Road Cycling - I am officially a roadie

I just brought my new Litespeed Firenze home tonight. :D :D :D I can't stop looking at it. I also can't stop picking it up and being amazed at how light it is. :p My wife went with me on my last test rides. I rode the others that I was considering, then I rode the Lightspeed just for comparison. When my wife saw the look on my face after riding the Litespeed she said "That's the one, isn't it?" It sang to me.

At first, she thought I was crazy looking in the $1500 range. When the time came and the price was considerably higher she just let me go for it. WOW!

I'll get some trainer time tomorrow to get the saddle just right. Then:
COME ON SATURDAY!!!!!!!!!

Ewwwww, he's a roadie everyone!

STONE HIM

:)

PS: Where do I get on of those wifes I don't have to hide my 'habit' from?

Believe it or not. I imported her from Perth. Via New Zealand.

Which shop did you buy your Litespeed from?

Go the imports via NZ:D

Welcome to the "smooth" side. Nice bike to make the move with too. How bout some pics.

Welcome to the peloton (and to the Litespeed Legion), Avalanche325! The Firenze looks like a fine ride. I have yet to come to terms with the 2004 Litespeed catalogue, so perhaps you can enlighten us: is the frame comparable to that of the Tuscany, except for the latter's fancy tubing (and integrated headset)? Then it's similar to the Arenberg (the previous 'poor man's Tuscany) which I ride--understatement follows--happily. That one, although, has an integrated headset, for which I do not really care.


How bout some pics.

Exactly! :)

I found this on the litespeed site.

http://www.litespeed.com/bikes/firenze.aspx

Now quick go get a new saddle. That generic junker is intended to go straight to the swap bin.

The whole bike is a compromise on the part of litespeed in order to hit a price point. Straight guage tubing with no bends are hardly typicle liespeed hallmarks. But, they managed to get it in at the target price point.

That being said it should be a durable tourer.

Now quick go get a new saddle. That generic junker is intended to go straight to the swap bin.

The whole bike is a compromise on the part of litespeed in order to hit a price point. Straight guage tubing with no bends are hardly typicle liespeed hallmarks. But, they managed to get it in at the target price point.

That being said it should be a durable tourer.

Don't make the same mistake I did and underestimate the Firenze. It has the same geometry as their higher end bikes. It's got the signature curved seatstays and it rides very well. Surprised the hell out of me that it felt so good for being so "cheap"$

Certainly a "starter" Litespeed ti, but I would not call this bike a "durable tourer" :o That sounds so...generic!

It has the curved seat stays and the curvey chain stays. What is does not have, that helps makes it cheaper, is the shaped top and down tubes. They are round. The down tube and seat tube are oversized though. It has a Cane Creek S2 headset instead of the integrated one. Integrated scares me a little actually.

Stock is mostly Ultegra with 105 fr der and bb. Mine is full Ultegra triple. :)

I did lots of test riding. Al, carbon, and Ti. I had planned to spend around $1600, so I figured it would be AL or the Scattante CFR (carbon). The Scat didn't fit me well, so I figured that AL was my only choice. Then I found the Firenze. It does have that smooth ride very much like the Tuscany. It accelerates nicely and climbs like a cat.

It may be the budget Ti Litespeed, but it is a LOT of bike for $2K. I got mine, with triple, for $1845.

Ti, Ultegra, Cosmos, <18lbs............hardly a tourer. Now the saddle, I'm doing 50miles tommorow, I'll let you know. I didn't have the heart to tell my wife that it may have to go. Maybe I'll get luckey, it felt good on the test rides, unlike some others.

It has the curved seat stays and the curvey chain stays. What is does not have, that helps makes it cheaper, is the shaped top and down tubes. They are round. The down tube and seat tube are oversized though. It has a Cane Creek S2 headset instead of the integrated one. Integrated scares me a little actually.

Stock is mostly Ultegra with 105 fr der and bb. Mine is full Ultegra triple. :)

I did lots of test riding. Al, carbon, and Ti. I had planned to spend around $1600, so I figured it would be AL or the Scattante CFR (carbon). The Scat didn't fit me well, so I figured that AL was my only choice. Then I found the Firenze. It does have that smooth ride very much like the Tuscany. It accelerates nicely and climbs like a cat.

