acaurora

Hello everybody! Just joined today after looking on here for a few days, which has proven quite useful. I figured I would like to share my story with you all as a way to thank you for all the information I've learned from this forum and other cyclists out there!

Here is my story:
I started biking about a year ago with my roommate, who was an avid road cyclist. Back then I didn't have a bike - we just went to the cycling class at the gym on campus. Later on I ended up buying a bike, a 2008 Specialized Sirrus Sport. It was great being on a bike *outdoors*, but school and work prevented me from biking as much as I wanted to...

Fast forward to last month, which was when I graduated (yay!). I started using my bike more, where I was biking further and faster. However I was finding that I was getting cramps in my wrists a lot due to the semi-upright riding position of the bike. It was then that I decided that I needed to change bikes. Aaaaand so then I sold my <1 yr old bike (sad, isn't it?), and got a 2010 Specialized Allez Sport. It was a whole different experience from that day forward! The ride was so much more comfortable, so much faster, there was less road noise from the bike, it was great... for 3 days. Then I got hit with some bad luck...

The first thing that happened was that I ran over one of those thorn balls. With the Sirrus I had run over these before but never had any issues with it piercing the tube. However this time it was bad. I pulled it out and I heard that dreaded wooosh of air coming out. Being new to cycling (sort of), I had forgotten to buy a replacement inner tube to carry with me on my rides (although I had bought a portable handheld air pump, strangely). So I took it to the bike shop and got that fixed. The very next day, though, I was on the return trip during a bike ride when I began to feel all the bumps in the road. I looked at my front tire, it looked fine. I stopped and looked at the back and it was flat! It turns out a piece of glass had made its way into the tire and punctured the tube. Again, a quick stop to the bike shop fixed that (and I also decided to get some tire liners to protect against those damn thorn balls as well as a replacement tube finally).

So now all is good and well, with both of my tires finally back to normal I can go back to riding again. Granted to everyone here I'm sure it isn't really riding, as my bike rides range only between 10-15 mi, and my average speed is about 14-15mph, haha. But hey, I am doing this for exercise and wellness, and also the fact that being a college student leaves few possibilities for passing the time during the summer with a limited income (from a job that I will not have in a month because I am moving back to live with my parents since I'm done with school now). It has been and will continue to be an amazing experience learning about the bike, how to fix / repair, and all things road cycling for me in the coming years

In any event, on with the pics! A few things to note:
- Yes, I know the kick stand looks stupid, but I am not really a fan of leaning my bike against the wall
- I don't have biking shoes, so I just use the pedals that came with my bike. My roommate that I used to live with has biking shoes and his bikes have those special shoe posts, and I've tried it. Very cool, but again no $$$ =[
- I love the tires on this thing. Black and red is so awesome. (Both tires are black/red, by the way. Apparently Specialized makes yellow versions also.)

The old (not really) bike! 2008 Specialized Sirrus Sport Sorry that I don't have a better picture, I cannot seem to find one at the moment. It has a matte black finish, which is one of the reasons why I got it. I liked the handles too, they were ergonomic and helped to deal with the wrist pain.

The new bike! 2010 Specialized Allez Sport! It's a double, whereas my old one was a triple. It's not even on Specialized's website yet haha.




Reading this on the handlebar post kinda creeped me out...


If you haven't guessed already, I love taking macro(close up) shots of everything. On a random note, my name is Alex, so it's a little funny that the rims are by Alexrims (they have my name on it! sort of...)

I just got a pair of Nike cycling shorts but don't know if I'll use them yet, considering that I have yet to experience discomfort on my bike. However I'm sure they'll come in handy once I start going further distances. Some bike gloves may also be a future investment, but like I said, I am comfortable biking with just a sleeveless shirt and gym poly shorts

UGASkiDawg

Sweet I didn't the Allez came with a wireless router....must be an upgrade related to Di2?

acaurora

Well that's just the cable modem, the router is next to the dumbbell off-camera haha.

