Great Lakes - Greetings

Greetings from Morgan Hill California, home of Specialized Bicycles. This will be my home away from home for the next 6 days while I go through fitting school. Morgan Hill is a nice little town stuffed into a valley just below San Jose. Hard to believe just how green everything is. Ill try to update pics here from the inside of the big "S" building I am not sure how freely they allow picture taking inside. Here is a link to the photobucket page of my pictures so far from this trip.
(http://s30.photobucket.com/albums/c342/garysol1/norcal%202009/?start=all)

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c342/garysol1/norcal%202009/specialized.jpg

"Green" as in smug assh*les, or "green" as in the color of the landscape?

I'm jealous Gary.

Wait. It's taking them 6 days to fit you for your new bike? Or 6 days for you to learn how to fit riders to their bikes?

Either way, that's pretty thorough.

Looks sweet, Gary! Have fun, learn a lot. How sweet is that to parlay your cycling hobby/obsession into a career move :thumb:

Can we pester you for free fitting advice once you get done w/the class? ;)

You missed a great weekend for riding in NE Ohio, though I am sure it was better in N Cali.

Colleen

sweet. if you see boonen walking down the hallway give him a fist bump

we need the low down gary. are you getting fit or becoming a fit expert? didnt you just make a trip to the Serrotta headquarters too? later.

He's learning to fit people. He took the job I was offered.

we need the low down gary. are you getting fit or becoming a fit expert?


Hopefully the later. I am looking through the work books and damn......they are THICK!.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c342/garysol1/norcal%202009/specbooks.jpg

THE TEST AT THE END IS ONLY 25 QUESTIONS! Don't let them fool you!

cool and the gang. (which is me saying my fit needs tweaking). later.

THE TEST AT THE END IS ONLY 25 QUESTIONS! Don't let them fool you!

noted!

Ahh you're taking the BG bachelor's class. Wait till they tell you about the Master's class. :D


btw, I was just there. I took an amusing picture of the front door of that building.

Cool! Keep us updated please.

btw, I was just there. I took an amusing picture of the front door of that building.

Do share......

Some pics of day one. Beautiful day here. The ride was short but steep. 17 miles in length with lots of rolling and about a 5 mile climb of maybe 8%

Pictures from the museum

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c342/garysol1/norcal%202009/museam.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c342/garysol1/norcal%202009/specbus.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c342/garysol1/norcal%202009/cippo1.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c342/garysol1/norcal%202009/cippo2.jpg

Ride pics...

Getting ready to roll out. I rode a 09 SL2 with 7800 on it today with the Roval Aero hub wheel. Nice nice bike. I was especially impressed with the wheel set. Very fast on the flats but still climbed decently.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c342/garysol1/norcal%202009/specride.jpg

http://s30.photobucket.com/albums/c342/garysol1/norcal%202009/?action=view&current=specride3.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c342/garysol1/norcal%202009/specride2.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c342/garysol1/norcal%202009/specride1.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c342/garysol1/norcal%202009/specride5.jpg

Seriosuly, why is that dude wearing a t-shirt?

Seriosuly, why is that dude wearing a t-shirt?

Have to ask him.....seriously. He was a friend of one of the employees....

Interesting picture below. In the lab there is a device that allows the good doctor to measure blood flow to the penis while on the bike. We ran a few different saddles like an Arione and a SLR and repeatedly the blood flow went below 10% of normal which is in the danger zone and will kill the nerves. With the Body Geometry Toupe and Alias blood flow was well above 50% both on the hoods and in the drops which was acceptable. It was a very interesting seminar with numbers that were pretty hard to dispute.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c342/garysol1/norcal%202009/penis.jpg

But you didn't use a real saddle... Like a San Marco Regal....

And what if the toupe kills your sit bones in 10 minutes?

And what if the toupe kills your sit bones in 10 minutes?nonsense! Specialized's Body Geometry system makes the saddle comfortable for everyone.
At least, everyone who survives....


How's the Kool-Aid taste Gary?

I loves my toupe ... but it does take getting used to. Once you're there ... :)

I guess this would be what they mean by: "Good work if you can find it."

the toupe is da bomb.

gary, keep the pics and stories coming. great stuff.

so, did riding the 09 sl2 produce any buyer remorse for you? any at all? just a teeny weeny lil bit?? :)

later.

And what if the toupe kills your sit bones in 10 minutes?

