Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Omg i got a new bike and i have pics

Sorry. I'm just very very excited. :) Got a new ride today...my first road bike. A 2009 Defy 3:

http://23x.us/pix/bikes/jasmine_01_profile.jpg

99% stock as per the site (http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-US/bikes/road/2266/32193/), but the saddle was swapped for a Giant Unity. Fits me like a glove. A butt glove. In fact my butt feels 100% fine and normal. I think this saddle is exactly the right one for me. Lucky happenstance.

The stock tires were swapped for Vittorio Zaffiras, 700 x 28. They barely fit in there, but fit they do.

http://23x.us/pix/bikes/jasmine_03_portrait.jpg

This bike was returned after 30 days of ownership because the guy liked the Defy geometry but he wanted to upgrade to the Defy 1, so my LBS knocked a hundred off their usual $750 for Defy 3s and I got her for $650. He also threw in some steel pedals as opposed to the plastic/steel cage ones that come with it.

I named her Jasmine. I think she's got a pretty sweet butt:

http://23x.us/pix/bikes/jasmine_02_butt_shot.jpg

Took her out for a little mixed MUP/Road ride. 35.5 miles. First thing I noticed was that being up front, on top of the "compact road design" frame felt so very, very much like flying. It was simply incredible. Second thing I noticed was how much faster I could go without putting out extra energy. Which meant that when I really wanted to move, I had energy reserves into which I could tap. Wonderful feeling when the machine and the engine work together like that. I'm so freaking happy with this.

Today's ride was awesome. I can't wait to do more. The frame was smooth, and I felt less vibration and bumps with this bike than I do with the steel frame and fat tires of the old one. Easier to zip in and out of traffic as well.

http://23x.us/pix/bikes/jasmine_cheshire_06-25-09.jpg

There were some small fit problems that will need solving, like I'm pretty sure those bars are not in the right place. My hands hurt. Not a numbness. Nothing nerve related...actual pain in the meat of my hands. Also the backs of my shoulders are sore. I really tried not to lean on the hoods too much but I just had no choice. SO that needs looking into. And there is an intermittent single, clear CLICK coming from the bottom when I put a lot of pressure on the pedals. Maybe the BB, maybe the crank, maybe the pedals. Doesn't happen when spinning, just when you apply a lot of power. I'm sure the LBS will find it.

Oh, also? I already scratched her.

http://23x.us/pix/bikes/jasmine_04_first_wound.jpg

She was never gonna stay perfect. At least now it is done and I can stop worrying about it. :)

So maybe you're wondering why I named her Jasmine. Well, I'll tell you. My wife's name is Donna. She is a redhead. My hybrid *mart bike is red and I like to ride it. :) Ipso facto, I named it Donna2.

Now, the Defy 3. It's blue. In the 90s there was a little wrestling promotion called Eastern Championship Wrestling, and I was a fan. There was a guy called The Blue Meanie (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Heffron). Silly and goofy and fat, stuffed into super tight clothing, but the guy had skills. Here's his Wikipedia pic:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a2/BlueMeanieAPW06152007SeasideHeightsNJ.jpg/450px-BlueMeanieAPW06152007SeasideHeightsNJ.jpg

That dude is such a Fred. And a Clyde. He went on to work for years, at various points being managed by - and dating in real life - porn actress Jasmine St. Claire (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jasmin_St._Claire).

Since my wife demands that I match my gear to the bike color, I will end up a big ole Clyde/Fred with all blue gear, riding a blue bike. "Blue" is also colloquialism for dirty, and Ms. St. Claire was a dirty girl. The Blue Meanie...uhh...dated her. Yeah. Dated.

And so my bike is named Jasmine. ;)

So I have a road bike. And of course, it's going to rain here in CT for the next freaking week. Or more. Grr.

You might get some flats with a fit that tight. If the tires pick up a chunk of glass it's going to hit the brakes and get pushed down into the tube. Just start watching the tires after you hear an innocent "ping" sound.

I made the same mistake and got 3 flats in 4 rides.


Since my wife demands that I match my gear to the bike color, I will end up a big ole Clyde/Fred with all blue gear, riding a blue bike.

Maybe you should call the bike "whipped".

You might get some flats with a fit that tight. If the tires pick up a chunk of glass it's going to hit the brakes and get pushed down into the tube. Just start watching the tires after you hear an innocent "ping" sound.

