Happy Birthday to ME!
This year, it was just Shane & I in Mexico over the holidays. Christmas Eve morning, my birthday, we woke up did my birthday workouts (3.2mile run, 320crunches & 32pushups), bloody marys for breakfast & sat on the deck in the sun. It was fabulous to say the least.
Thankfully for the internet, I got to enjoy all of my wonderful birthday emails and facebook wishes. The best of all came when Shane handed me a card. It's not the first time Shane gives me a card with a "you get this, or you get that," so I wasn't surprised in the least!
The card was an IOU for a BRAND NEW ROAD BIKE, of my choice. He printed out a picture of the Ridley Noah, because I had only been obsessing over it for like a year since I first laid eyes on it. But, he said the choice was mine, I could get whatever I wanted.
After a lot of online research, I did determine the Ridley wasn't for me (reviews that it wasn't for the 4hr bike ride time rides), and after a trip to the bike shop I also learned that my choices were pretty limited. Sure, I'm short.. but I'm not that short. However, apparently my height consists of legs and absolutely no torso. I needed a 50cm top tube. Looking at all of my choices, most were just too big. However, the Argon 18's Gallium came in mini sizes, xxs with a top tube of 50cm.
The choice was quite simple. Everything I read about the bike sounded fantastic. I especially liked how they build the smaller bikes with smaller tubing making them less stiff than typical small bikes. Big score. It also didn't hurt that miss Supa has done nothing but rave about her Argons.
Next up was picking out the build. Since I have never custom built a bike I had no idea how many choices. Thankfully, I've heard enough about friend's purchases I knew what I wanted! Not to mention we just happen to have a good friend that used to ride pro to help me out!
I think one of the coolest things about "her" are the wheels. They are the HED Ardennes C2. This review goes into great detail about the wheels. COOL STUFF.
The colors alone are a dream for me. Everyone knows how much I heart my red stuff. I even got a pair of these new shoes to match :-)
And, for Christmas Santa brought Shane & I new helmets!
So, without further adue, please meet Rouge, A.K.A RED
The pictures do not do her justice, but Shane will be helping me out with that as soon as she gets her missing parts. She has white breaks on order, to accommodate the wider rims we had to put temporary black breaks on. Her pedals are also still on order, I think I'm picking the Red Titanium speedplays.
I took Red out for the first time on Thursday, just hours after she was built. Shane & I had 90min hill ride on the schedule so we bundled up and headed out in the chill at 7am. Up Via Linda hill then on to climb 136th street hill. While my legs were trashed so she didn't feel quite as easy as I hoped, the ability to spin up the hills was fantastic. I wasn't fighting a bike that was too big. She was smooth and light and fantastic. After the first 45mins I did start to feel much better and was able to push a little. The biggest thing I noticed was how quickly she responded. I got in my big chain ring to head down the first hill and it was INSTANT. HOW FUN.
I heart riding down hill...
I'm looking forward to many many miles with Red. My cycling fitness is very sub par right now, but I'm hoping this is just what I needed to help. At least help me keep up with Shane's draft :-)
So, to the best husband in the world. THANK you for topping my last best gift ever. I promise to make you & Red proud :-)
and i promise to stop complaining about how much i hate my bike :-)
Thankfully for the internet, I got to enjoy all of my wonderful birthday emails and facebook wishes. The best of all came when Shane handed me a card. It's not the first time Shane gives me a card with a "you get this, or you get that," so I wasn't surprised in the least!
The card was an IOU for a BRAND NEW ROAD BIKE, of my choice. He printed out a picture of the Ridley Noah, because I had only been obsessing over it for like a year since I first laid eyes on it. But, he said the choice was mine, I could get whatever I wanted.
After a lot of online research, I did determine the Ridley wasn't for me (reviews that it wasn't for the 4hr bike ride time rides), and after a trip to the bike shop I also learned that my choices were pretty limited. Sure, I'm short.. but I'm not that short. However, apparently my height consists of legs and absolutely no torso. I needed a 50cm top tube. Looking at all of my choices, most were just too big. However, the Argon 18's Gallium came in mini sizes, xxs with a top tube of 50cm.
The choice was quite simple. Everything I read about the bike sounded fantastic. I especially liked how they build the smaller bikes with smaller tubing making them less stiff than typical small bikes. Big score. It also didn't hurt that miss Supa has done nothing but rave about her Argons.
Next up was picking out the build. Since I have never custom built a bike I had no idea how many choices. Thankfully, I've heard enough about friend's purchases I knew what I wanted! Not to mention we just happen to have a good friend that used to ride pro to help me out!
I think one of the coolest things about "her" are the wheels. They are the HED Ardennes C2. This review goes into great detail about the wheels. COOL STUFF.
The colors alone are a dream for me. Everyone knows how much I heart my red stuff. I even got a pair of these new shoes to match :-)
And, for Christmas Santa brought Shane & I new helmets!
So, without further adue, please meet Rouge, A.K.A RED
The pictures do not do her justice, but Shane will be helping me out with that as soon as she gets her missing parts. She has white breaks on order, to accommodate the wider rims we had to put temporary black breaks on. Her pedals are also still on order, I think I'm picking the Red Titanium speedplays.
I took Red out for the first time on Thursday, just hours after she was built. Shane & I had 90min hill ride on the schedule so we bundled up and headed out in the chill at 7am. Up Via Linda hill then on to climb 136th street hill. While my legs were trashed so she didn't feel quite as easy as I hoped, the ability to spin up the hills was fantastic. I wasn't fighting a bike that was too big. She was smooth and light and fantastic. After the first 45mins I did start to feel much better and was able to push a little. The biggest thing I noticed was how quickly she responded. I got in my big chain ring to head down the first hill and it was INSTANT. HOW FUN.
I heart riding down hill...
I'm looking forward to many many miles with Red. My cycling fitness is very sub par right now, but I'm hoping this is just what I needed to help. At least help me keep up with Shane's draft :-)
So, to the best husband in the world. THANK you for topping my last best gift ever. I promise to make you & Red proud :-)
and i promise to stop complaining about how much i hate my bike :-)
Comments