It may be the budget Ti Litespeed, but it is a LOT of bike for $2K. I got mine, with triple, for $1845.

Ti, Ultegra, Cosmos, <18lbs............hardly a tourer. Now the saddle, I'm doing 50miles tommorow, I'll let you know. I didn't have the heart to tell my wife that it may have to go. Maybe I'll get luckey, it felt good on the test rides, unlike some others.
Hey, never mind the negative stuff, I looked at one this week at my LBS and you got yourself a beautiful bike. Aside from the things you mentioned to hit the price mark, my LBS told me the fact that the ti is not polished out like other Litespeeds saves them a lot of money, that the process is coslty. It was several hundred less than I paid for my ti bike and they told me that was the main reason. Enjoy!

Congrats on the new Litespeed...............
You have a awesome bike and I believe you got the best out there for the price.
Keep us posted on the new ride and your thoughts

Great. I've been eyeing those to and will go do a lbs to chech them out.None close to me,25 miles or so is the closest.How was the ride?Did you have them upgrade to all ultegra?

Avalanche325, how are you liking that Firenze? I'm looking at one now - need something lighter than the Specialized Sirrus (hybrid) I bought last year. My LBS recommended the Firenze or a Cannondale R1000. Everyone I've asked so far has liked Litespeeds in general, but no one's actually ridden the Firenze.

Thats a bit of a difference in ride, a CD and a litespeed ti.

Congrats, and enjoy!

Of course, your next milestone will be when your wife finds you in the shower, shaving your legs :p.

So far I am loving it. I have about 370 miles on it. It has a great smooth ride, but is still very responsive. I feel it is WAAYYY nice for the $$$$.

I test rode several bikes, not the CD1000, and there was no comparison in the ride until you got up in price to about $2700.

I have my first century in 8 days, so I am putting in some longer, for me, rides. 68 miles last Sat. With the second half of that in the hills. I am sure my Firenze will do me proud.

As far as the saddle goes. I moved it forward about 7mm last week and it feels fine. It will stay for a while at least.

The only problem I have had is that I dinged my rear wheel. Totally my fault. This was while going over a railroad crossing with a really wide gap. I am a bigger rider 194lbs, and I hit it a ton! I guess I still have some MTBer left in me after all. I did get it straightened and trued with some effort.

You definately owe it to yourself to do a test ride.

Thats a bit of a difference in ride, a CD and a litespeed ti.

I haven't had a chance to do a good test ride on either of them yet - around the block doesn't count :) I have to go back when I haven't just spent 4 hours dragging a hybrid uphill - after the ride I did on Sunday, anything lighter would have felt good.

But for the $200 difference between the CD and the litespeed, all other things being equal, I'd have to say the litespeed is a no-brainer. (And I realize all other things are probably NOT equal) Which is why I'm trying to get some opinions.

Maybe they will meet you half way on the price differance (-$100)? It dosen't hurt to ask. My LBS came down $200 with just a "Is that the best price?" All they can do is say no.

Either way. Keep test riding, until you are sure. I was lucky enough to have a whopping big hill 1 block from the LBS.

I just brought my new Litespeed Firenze home tonight. :D :D :D I can't stop looking at it.

A friend of mine just bought a Firenze too. It spent it's first night home in the bedroom :eek: . His wife was feeling a bit left out. :D

Maybe they will meet you half way on the price differance (-$100)? It dosen't hurt to ask. My LBS came down $200 with just a "Is that the best price?" All they can do is say no.

Either way. Keep test riding, until you are sure. I was lucky enough to have a whopping big hill 1 block from the LBS.

Well, I bought the Firenze - thanks for the info. I'll pick it up later in the week, and I can't wait! :D Took it up a nice-sized hill, one which would have had me cursing on my Sirrus ... compared it with the CD 2000 (last year's model was on sale for the same price as the Firenze) ... and came back from the last time around just KNOWING it was the right bike. And my LBS gave me a nice deal too - I get a discount as a member of the local bike club, so the bike with high-end Shimano pedals and full Ultegra triple ended up just under $2000. The 3 months to pay it off doesn't hurt either :)