Just upgraded to a "performance" bike... and have questions, please...
09-13-04, 02:07 PM
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Well, I dropped about $1000.00 about 8 months ago on a basic bike with some minor extras, just to see if I would stick with the sport of road biking...Well, I'm FREAKING ADDICTED, and want to start doing some competition riding.
I came into some extra cash, and decided to go ahead and upgrade my bike. Here's what I picked up:
However, I did pick up the '04 model. The pic is the '05, but they're practically the same bike.
I have a few questions, though.
1) I've been riding about 55-60 miles per day Saturday and Sunday (no stops) on my old bike, and at the end of my ride, I'd feel rather "beat", and would have run about an 18 mph average for the ride. My FIRST ever ride with the Ultimate, and I rode 74 miles without stopping at an average pace of about 19.6mph, and although felt like I had ridden hard, I still felt that I had about another 10 or so miles in me when I finished. Can the equipment make that much of a difference, or was it maybe the adrenalin of just riding the new machine?
2) Today, I have a minor sharp pain in my right elbow, one that I've never experienced before. Could it be that maybe I just wasn't as relaxed as normal, and was rather tight up through my arms that contributed to it?
3) At the LBS, I was actually looking to buy a Cannondale R3000, and was told that one was in stock. When I got there (drove 50 miles on a referral...), they had made a mistake and did not have one. The only bike they had at the R3000 level (that would fit me.... I'm 6'1"...) was this Litespeed Ultimate, which was on sale from $4800 down to $3500 on a year-end closeout promotion. When I got ready to "walk", they asked me if I'd like to take the Litespeed for a spin. I had never ridden a Ti bike, but LOVED it. They ended up giving the bike to me for $3500, but also threw in a set of Dura-Ace pedals, bottle cages, bottles, and a computer w/cadence meter.
Pretty good deal? After doing my research, I think so, but just wanted to talk with some people that are more intimate with the knowledge of this bike than me....
Thanks in advance....
I came into some extra cash, and decided to go ahead and upgrade my bike. Here's what I picked up:
However, I did pick up the '04 model. The pic is the '05, but they're practically the same bike.
I have a few questions, though.
1) I've been riding about 55-60 miles per day Saturday and Sunday (no stops) on my old bike, and at the end of my ride, I'd feel rather "beat", and would have run about an 18 mph average for the ride. My FIRST ever ride with the Ultimate, and I rode 74 miles without stopping at an average pace of about 19.6mph, and although felt like I had ridden hard, I still felt that I had about another 10 or so miles in me when I finished. Can the equipment make that much of a difference, or was it maybe the adrenalin of just riding the new machine?
2) Today, I have a minor sharp pain in my right elbow, one that I've never experienced before. Could it be that maybe I just wasn't as relaxed as normal, and was rather tight up through my arms that contributed to it?
3) At the LBS, I was actually looking to buy a Cannondale R3000, and was told that one was in stock. When I got there (drove 50 miles on a referral...), they had made a mistake and did not have one. The only bike they had at the R3000 level (that would fit me.... I'm 6'1"...) was this Litespeed Ultimate, which was on sale from $4800 down to $3500 on a year-end closeout promotion. When I got ready to "walk", they asked me if I'd like to take the Litespeed for a spin. I had never ridden a Ti bike, but LOVED it. They ended up giving the bike to me for $3500, but also threw in a set of Dura-Ace pedals, bottle cages, bottles, and a computer w/cadence meter.
Pretty good deal? After doing my research, I think so, but just wanted to talk with some people that are more intimate with the knowledge of this bike than me....
Thanks in advance....
09-13-04, 03:19 PM
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Wow nice bike and a nice deal you got there. You mention a pain you didn't have before, you did get the bike fitted at the LBS right? If so are you bending your arms properly?
09-13-04, 03:25 PM
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A new bike, any bike, makes you ride longer and better.. 
and in my case, a yellow bike is even faster..
Beautiful bike!!! really sexy!
and in my case, a yellow bike is even faster.. Beautiful bike!!! really sexy!
09-13-04, 10:37 PM
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Originally Posted by larue
Wow nice bike and a nice deal you got there. You mention a pain you didn't have before, you did get the bike fitted at the LBS right? If so are you bending your arms properly?
I'm going to get it re-checked later this week (the fit). It was a pretty "quick" job since I kept 2 of the staff there one hour after they closed...