Then try an Alias or a Avatar. Many other options that are worth a TRY

the toupe is da bomb.

gary, keep the pics and stories coming. great stuff.

so, did riding the 09 sl2 produce any buyer remorse for you? any at all? just a teeny weeny lil bit?? :)

later.

No, not really. I liked the SL2 a lot and would LOVE to have one but I am still happy with the direction I went. I may ride the Serotta and hate it....who knows. If that happens then maybe Ill reconsider. I am going to ride the Roubaix SL2 tomorrow. THAT may be the bike I fall in love with.

nonsense! Specialized's Body Geometry system makes the saddle comfortable for everyone.
At least, everyone who survives....


How's the Kool-Aid taste Gary?

Mitch.....Show me one other manufacture who will show you these important blood flow numbers....just one. Show me.
Kool Aid is good when there is nothing to hide.

Mitch.....Show me one other manufacture who will show you these important blood flow numbers....just one. Show me.
Kool Aid is good when there is nothing to hide.

Is Specialized monitoring your computer? If you want help blink TWICE!:p

I don't think anyone else really has invested in a penis-run contraption. For all we know Specialized could have just made something that looked official, and said that it measured bloodflow to your key.
I'm not saying thats what I think they did, I'm just saying that there is more and more industrial propaganda, and if it helps move their product then they will consider employing it.
Think, that's a great way to sell your product over the others;
show scientific data that your lady-pleaser gets more blood flow on Specialized's saddle over the other guys'.
Target the one thing that you want blood going to over the rest of your body, and spin it off.

:thumb:

Pics from today's ride. We rode mountain today at Santa Teresa Park (http://www.singletracks.com/php/trail.php?id=809). It is a rock strewn trail with a major climb with 6 or so sharp switchbacks. It was a great place to try out suspensions. I rode both a S-Works Enduro SL and a S-Works Stumpjumper FSR. While I really liked the Stumpy the Enduro just rocked my world. It goes up almost as well as the Stumpjumper but it comes down like a downhill bike. WOW....is all I can say about this thing....
We also toured the facility and saw where they do all the testing of bikes, components and helmets. I would tell you all about it but Mitch would just say it's all fake...:rolleyes:

Loading up
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c342/garysol1/norcal%202009/dirt2.jpg

On the trail
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c342/garysol1/norcal%202009/dirt3.jpg

My Enduro for the day
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c342/garysol1/norcal%202009/dirt4.jpg

My SJ for the day
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c342/garysol1/norcal%202009/dirt5.jpg

Life size....
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c342/garysol1/norcal%202009/spechw.jpg

I loves my toupe ... but it does take getting used to. Once you're there ... :)

I love(d) my Toupe as well. Then this winter I used an Alias on my cross bike to race and then moved it over to my road bike....:love: - I am starting to feel like the Alias is the best saddle ever manufactured.

...still love my Toupe though...outside.

...still love my Toupe though...outside.

Quick note....I have always installed my Toupe's flat by running a level from the tip to the tail. I was told thats all wrong. I should have been using a small level like 2 inches long and just level the sweet spot. Common sense I guess but I have always done it wrong.

Quick note....I have always installed my Toupe's flat by running a level from the tip to the tail. I was told thats all wrong. I should have been using a small level like 2 inches long and just level the sweet spot. Common sense I guess but I have always done it wrong.

Makes sense. I remember that I have always had to tip the Toupe a tad in order for it to "ride level" when loaded with rider.

Makes sense. I remember that I have always had to tip the Toupe a tad in order for it to "ride level" when loaded with rider.

Apparently mine are tipped up a bit and I have been really happy with them. The one I rode yesterday was at true flat and it was plusher feeling than mine. May be because mine has many many miles on it as well.

Who rode the Pitch? I had that one out at the Demo forrest when I was there.

I'll post the pic later.

How's Brennan ride when he's on the road? I only rode with him on the trail.

Then try an Alias or a Avatar. Many other options that are worth a TRY


The Alias has very dense foam that absorbs sit bone shock, but still avoids perineal pressure. It's still harder than say, a well-trained B-17. I went from a very hard Ideale to the Alias to the Toupe, finidng the Toupe to be the best for support, lack of bad pressure, and freedom of motion. What I don't like is that the Spec BGs are narrow perches. On the leather saddles I can easily adjust my position for spinning, climbing, or no-hand coasting. Not so easy on the Specialized vinyl.

Maybe Spec can work with Brooks to optimize the Imperial cutout.

Quick note....I have always installed my Toupe's flat by running a level from the tip to the tail. I was told thats all wrong. I should have been using a small level like 2 inches long and just level the sweet spot. Common sense I guess but I have always done it wrong.