On another random note, I saw on a YouTube clip for TopGear that Hammond (one of the hosts) was riding on a Specialized Sirrus LTD with the vibration absorbing gels in the rear fork... I was so envious. That and it was all carbon fiber. /sigh. (I love Top Gear by the way).

nickthaquick1

hey alex, welcome to the board. I was in a very similar position you are in just a year ago. Just graduated from college, and a complete n00b about cycling. Since then i have gone from struggling on a 15 mile ride to breezing through a 45 mile ride. Avg speed from 14 to 17.5 (on similar roads under similar conditions)

Your bike looks awesome! (the new one that is) i wish i had taken the plunge and gone that route..i am starting to max out my fuji newest 3.0's capabilities, looking to upgrade to something like that next year. It kills me to see that kick stand tho!! a bike like that shouldnt be leaning against anything except a wall inside your home when not being ridden. Anyway, good luck with riding! I'm sure you will make improvements quickly

acaurora

Hehe thanks, I guess I will get rid of the kickstand, it is too long so sometimes if I let it stand it can easily fall over if there is a strong enough wind. I just thought it would be useful (and it did once) if I have to stop and check tires / reinflate them

Diegomayra

Nice bike. Welcome to the forum. Any hills near merced? Hwy 140 to Mariposa would be a good goal.

acaurora

mmm that does sound good, although from where I live in Merced that is 35 miles each way to Mariposa via 140... so 70mi total when I am doing only 10 roundtrip haha. But I'll mark it down for a long term goal anyway hehe.

Have you done on this route? Is it very hilly? Flat?

kayakdiver

If you check out my sig you will see I also have a Sirrus. Great bike for running around. I will never sell it. Pretty fast for a hybrid but................. nothing compared to the fun your going to have on your new Allez. Great looking bike. Enjoy and congrats on graduating and the new bike.

Welcome to the forum.

acaurora

Oh you have a Sirrus too? Why does yours say "Sport Disc"? As in, disc brakes? o.O ?

Yeah the Sirrus I always found to be pretty quick. Pity that my Allez doesn't have a matte black finish option hehe

kayakdiver

Yep... it's disc brake. Great for winter commuting in the Northwet weather.

acaurora

Wow. I thought disc brakes were for BMX bikes o.O but that sounds pretty awesome... extreme stopping power for sure I bet!

crazyskillz07

2010? When did that come out???

acaurora

I'm not sure. When I was looking into getting it they said that they had just put it out a few days ago.

crazyskillz07

Awesome considering I'm still waiting on my 2009 Allez Elite to be delivered to my LBS. I hate technology. I feel like I am getting something old and I haven't even recieved it yet.

acaurora

Awww =[ Well remember though, yours is an Elite, which costs 2x as mine, so i"m sure it is better than mine. Besides, I think all that they did between '09 and '10 for mine was add the color (the red tires primarily, that's what they told me at the bike shop).

Also, I think they also said that the only other difference is the naming system, where they dropped everything down a notch (i.e., my Allez Sport is the equivalent of an '09 Allez Double).

crazyskillz07

Interesting... Either way it is just a peice of equiptment right?... lol

acaurora

Well I guess, but the one thing I am *highly* envious of you for are those Shimano 105 shifters (such that the brake levers aren't shifters like how mine are). Don't get me wrong I am fine with the way how mine are, I just think that the 105's are easier to use (I have tried them on a friend's bike). Granted I know I can buy them (when I have $200 to spare), but I am too scared to try to switch them out myself (which is why I probably will ask the bike shop to do it for me, haha).

Don't really know if the 105's are worth the investment for me though, maybe in the long run when I start going past 15mi, haha.

Jynx

love the domokun

acaurora

I know! I got it when I went last year to Japan on a tour and use it for taking pictures of random things. Definitely adds character >

MissKristen 

Gah... I miss my Integra.

Anyway, welcome! Good job on the new bike too... ride the bejesus out of it!

acaurora

From the "What road bike do you have" thread...(I'm just posting this for my own reference hehe)


Okay! So today I had some time to do the aforementioned, except for removing the clear plastic disc in the rear... what do you think?




Will be out biking in the meantime >

Element GT

Right on man! have fun riding it! I have an allez too, though it's a bit old.

Don't worry about your distance or speed. I was doing 8 mile rides @ 16mph just a couple weeks ago and today I just finished a 25.7 mile ride averaging 17.5 =) You're just getting back in the swing of things.

Do you have riding gear yet? ie Shorts and jersey? They actually help quite a bit. and Shoes/pedals also make a good improvement and are quite nice. If you're tight on cash, Craigslist is your friend. I got my shoes for $25.

merckx_rider

No more kid um I mean kick stand...
welcome to cycling!!

Randochap

acaurora

Shorts I have. Jersey, shoes, pedals, nope. They will come later when I have a real job, instead of a "job" (student tech).

Thanks again to everyone for the advice / compliments