Fifty Plus (50+) - Now I understand what a good bike should be

A few days ago I walked into a bike shop to discuss some new parts when the shop owner came over to me and said I have your new bike. He said it is not actually new, but very close and can be bought right. I was interested.

The bike is a Cannondale Super Six with full Dura Ace and Ksyrum ES wheels. I said the price of that bike is out of my league. He said he just got it on consignment and the owner wants it sold. I made a cash offer and the man eventually took it.

Now I understand what a good bike should be. I have never owned a full Dura Ace bike. The frame is a 60 CM, which is considered XL. With the pedals, water bottle holders, seat and seat bag all on the bike it weighted 17.01 pounds.

I know a lot of the riders on this forum own this quality bike, but I never have. There is a difference. After just two rides I really understand why Dura Ace is considered a very top line product. The Super Six is wonderful. Also, once I am allowed back in the house so I can get a good night of sleep again, all will be good. I thought the wife might be a little upset about spending money like this, but MERCY>

Good on you!

Enjoy!

Enjoy the bike, and your time in the dog house! Some things are just worth a little grief. :)

Congrats on the new bike, it's a keeper. Based on my multiple experiences, you will be riding the bike long after the wife forgives you. Also, a bunch of flowers will speed up the process. While bringing home a fixie a few weeks ago I stopped at the grocery store and bought 3 bunches of flowers.:lol:

Your wife is just being petty. Who needs to make house payments, anyway? Everyone knows you can't ride a house!

Actually, I hope you qualified for the installment plan.

I looked for the "this thread is useless without pictures" emoticon but coldn't find it so would someone else post it?

Nice. Love to see some pics.

Good advice from Allegheny Jet. Of course those of us in this neck of the woods have been forced to switch to candy because he has exhausted the NE Ohio flower supply.:p

Silly people it is a quid pro quo. My Jamis came after new counter tops. The first Scandium frame and build came after a new bed. The CF frame and Dura Ace Wheels came after a new tile floor. Not one day in the dog house. However I am a bit more found of SRAM shifters but I like Dura Ace brakes. But I agree you have to ride a nice bike to know what a nice bike is like.:D

Great find! The wife will eventually get over it and I suggest doing what Mobile did. That should work.

Today the wife and I are going to a home show and I can just imagine what we are going to bring back or have ordered for the house. That's OK, because it means an N+1 for me.

Nice find. Hope to see pics of it soon.

Having been single for years I don't have problems I often see associated with the purchase of a new bike in this forum. Hope you're out of the dog house soon:)

BikeArkansas, If you have not watched this animated movie that I made regarding N+1 you should. Pay close attention to what "she says" beginning at 2:35 into the movie.;)

http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/6272413/n-1-boomer-version?page=3

Why do you think I built a Bike Shed a few years ago. Big enough to take a bed if required.

I really love having a wife that RIDES, it makes things so easy when it comes to bikes! LOL, especially when HER bike cost more than mine!! ;) Enjoy the new bike and take the Mrs. out to dinner and dancing or movie.

Congratulations on your new bike. As for the dog house, dinner and flowers will help.

Wooo hoooo!!!:thumb:

A quality road bike feels like nothing else. I have never owned a bike such as the Super Six but I have ridden a few very nice bikes. You are a fortunate fellow indeed. I now pity myself and my po' old Cannondale Synapse with only 105:innocent:

Seriously, enjoy the heck out of that bike and POST SOME PICS!!!:D

Cheers,

Brian J.

I really love having a wife that RIDES, it makes things so easy when it comes to bikes! LOL, especially when HER bike cost more than mine!! ;) Enjoy the new bike and take the Mrs. out to dinner and dancing or movie.

Actually, this is part of the problem. She does ride and thinks her bike should have been upgraded first. She may have a point, but the deal on this decked out Super Six was too good to walk away from, at least from my perspective.

At this point the flowers will not do much good. All I am hearing now is an Orbea Diva, which is an expensive bike. I am trying to tell her to wait and a deal will come along. Not going over very well.

Flowers = Fixie....Tiffany's = Super Six with D/A

I always upgrade the wife's bike first. Sometimes that makes her mad so I'm not sure there really is a right answer. LOL

It is written: 'tis easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.

It is written: 'tis easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.

Amen.

Really, how many bikes do you buy, and are they really that expensive? Ride guilt free, especially considering how much less you spent than if you bought a new bike.

BikeArkansas, If you have not watched this animated movie that I made regarding N+1 you should. Pay close attention to what "she says" beginning at 2:35 into the movie.;)

http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/6272413/n-1-boomer-version?page=3

What does it mean when my wife was getting the jokes?

Congrats!! :thumb:

I think the wife is correct, it should have been TWO new bikes. ;)


BTW, A good bike is any bike that has traits that pleases the owner/potential owner,etc.

A good bike for me, might not be a good bike for you, and visa versa.. ;)

Actually, this is part of the problem. She does ride and thinks her bike should have been upgraded first. She may have a point, but the deal on this decked out Super Six was too good to walk away from, at least from my perspective.

At this point the flowers will not do much good. All I am hearing now is an Orbea Diva, which is an expensive bike. I am trying to tell her to wait and a deal will come along. Not going over very well.

Ah. In words of Paul Harvey, "Now, the rest of the story." This explains a lot.

Christmas is coming. A new Diva under the tree will go a long way, and will be a deal no matter what the price paid is.

And it will give you the opportunity to play the "but my nice bike is second-hand" card.