What's the "sweet spot?" Is it where your bones are or one bone is, or where pressure on the boys is being relieved?

Some Brooksistas say put a level on the horn of the saddle and level that, rather than tip to heel. Others say level the bone support area.

For me any saddle needs to have my sit bone area. tipped up never works, even with a Toupe.

How's Brennan ride when he's on the road? I only rode with him on the trail.

Brennan is cool. Fun guy to listen to. To be honest I didn't see him on the road much. Another class attendee and I went up the road pretty hard together and didn't see to many others except for the regroup areas. Brennan swept on yesterdays mountain ride as well. I am pretty sure he can put the power down when he needs to though :) Who surprised me the most was sales guy Mike. He's a really LARGE guy on a new Transition who is super fast on the flats. I grabbed his wheel for maybe 30 seconds and he then just motored away. Quite humbling...

My toupe feels like angels gently caressing my sit bones.

I suppose you're never going to forgive me forquestioning the validity of a corporate marketing tool, are you Gary?
I'm not saying that it is fake, I'm just saying that San marco or Fizik could come up with the same thing, say "Your biscuit will fall off if you ride that saddle" and sell a f*ckton more of their own saddles.
Hell, if you make saddles and market the word "penis", men will listen.
Really, what's the one part of your body you couldn't live with? Now market that.

Oh and find out if you can get them to take you out to the Indoor Bocce court that's near the campus. Its a heck of a lot of fun!

I suppose you're never going to forgive me forquestioning the validity of a corporate marketing tool, are you Gary?
I'm not saying that it is fake, I'm just saying that San marco or Fizik could come up with the same thing, say "Your biscuit will fall off if you ride that saddle" and sell a f*ckton more of their own saddles.
Hell, if you make saddles and market the word "penis", men will listen.
Really, what's the one part of your body you couldn't live with? Now market that.


Probably not... I believe that Specialized has a patent on their methodology. My wife is probably, at this very moment, getting in her car to drive out here to where I'm typing to smack me down. But, not all "marketing" is "lies".

The kool-aid comment is probably the objection. If you had said "I don't think I believe their numbers" that would be one thing. I think its telling, however, that Armstrong rides on a San Marco... whereas Boonen does not. Which of them lost a testicle? *tongue planted firmly in cheek*

Quick note....I have always installed my Toupe's flat by running a level from the tip to the tail. I was told thats all wrong. I should have been using a small level like 2 inches long and just level the sweet spot. Common sense I guess but I have always done it wrong.


sweet spot as in the jewels? and are you talking tip tail or side to side to for the level position? thank you mr fit dude. later.

I suppose you're never going to forgive me forquestioning the validity of a corporate marketing tool, are you Gary?
I'm not saying that it is fake, I'm just saying that San marco or Fizik could come up with the same thing, say "Your biscuit will fall off if you ride that saddle" and sell a f*ckton more of their own saddles.
Hell, if you make saddles and market the word "penis", men will listen.
Really, what's the one part of your body you couldn't live with? Now market that.

Some times marketing DOES go hand and hand with science. I never said Specialized was the only option out there but I am saying in this test it did out perform both a Arione and a SLR by a HUGE margin in blood flow and they also had just about any saddle made there that we could have tested. WE picked these two. I don't think Dr Minkow, who is the Doctor that designed the BG saddle and was also the person who administered the test while we were there would be willing to tarnish his reputation by faking a simple test. FACT is these saddle's work to improve blood flow which is something I care about. If you don't then that is fine Mitch. I did not create this thread to fight about the validity of a saddle.

sweet spot as in the jewels? and are you talking tip tail or side to side to for the level position? thank you mr fit dude. later.

Where your sit bones will be situated on the saddle ONLY....

Oh and find out if you can get them to take you out to the Indoor Bocce court that's near the campus. Its a heck of a lot of fun!

Cool! By the time I get back to the hotel every night I am ready to pass out....:twitchy:

No new pics today. We were in fit class most all day with one ride thrown in. I rode a Roubaix SL2 with Red. Nice bike. I do prefer the Tarmac though. At this point the front end feels way to high for me on the Roubaix. Maybe after some fit work Ill see if I can't lower it a bit and ride it again. Red rocks!

we need more pics!

i hope my peepee doesnt fall off with my SLR:eek:

Yes... SRAM Red is rocks on toast.

Now you see why I switched from Shimano to Sram, don't you?