Terrierman

I swore I would never own a drop bar road bike because I just didn't see the need. I had a very nice flat bar road bike in my Coda Elite. Well, never say never. Saturday I bought a Scott Speedster S20. It's a mid grade road bike, aluminum frame, carbon fork, 105 flight deck, 105 FD, Ultegra RD. The drive train is a compact double paired with a LBS made 12-27 10 speed cassette. Tried Selle SMP and had to have it - very comfortable. The owner of the LBS (Cycles Unlimited in SGF Mo) is a fitter and he took the time to put the bike on a trainer and set it up for me. Wound up putting on a raised stem - the bars are just about saddle height. Friday it is going back for a set of wider bars which he strongly recommended but didn't have in stock. One of the things he did during the fitting was to make a change in the position of the clips on my Keens and also put a couple of washers on the pedal spindle to move them out a centimeter or so each. Took it for a nice 30 mile break in ride yesterday morning and really liked it. Just goes to show you, you never know.

Monoborracho

You're ruined. The old Coda will now gather dust for a while.

NOS88

And another one joins the obsession. I can see it now... Dateline 2012 - Local man cited for not getting a building permit. His explanation? "I was just putting up a shed for my bicycle collection." Yet, his shed was 30 ft by 40 feet and housed over 200 bicycles.

Heart_Rate

Welcome to the club :-)

dynodonn 

Along with "Never say Never", I not one to say "Flatbars are Forever" either since a drop bar may suit my needs someday, that is when I find what I consider the right shifter/brake combination that I like in helping me navigate my daily urban traffic commutes.

howsteepisit

Just goes to show, ya never know, even when ya think you do. Congrats on the new ride, enjoy the SW MO riding. Take lots of water.

Louis

Way to go, T-Man!

jppe

Glad you found something that will have you out on the roads even more! Woooff! Wooooff!!

stapfam

Started riding MTB's in 1990- never had an inclination to go road- why should I? I can do these 100 mile road rides with just a change of tyres and Flipping the stem and still do a pretty good time. Can even do commutes into work and that is 30 miles away but I can still get up on those hills and have fun doing the XC rides that get me a way from the traffic and the idiots driving on them.

Then I walked into the LBS and saw this little road bike that was sitting on the rack. Not too expensive and good colour and it fitted me. Might aswell find out what this road ridiing is all about so it came home with me.

I now had to learn how to ride with my head between my knees- Get used to doing a 50 mile ride on the road in a morning and get a new helmet.

That was 4 years ago and I soon learnt that the bar has to be 4" below the saddle- That stock wheels are no good- Performance tyres do work better and that I had bought too cheap a bike. There were other expenses to come in like "Quality" bib shorts- Assos Top Coats and a far better bike.( Or Two)

I enjoyed this road thing and a couple of long hard centuries- and a few trips to the Alpes did not change that opinion. I was getting too old for serious Mountain biking and being a roadie was suiting my Elder Status. But there was something lacking. At times those roads were boring. I got fed up doing the same rides locally that you are restricted by the roads and even the hills were not a challenge anymore. I still enjoyed the road riding but there was something lacking.

So this year the MTB has got a few airings again. Fun has come back -So has the Air of being totally shattered after a mornings riding and the realisation that I have to get a lot more fitness back.

By all means go to the "Dark" side if you want but remember that going up 15% scree and rock covered slopes for 1 mile at a time is still fun. I have.

chipcom 

Excellent, nobody can resist the POWER OF THE ROADIE SIDE!!!

MidSouth

Cycles Unlimited is my LBS of choice in the Springfield area also. I usually work with Jason, the service manager. He is also a certified fitter. He built up my Niner all rigid 29er mountain bike in May, and in June my wife got the Scott Sportster P4 hybrid. They will spend whatever time is needed to ensure you have the proper setup for handlebars, stems, seats, pedals, etc. A drop bar road touring bike is next in line for me, just starting the information gathering stage.

doctor j

I always knew there was hope for you.

Terrierman

You're about the only one.

I seem to go steady by jerks. Not only a road bike, but a compact double - - I'm really pushing the envelope.

Beverly

What took you so long to make this decision

Terrierman

Long?

RonH

It's about time.
Now what's that famous saying? Oh yeah. "Without pics it didn't happen."

TromboneAl

How wide? I liked the wider bars of my current bike (feel more secure), that I wonder whether I should go even wider.

Daspydyr 

And you've probably sworn off Terriers before too, but look at you. I know I swear off our two yappy terriers everyday!

Terrierman

I'm a pretty big guy and wide across the shoulders. We're putting on 48's which I understand is as wide as they come. Fitter said if they made 50's that would be even better for opening up in front.

Terrierman

Actually no on the swearing off of terriers, my problem is keeping the numbers down. There are six on the place now, the most I ever had (not counting puppies) was fourteen, which was too many. I hunt them and used to show and do other competition stuff with them, so keeping them in numbers goes along with both of those activities. I love terriers and don't think I'll ever be without at least one or two so long as I am able.

Retro Grouch 

Next comes the "R" word. And I don't mean "roadie".

Terrierman

Never say never. There was the coolest R tandem on the Bike to Battle Cancer ride a couple of weeks ago.....

wobblyoldgeezer

Quite.

Enjoy your new bike - sounds like you're doing so already!

My only slight question about the thread is why your first verb was 'swore' rather than 'thought' .. you'd not get a road bike? Were you that doctrinaire? Me, no - I've usually been a roadie, but I like my folder, tandem, fondly remember my butcher's bike with a fixed gear and wicker hamper, and could easily add a Rec.....; greatly admire my daughter and her Dutch bike with its internal gearing and lighting. Its all good, in my view!

(o/t, among the terriers, did you ever have a Wheaten? My Wilfred has gone to chase lamb chops beyond the earthbound now, but was the most delightful, affectionate, not too smart Wookie!)

Terrierman

More a figure of speech than a hard core doctrine if you will, though I really did - not that long ago in the course of a lifetime - consider myself a very unlikely candidate indeed to own one of those horribly uncomfortable looking things. Much less get a kick out of riding further and faster (all things being relative of course). Live and learn I guess.

Have not yet had a Wheaten. Fox Terrier, Jack Russells (forever) Bostons in my youth, they're all good - wonderful little beasts that have no idea whatsoever they are little.

ahsposo 

(I would love to find a Wheaten! Such nice puppies!)