Congrats!! :thumb:

I think the wife is correct, it should have been TWO new bikes. ;)


BTW, A good bike is any bike that has traits that pleases the owner/potential owner,etc.


A good bike for me, might not be a good bike for you, and visa versa.. ;)

You have many good points in this post, CE. There will soon be two bikes. Also, I was not sure what phrase to use when describing a "good bike" and I did find a problem with any way I put it. Your definition of a good bike is correct, but I took some liberties with my use of the term "good bike". I already have a couple of road bikes that are better than I can ever ride. However, when this Super Six jumped out at me, I just had to give it a try. If I weighed the bike like then do for advertisements it would come in around 15 pounds. It has the ceramic bearings in the bottom bracket. It has a very expensive seat. Even the handlebar wrap is much more expensive than I would normally purchase.

With all in mind with the build of this bike, I simply have never ridden or owned a bike with all these features. At 220 pounds (or a little more), when I really work at powering over a hill I definitely flex most frames. This one just goes up the hill. When I felt its responsiveness I knew this bike was in a higher league than I had played in before.

Just like in golf where you cannot "buy your game", in bicycling you cannot "buy your ride". However, you certainly can enhance it.

Congrats and enjoy that C-dale.

Friend of mine just brought over a new Synapse with 105 for me to look over. He loves it. Clamped it in my stand and ran it through the gears, trying to explain to him how STI works. The bike was incredibly light and very nice. I was happy for him as it was his first ten-speed.

I know a lot of the riders on this forum own this quality bike, but I never have. There is a difference. After just two rides I really understand why Dura Ace is considered a very top line product.


i always wonder about the real and perceived differences of top of the line equipment. And, although I've only had two sets of indexed components since I got back into cycling about 7 yrs. ago, I couldn't discern a big difference between Ultegra and my current Dura Ace. But, the other day I went and looked at the Ultegra on my gf's Fuji and the Dura Ace on my Masi. It was eye-opening. The Ultegra looks industrial while the Dura Ace was like polished art. I'd love to ride with Record just to see if there is any functional difference. Has anyone here made that comparison? Just wondering what others see/feel.

Must have pictures.....

Just like in golf where you cannot "buy your game", in bicycling you cannot "buy your ride". However, you certainly can enhance it.

15 lbs!!!! Egads.. You are not only on a roll, you on the clouds in "bike heaven"!! ;)

Now, on to the wife, does she get another bike or not? :D

i always wonder about the real and perceived differences of top of the line equipment. And, although I've only had two sets of indexed components since I got back into cycling about 7 yrs. ago, I couldn't discern a big difference between Ultegra and my current Dura Ace. But, the other day I went and looked at the Ultegra on my gf's Fuji and the Dura Ace on my Masi. It was eye-opening. The Ultegra looks industrial while the Dura Ace was like polished art. I'd love to ride with Record just to see if there is any functional difference. Has anyone here made that comparison? Just wondering what others see/feel.

Each shifting system has its own idiosyncrasies. (From only my point of view) I have tried everything from Shimano Sora to Dura ace and SRAM Apex to Red and only once Campy Record. Shimano seems smoother and the big difference between Ultegra and Dura Ace it more visual in my opinion. With Shimano you almost feel the derailleur push into the next gear. SRAM is like a trip switch. Click and it shifts. Campy is very mechanical feeling on the shifts into the smaller gears. You almost feel it drop to the next gear. I haven’t tried the electric Shimano shifters so I can’t comment.

There's "features" and there's "quality". If you can't tell the difference (and lots of people can't) you might not have experienced "quality" yet.

Congrats!! :thumb:

I think the wife is correct, it should have been TWO new bikes. ;)


I've known wives who honestly felt that any money spent on the husband's hobbies was wrong, yet money spent on the wife's hobbies was fine.

That's one big reason I am not married.

It is written: 'tis easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.


I think a single guy wrote that - or a guy who was about to become single. :-)

Mike

Actually, this is part of the problem. She does ride and thinks her bike should have been upgraded first. She may have a point, but the deal on this decked out Super Six was too good to walk away from, at least from my perspective.

At this point the flowers will not do much good. All I am hearing now is an Orbea Diva, which is an expensive bike. I am trying to tell her to wait and a deal will come along. Not going over very well.

Hope you get off with just buying her a new bike. Many years ago I bought a new Canondale road bike, within 30 days we had a new car for her. But they do eventually get over being mad and either leave or forgive.

Enjoy the new bike

Ok, you people want photos - here's a photo...

226905

Congrats!! :thumb:

I think the wife is correct, it should have been TWO new bikes. ;)

So you're saying that for married folks, the rule is N+2?

A few days ago I walked into a bike shop to discuss some new parts when the shop owner came over to me and said I have your new bike. He said it is not actually new, but very close and can be bought right. I was interested.

The bike is a Cannondale Super Six with full Dura Ace and Ksyrum ES wheels. I said the price of that bike is out of my league. He said he just got it on consignment and the owner wants it sold. I made a cash offer and the man eventually took it.

Now I understand what a good bike should be. I have never owned a full Dura Ace bike. The frame is a 60 CM, which is considered XL. With the pedals, water bottle holders, seat and seat bag all on the bike it weighted 17.01 pounds.

I know a lot of the riders on this forum own this quality bike, but I never have. There is a difference. After just two rides I really understand why Dura Ace is considered a very top line product. The Super Six is wonderful. Also, once I am allowed back in the house so I can get a good night of sleep again, all will be good. I thought the wife might be a little upset about spending money like this, but MERCY>
I have a Cannondale T600 and it rides effortless, love it. Your wife will get over it. enjoy