imacflyr3

I've been riding a Schwinn hybrid for a year and doing pretty well with it. I've put nearly 1000 miles on it, plus time on the trainer. Ever since I bought it, I've been drooling over various road bikes.
Last weekend I dragged my wife and daughter up to the Chicago area to go to a couple stores we don't have here. We first went to REI and then to Performance Bikes. Well, long story short... I picked up my new road bike on Sunday afternoon from PB!!

To go along with it, I jumped in with both feet so to speak, and picked up some shoes and cleats. This is my first attempt at clipping into the bike!



The weather and work didn't cooperate over the last couple days, so I hadn't been able to try out my new ride...

...until tonight!!


I went out tonight to brave the wind to go on a shakedown ride. Less than a mile into the ride and I could not believe the difference between this and the hybrid. The wind had almost no effect on me. The rolling "hills" around home felt like nothing. It's amazing how much more power is transferred to the ground with this bike! I put in just over 13 miles and barely broke a sweat.

I'm completely sold on road bikes!!! ...God help me!!

chefisaac

Thats an awesome bike!

A little tip: keep the hybrid and use it to commute around town. It is harder to pedal and weighs more and it will make you stronger and faster on your road bike. At least that is what happened to me.

Street Pedaler

It's a whole new ballgame, isn't it? I made the switch from a hybrid to a roadie last summer. I waited a couple of months to go clipless, though. You're right, it's a completely different feeling. Oh, not to be the bearer of bad news but, as to the clipless pedals, you're gonna fall. Just accept it. It happens to just about everybody. But, when you do, buy yourself a cup of coffee and just say, "Yeah. Now I'm official!". LOL. Beautiful bike. Congrats.

lenny866

very cool!

todayilearned

Are those Shimano 105 pedals? Wondering if you're the same guy who joined R/#Bicycling once.

imacflyr3

They are 105's.

I don't think I'm the same guy.

Juan Foote

Nice ride you have there, looks sharp. Enjoy.

10 Wheels

Love the Red on it.

nymtber

In a world of super glossy road bikes...

I really REALLY like that bike! Been getting a drop bar itch lately, even though I prefer my flat bars and v-brakes. I think I will stick with my Sirrus though, I just feel more comfortable on the flat bar and with stop-on-a-dime V-brakes...

Now...that frame on a flat bar road bike....

Seve

Great looking bike !


Enjoy the ride

Mr. Beanz

Nice bike, yeah you waited too long!



Someone needed a brake adjustment ...... V V V V

RichardGlover

Red bikes are perceived to go faster, relatively speaking.



Nice bike. Lemme ask you, since I have the same insulated bottle you do... what, if anything, do you think you're going to do with that black loop that's attached under the cap?

boy scout 161

I have the same bottle and I assumed it was for hooking your finger into the loop to pull the bottle out of its cage.

imacflyr3

Thats exactly what I use it for... it makes it much easier to pull out of the holder and to keep hold of it while I'm riding and drinking.

Mr. Beanz

I've never used insulated bottles and have never seen that before but could it be something that allows you to pull out the insutlated reservoir for cleaning?

Never mind, I looked it up on the Polar site.

imacflyr3

I put another 14.75 miles on it tonight. I could definitely go much further, but I'm riding with my 17 year old daughter. I'd much rather spend the quality time with her right now!

I just can't get over how effortless this bike makes riding. I'm planning on possibly stretchin it out this weekend! We'll see!

Thanks for all of the compliments!

CJ C

100% awesome!

that is one darn sexy bike, probably as much fun to look at as ride?

which performace bike you go to? I just was at the one on halsted & Diversy last week, and the one in northbrook two weeks back didn't see any scat bikes in black.

imacflyr3

Thanks!
It is fun to look at! When I'm not riding it, it's sitting in the trainer in the middle of the living room. I find myself looking at it more than the TV sometimes!!

I went to the Schaumburg store on Golf Rd.

Street Pedaler

HA! That's funny. My Madone sits in the living room, too. lol

Seattle Forrest

That's a great looking bike! Sounds like it's a nice riding bike, too.

You and I share a paint job.

I'm glad to hear about someone getting a new bike and loving it.

ill.clyde

Mine is in my bedroom (during winter, when on the trainer) on her side of the bed

Street Pedaler

Beautimus!

imacflyr3

Well, I got out today for a much longer ride. I rode 50.65 miles this afternoon. I'm not sure I was looking to ride THAT far, but once I started going, I just wanted to keep going! I hadn't taken any sort of snack with me. I had to stop about 8 miles from the end to get a fresh drink and a couple power bars.

Oh, and in the interest of full disclosure, I managed to take my first 0 mph clipless fall today as well!! DOH!! I went to turn around a post at the corner of a bike path at one of the busiest intersections in Champaign and before I realized what was going on, my speed fell to 0 and I was laying on my side/shoulder! After a quick curse word or 2 and a quick inspection of the bike, I was off again! So, I managed to scratch the right brifter and put a small tear/scuff in the bar tape at the end of the bar! Grrr!