I Know I'm Smitten When:
 

I buy something like this!

http://i1111.photobucket.com/albums/...s/P1040101.jpg

http://i1111.photobucket.com/albums/...s/P1040109.jpg

http://i1111.photobucket.com/albums/...s/P1040106.jpg

Yes, I did!

Okay, okay - I'm really, really protective of my Look 566, and I do NOT like to ride it on errands and in crappy weather. I don't want to chance it getting stolen and I don't like abusing it in foul weather. My old mountain bike just doesn't suit me on the road, and the old Centurian I borrowed from a girlfriend doesn't either (and it's not mine, so I'm NOT going to abuse it or risk it disappearing). So, I got it in my little head that I wanted a "beater bike" for a daily driver. Not just any beater bike, mind you. It had to have a certain amount of panache, it had to be capable, reliable, and suit my need to ride like I think I'm a twenty something (or something). I was looking at the likes of "entry level bikes" - Windsor Fens, Motobecane Vent Noir - 105 bikes, and they just weren't what I would term as having "panache". So, I was looking for an "older" bike, and I found this one. It's 19 pounds, it has an Ultegra group, it's a triple, it has the lighter Mavic CXP 33 wheels (I think they may be lighter than the Fulcrum racing 7's I was going to put on it), it's a carbon frame (with aluminum joiners, kinda cool), and it certainly has panache! I'm going to stick a nice bright tail light on it, a big seat wedge, and load my Kryptonite Lock in my backpack and have at it. I really think I'd enjoy this bike on our (sometimes fast) group rides, too, and I'll bet it's a decent climber.

Yes - I'm either crazy or smitten. I'll go for the smitten!

Excellent! Of course you and I seem to have similar requirements.

I've found that the mid-to-late-90s stuff offers a lot of nice bikes for very little expense. I now own two from that era, and love the dickens out of them. Best of luck with your find!

Very nice choice sarals, I bet you begin to look for some bad days to ride the Giant occasionally.

Bill

Flip it and slam it.







I know, I know.....

^^^ With a quill stem?:eek::twitchy:

Nice score Sara. Looks like a climber. Love the vintage look bar and the TTT stem.

A beater bike? Right.

Thanks, fellas! I think I'll be riding the Giant more than on bad days!

I'll post some updated photos when it arrives. It being Christmas week, I don't expect it to get to me quickly, and I told the seller not to rush. When I do get it, I'm going to put a new chain on it and detail it to the nines. As I said, I had considered putting my Fulcrum 7 wheelset on it, but I really think I'm going to leave well enough alone - for now, anyway.

I'm excited!

Thanks, AJ! It's a bit more race bike than my Look, from it's appearance. I think I'm going to be surprised when I ride it!

I can never understand why yellow is not a more fashionable colour on bikes. I owned a Merida Extreme 900 that was yellow and I enjoyed it a lot. My fleet of hire bikes was yellow. But trying to find yellow (or predominantly yellow) bikes is not easy these days.

The Mavic CXP33s have a reputation for being durable, so if they weigh less than the Fulcrums, you might as well stay with them.

Your Giant looks balanced and is well equipped. Enjoy.

:innocent:

:thumb: Thank you!

Where is the "Green Envy" emoticon?

I have the CXP33 Rims on my handbuilts. with 105 hubs they work and are light. Just make certain That you get them checked out by your wheel builder before too many miles are on them as you don't know the history.

I sold my OCR last year to a mate and am now looking for the beater bike for when I retire. I should think you are over the moon with finding this one so ride it- adapt it to fit and don't scratch it.

Very nice Sara! Merry Christmas to you! I like the cheery yellow color as well. Hope you enjoy many fast, fun miles on it!

Nice looking bike. I am envious of you because I can never seem to find deals like that in my area, although others in this area don't seem to have that problem. May you enjoy many safe and memorable miles on that bike. Great Christmas present to yourself.

Having a beater bike rocks!

I've never started with a complete bike. I just equip an old frame with whatever tires and components that I think will best meet my needs. It usually starts out with whatever I can find in my spares box and gradually evolves from there.

The last one I built for my son with my 11 year old grandson's help. It's a Felt aluminum road frame with new-in-the-box, 9-speed Ultegra brifters, 105 derailleurs and, I think, 105 brakes. The wheels are brand new Tiagra hubs with salvaged CXP21 rims. The grandson did most of the assembly and I basically just advised and ran the cables. Of course, now that I've done that, my son is changing jobs and won't be needing a ride to work bike anymore.

My "beater" bikes always see more use than my "good" bikes, and are used on sunny days all-year-long! Great find and it looks like a great riding bike.

Happy holidays.

Sweet, Sara... Congratulations!

Thank you, AzT! Merry Christmas to you!

Well, it's coming to me "pre-scratched", but I'll clean it up in short order. I'm the odd girl in that I love to take care of my "vehicles" :love:.

This bike is turning out to be nicer than I expected, and is becoming real surprise. Yes, the rims are CXP 33, but hubs are Ultegra. They seem to weigh in at around 800 grams all told, which is down there with the Easton EA90's on my Look. Wow. I mean - wow!

I think I found a Ferrari in the barn with this one - and it was on eBay!

Merry Christmas!

I thank you!

I'm pretty sure it's going to see many more miles put in on it than my Look will in the coming year!

Merry Christmas!

I'm a Felt lover, I've met Jim Felt and I love his bicycles! My first true road bike was a Felt F85. I still have my old 2004 B2. I hardly ride it, but it's staying with me!

Your build sounds sweet - and it certainly was sweet having your grandson help! It's a shame it's not being ridden...

Merry Christmas!

"Beater Bike", in this case, is more like the Chevy Volt with the big block in the back seat - it's a real sleeper, I think! It will be ridden, you bet!

Happy Holidays!!

And guys love a girl who knows her tools!

I'm thinking it will be. The new job is a technician setting up and servicing Mikita machine tools. Noteable accounts include Rolls Royce and (ta da) Chris King. Within a 400 mile radius or so he'll be traveling in a van. He's planning to take the beater with him when he drives. How cool is that?