyy.

no, no and no. Well, yes on the dirty part...but I don't need to spend $ to do it and I don't need a new mtbke.

What is the HID and its battery for? Not enough hours in the day?

Night riding, which I love, and double centuries.

Thanks, Sean. :) I thought about it last night, and I am leaning toward the Madone (but of course). I'm so ditzy, I never dreamed I could get one in that price range. I am now going to start seriously looking and getting my $$ ready to spend. I also will need to sell Patsy, and that is a process in and of itself. But my mouth is already watering...:D

Might be a good idea to find one and get the price set and atleast put it on lay away to make sure you can get your size before they sell out. You know how Ive gone through bikes so I believe its just better to spend a bit more and get what ya really want. You ride alot, you deserve it so treat yourself to the Madone.:D I am still riding mine on half of my rides and the Look on the other half.;)

sell Patsy,

:eek: say it ain't so!

I suggest the biggest factors only you know. They are. the ride, your style of riding , and your pocketbook. Lots of cool bikes . Being a roadie i'd go for Colagno if i could.

Well, if you do decide to go for pink custom steel, check out a Soulcraft. Made by a guy that used to work for Salsa. www.soulcraftbikes.com

I think you should consider keeping Patsy, and just upgrade the components. The things that make Patsy such a comfortable ride for you are the frame geometry, handlebar width, stem length and seatpost height. If you want a lighter ride or a smoother rolling/shifting machine...consider getting a full Ultegra or DuraAce group, and a new wheelset.

Your frame, at worst, is maybe 1/2 to 1 lb heavier than most of the 'high-end' frames you're considering...but is totally road-tested by you, and has your utmost confidence...something you can't 'buy'.


I think that's excellent advice, ME, and something to consider.

An addendum to that option is to go to a Serotta fitter with a Fit-Cycle and have everything measured. If you decide to upgrade just your componentry, you have the option of finding the perfect stem/crank length/handlebars/seatpost, and everything else you may need to make Patsy as customized as possible to you. Just the weight you can shed by going with a good wheelset, lighter gearing and CF parts would be significant.

I would have done the same with my old 48cm Dolce, but that frame was the wrong size for me.

Just catching up on this thread...

Patsy really isn't all that heavy. If you compare with full bottles and a decent light setup, yeah, she's a bit heavy. But so is any other bike in that setup. The full water bottles, pump, lights, saddle bag and parts, etc can easily add up to 6-7 pounds. So Patsy may well be just a bit over 20 pounds. Which would make her about the same weight as the Specialized Roubaix Comp I used to ride and quite a bit lighter than my Specialized Allez Sport. Besides, weight is overrated anyway. Even for an ultralight rider on an ultralight bike on a rather hilly ride, the differences aren't huge. I calculated that Vivian probably saved me 20-30 minutes of climbing at Breathless Agony compared to my backup bike (which is heavier than Patsy). And probably lost 2-3 minutes on the long descents.

Not discouraging a new bike or anything... just putting Patsy's weight in perspective. And not discouraging a lightweight bike, either... as you know, I :love: mine.

http://www.scottusa.com/gb_en/product/244/823/contessa_cr1_pro http://www.orbea-usa.com/fly.aspx?mid=a200&layout=viewproduct&taxid=485 Just get one of these and call it a day. You deserve the best don't you?

Oooh .... like the pink accents on it!

ME,
Have you look at the pole lately? It is a sign or just a joke...Orbea Diva is winning!:)
Maybe it is time to up your ante $$$ , you think? :D

Was in the bike shop, and saw the Diva ... it was so pretty, I almost ended up taking it home :D

1 more vote for the Orbea. Setup a pyramid scheme over on RoadBikeReview.com to fund the purchase.

Start up a series of SoCal BF rides, requiring some minimal donation in order to do the ride. The ME bike donation drive.

I sent you a PM with some more info, but we got some super pricing on my wife's new Madone. Who know when it will be built, but should be a great bike. The 4.5 is imported from China if that means anything, a little different carbon and has a traditional seatpost. My wife's Cannondale was a men's frame (50) and just never fit that well, she been on a bunch of bikes (Specialized, LeMond, Trek, and Giant), and nothing fits as well or rides as nice as a '07 Madone WSD in a 51. We took a little gamble but after taking to a couple Trek guys online, decided a '08 5.1 WSD in a 52 was the way to go. So hopefully it will fit even better. Good Luck and have fun shopping for whatever you decide on.

The guys on this Trek blog helped us a bunch:

http://trekroad.typepad.com/trekroad/2007/06/what_size_madon.html

http://www.trekbikes.com/images/bikes/2008/large/madone51wsd_blossomsilver.jpg

I had this built in bias against Tred when I started road biking...not sure why...but I have ridden a few since then and I especially enjoyed the Madone...asking people for bike advice is like saying....Help me pick my next boyfriend......entertaining...but not very helpful...:)

I think you should consider keeping Patsy, and just upgrade the components. The things that make Patsy such a comfortable ride for you are the frame geometry, handlebar width, stem length and seatpost height. If you want a lighter ride or a smoother rolling/shifting machine...consider getting a full Ultegra or DuraAce group, and a new wheelset.