Thanks for the comments...I really appreciate it.
09-14-04, 09:05 PM
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Hey, cool bike... congrats. That rear wheel is seriously tucked into the seat tube, ain't it? Also looks like a 12-23 cassette - do you ride any serious hills?? I just bought an 04 LeMond Zurich Carbon/Steel hybrid for $1,750. (full Ultegra and Bontrager Race wheels)... Fits me like a glove, and has a buttery smooth ride... First time out I averaged 18.8 on some rather hilly roads (probably 5,000' of climbing over 66 miles). I'd say a good bike makes all the difference.
BTW... Pledge Lemon Wipes will keep your baby nice and shiney... Ti looks kind of dull/bland if you don't take care of it.
Enjoy! If I see you I'll pedal the other way! Just what I need, yet another person that can drop me like the snail I am!
BTW... Pledge Lemon Wipes will keep your baby nice and shiney... Ti looks kind of dull/bland if you don't take care of it.
Enjoy! If I see you I'll pedal the other way! Just what I need, yet another person that can drop me like the snail I am!
09-14-04, 09:36 PM
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> Can the equipment make that much of a difference, or was it maybe the adrenalin of just riding the new machine?
Absolutely. I went (still have) from a Medici Pro Strada (steel) w/ DA8 to a Litespeed Ghisallo w/ Ult9. No comparison. Immediately went faster than I'd ever gone.
> have a minor sharp pain in my right elbow
Could be you were more "tense" riding such an expensive bike compared to your prior bike. Remember to shift your body positions, shake your arms and wrists periodically as you ride (this does wonders).
> had never ridden a Ti bike, but LOVED it
Awesome. I was aiming for a Merlin Agilis DA9 when the store I bought mine from had a gigantic sale on Litespeeds. I got to try the Ghisallo at Nytro but they wouldn't really negotiate on price. There ain't NO comparison between my Medici and the Litespeed.
> Pretty good deal?
Looks good to me.
Put it this way ... I'd take the Ultimate over the R3000 ... ANY DAY OF THE WEEK.
Enjoy!
Absolutely. I went (still have) from a Medici Pro Strada (steel) w/ DA8 to a Litespeed Ghisallo w/ Ult9. No comparison. Immediately went faster than I'd ever gone.
> have a minor sharp pain in my right elbow
Could be you were more "tense" riding such an expensive bike compared to your prior bike. Remember to shift your body positions, shake your arms and wrists periodically as you ride (this does wonders).
> had never ridden a Ti bike, but LOVED it
Awesome. I was aiming for a Merlin Agilis DA9 when the store I bought mine from had a gigantic sale on Litespeeds. I got to try the Ghisallo at Nytro but they wouldn't really negotiate on price. There ain't NO comparison between my Medici and the Litespeed.
> Pretty good deal?
Looks good to me.
Put it this way ... I'd take the Ultimate over the R3000 ... ANY DAY OF THE WEEK.
Enjoy!
09-17-04, 07:28 AM
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Originally Posted by sorebutt
A new bike, any bike, makes you ride longer and better.. and in my case, a yellow bike is even faster..
Beautiful bike!!! really sexy!
and in my case, a yellow bike is even faster.. Beautiful bike!!! really sexy!
Well, on mine, the "Litespeed" and the "Ultimate" logos are yellow....I'm sure that added at least .2 mph average speed..... Just gotta get that yellow jersey....
09-17-04, 07:34 AM
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BTW...lemon Pledge...never would have thought....but I'll give it a try...
And yes, the rear tire is tucked in to the seat tube quite tight...
Yes, I think the elbow thing was just being tense... I have a bad habit of not relaxing from the shoulders down to my fingers, and I think being on a new ride just magnified it.
I have a 75-mile ride I'm going to attempt early Sunday morning...we'll see if my arms and my butt hold up (that new seat takes some serious "getting used to"....
Thanks for all of the compliments and helpful hints. I appreciate the feedback!
And yes, the rear tire is tucked in to the seat tube quite tight...
Yes, I think the elbow thing was just being tense... I have a bad habit of not relaxing from the shoulders down to my fingers, and I think being on a new ride just magnified it.
I have a 75-mile ride I'm going to attempt early Sunday morning...we'll see if my arms and my butt hold up (that new seat takes some serious "getting used to"....
Thanks for all of the compliments and helpful hints. I appreciate the feedback!