I will keep an eye - and ear - out for that. Good lookin' out.


Maybe you should call the bike "whipped".

Dude I married WAY above my pay grade. I know what battles to fight and when to say "yes dear." :) Besides it means I get told to buy more stuff. I'm the big winner here. :D

Yikes! The fit on the front tire is scary tight! Nice looking bike, though...

Very nice new ride, thank you for sharing with us :thumb:! The Defy line up sure is a sweet looking bunch!

Your hand pain might be the result of a new bar style, in the long run it will be much more comfortable once you get used to it. I remember when I got my first road bike, I couldn't believe how twitchy it was. Try and make yourself ride on the hoods as much as you can, it will give you a pretty comfortable place to hang on without over extending you.

Upon further review, what's up with that bar stem? Was that put on in a fitting session specifically for you? If it was put on by the previous owner you should probably inquire about a regular stem that is longer and without so much rise. It would likly do wonders for your comfort.

Enjoy the new ride! Don't you just love that new bike smell?

LOL...I remember the Blue Meanie

Do some core stuff to work on the abs and lower back muscles, and try rolling your hips forward a bit to shift your weight off the hands. A road bike requires some posture change.

Congrats. nice bike!

Do some core stuff to work on the abs and lower back muscles, and try rolling your hips forward a bit to shift your weight off the hands. A road bike requires some posture change.

Congrats. nice bike!

I have a trainer at the gym, and we're working on core stuff every week. It's definietly my biggest weakness right now. I spent so many years protecting a disc injury, then after surgery that repaired it, I got sedentary and REALLY fat. Strengthening my back and abs is definitely a focus right now.

I will remember that hip thing next time I'm out. Took the bike back to the shop this morning and he adjusted the stem a little more. Slightly further out but back at the top of the stem instead of one spacer down. Felt MUCH better on the test ride Also raised the seat about 1/2 inch which seemed to set my hips just so.

Won't be able to ride today to test it all though. I have to get my butt kicked at the gym by my drill instructor trainer. :)

Sidebar: the damn cadence function of my Delphi 3 stopped working about two miles into yesterday's ride. I went to try to figure it out today and discovered that the magnet fell out of the stupid plastic housing. After nosing around the house I found some supermagnets that were thin, so I crushed one and filled the little plastic piece with chips. Then I electrical taped it in there, and viola! Cadence sensor.

Now that I have Macgyver'd a solution and I'm feeling inventive I'm off to the basement to build a jerry-rigged wooden version of one of these (http://www.racorinc.com/products.fx?id=106&fs=1) out of Popsicle sticks and duct tape. Or wood and wood screws, whichever.

Upon further review, what's up with that bar stem? Was that put on in a fitting session specifically for you? If it was put on by the previous owner you should probably inquire about a regular stem that is longer and without so much rise. It would likly do wonders for your comfort.

Coming from a totally upright position on a bike (MTB/Hybrid frame) I'm just not quite comfortable being stretched out yet, so we came up with that position. It seems to allow good delivery of power. Of course it may be totally wrong in the end. I guess I'll just have to keep fine-tuning experiment. We did lower the rise a bit today. But I could see a new stem in my future.


Enjoy the new ride! Don't you just love that new bike smell?

I so, so very much do. I keep wiping dust and dirt off her to keep her shiny. And I sorta just want to look at it all the time. :)

Great looking bike. I am sure you will ride her for a long time.

Nice looking bike, thanks for posting pics and the included storyline :thumb:.

Although it will take some time getting used to riding on the hoods if you are coming over from a flatbar, don't discount what you feel. When I changed over from a flatbar to a roadbike I told the shop that it felt funny riding on the hoods (and described what exactly didn't feel right). They assured me the handlebars were fine and it would just take some time to get used to it. After month(s) of not feeling quite right I decided I was going to adjust the handlebars myself (minor tweak). Low and behold, problem solved.

Basic moral of the story is that you are more in-tuned with your body on the bike than anyone else. Give it some time however before making changes.

Congrats on the new bike!

Congratulations on the new ride. :thumb: I bought my Giant OCR A1 (the prior model to the Defy) about a year ago and still love it. It should give you many years of enjoyment !!!

ECDub, ECDub, ECDub!

Congrats on the bike.