Your frame, at worst, is maybe 1/2 to 1 lb heavier than most of the 'high-end' frames you're considering...but is totally road-tested by you, and has your utmost confidence...something you can't 'buy'.



Hmmm...Ron suggested today that I swap out the wheelset for the new one I bought recently. That may help. I'm still wanting a better bike, but I like Sean's idea of lay-away.

So much to consider....

I had this built in bias against Tred when I started road biking...not sure why...but I have ridden a few since then and I especially enjoyed the Madone...asking people for bike advice is like saying....Help me pick my next boyfriend......entertaining...but not very helpful...:)

You just haven't asked the right people. We'll pick your next boyfriend. He'll be great. Would SoCal BF steer you wrong?

Mary, you should check with Incycle in San Dimas , I think all 2007 Treks are 35% off, but it ends tomorrow.

Hmmm...Ron suggested today that I swap out the wheelset for the new one I bought recently. That may help. I'm still wanting a better bike, but I like Sean's idea of lay-away.

So much to consider....

Um, why did you buy the wheels if you weren't going to put them on? Are they particularly decorative?

Um, why did you buy the wheels if you weren't going to put them on? Are they particularly decorative?

I've been using them as bookends. Got a problem with that?

Mary, you should check with Incycle in San Dimas , I think all 2007 Treks are 35% off, but it ends tomorrow.

Aint there an Incycle in Pasadena now? I know those guys will bump bikes around from store to store for ya!:D

You just haven't asked the right people. We'll pick your next boyfriend. He'll be great. Would SoCal BF steer you wrong?

not a ****ing chance

Mary, you should check with Incycle in San Dimas , I think all 2007 Treks are 35% off, but it ends tomorrow.

Sigh...I'm not sure I can make it out there tomorrow, and unless they have lay-away...well...:o

Sigh...I'm not sure I can make it out there tomorrow, and unless they have lay-away...well...:o

Lay-away.


There's a joke in there somewhere, but I'm not touching it.

Lay-away.


There's a joke in there somewhere, but I'm not touching it.

:rolleyes: The bike would be put on lay-away, Dan...the bike. :p

Aint there an Incycle in Pasadena now? I know those guys will bump bikes around from store to store for ya!:D


They will, but technically Incycle Pasadena isn't a Trek shop and their sale ends tomorrow.

Sigh...I'm not sure I can make it out there tomorrow, and unless they have lay-away...well...:o

They may... I know I made a couple payments for my Lews, but they hadn't been completed yet, either.

buying a bike, unfortunately, is a lot like buying many other items....you read, you research, you talk to people, and then you get a measly ride around a parking lot if you're lucky. Sometimes you luck out and a shop let's you take a bike out for an extended ride...but even then...that's not the same as putting in serious mileage on a bike you intend to keep for a long time. It's like being forced to make a long term commitment to someone who you just had a first date with....sucks, really...

They will, but technically Incycle Pasadena isn't a Trek shop and their sale ends tomorrow.

Realistically that particular sale might end but prices on '07 bikes are not going to be going up overall. Deals will be out there until they're gone. The only snag is there are relatively few WSD models in inventory and they won't be around forever.

buying a bike, unfortunately, is a lot like buying many other items....you read, you research, you talk to people, and then you get a measly ride around a parking lot if you're lucky. Sometimes you luck out and a shop let's you take a bike out for an extended ride...but even then...that's not the same as putting in serious mileage on a bike you intend to keep for a long time. It's like being forced to make a long term commitment to someone who you just had a first date with....sucks, really...

My recent experience has been that if you show up in your bike shoes and have them install pedals for you (vs the normal rat-trap pedals and street shoes, they understand that you are going on a real test ride. The guy at B&L Sports said "Go take it for an hour or two. Take your time".

My recent experience has been that if you show up in your bike shoes and have them install pedals for you (vs the normal rat-trap pedals and street shoes, they understand that you are going on a real test ride. The guy at B&L Sports said "Go take it for an hour or two. Take your time".it's like everything esle. Depends on the shop. I've had that same experience as well...but even an hour or two...as good as that is...is still only a snapshot.

She does too much climbing for a bent.

If you're a good climber on a road bike, you'll climb well on a performance bent. I was looking at the type of riding she does which is distance. First it's centuries, then doubles, then brevets, then you're RAAM qualified asking yourself what the heck you're doing halfway across Kansas. :) Ronsmithjr rides a Corsa and can keep with most uprights on the climbs. I passed and was passing going up Torrey Pines and Potrero today on the Amtrak. I weigh 220 right now, so I climb like a slug. I think Mary would be scary fast on a bent, as she's fast on a regular road bike. The question is, does she want to do a double and finish in pain, or finish in comfort. :)

Here's where she's headed, she just doesn't know it yet. :)

http://www.ultracycling.com/

Ronsmithjr rides a Corsa and can keep with most uprights on the climbs.



Hey I know Ronsmithjr!:D

The question is, does she want to do a double and finish in pain, or finish in comfort. :)

Here's where she's headed, she just doesn't know it yet. :)

http://www.ultracycling.com/

I've read lots of ride reports from Mary and I don't recall her finishing in pain...

If you're looking at Trek; here's Trek San Diego page. It's not in your area, but it does give you an idea of the current price of '08/'07/'06 Trek bikes.
http://treksandiego.com/itemlist.cfm?category=48