the bike quest
(Super duper boring yammering about bikes. Runners, you've been warned).
After I signed up for CdA, I made a giant list of all the things I would need, but I knew that the single biggest purchase would be a triathlon/TT bike. I have a sweet road bike and I absolutely love it, but after lots of thinking and researching, I decided to start saving my pennies for a TT bike. I don't think everyone has to have a TT bike to complete an Ironman, it's just what I decided is right for me. So I started looking at bikes. We're at the end of the triathlon season right now, which makes it a weird time to look for a bike. Most 2011 models are sold out, and there aren't a lot of 2012 models showing up in stores yet. I started by stalking everyone who went to dealer camp and saw the previews of what was coming in 2012. Spoiler: lots of REAL shiny bikes. I wanted to bring them all home with me and snuggle them under my pillow.
I headed out to Bonzai - the first of many, many trips to test ride - and was able to test out a Felt B16 and a Lightspeed. I was not a fan of the Lightspeed but I did enjoy the B16. After that trip, I started looking at the 2012 Felt's, and quickly learned that they had redesigned their line for 2012. I fell in love with the DA4, and then fell right back out of love with it after a conversation with my coach. A 2011 B10 or B12 fit what I was looking for pretty well, but with the line redesign, neither of those bikes are available/the same in 2012, and no one ANYWHERE had a 2011 version in my size.
A month or so went by and I kept putting pennies in the piggy bank. I decided to try and track down a Cervelo P3 - arguably the most popular TT bike sold - for a test ride. I was secretly hoping to fall in love with it, as that would make my Felt conundrum much easier. But after a test ride, I was sad and surprised to not like it at all. I couldn't really put my finger on why, I just wasn't a big fan. Gratuitous ass shot pretending to be a picture of me trying the bike:
Actual shot of me trying the bike:
Side note - in ALL of these pictures, my fit & angles look like hell, and I'm aware of that. The only thing we adjusted for the test ride was the seat height.
After trying the P3, I did a lot of thinking. I decided that I would order a 2012 B12, because I liked how the B series rode in 2011 and I was tired of dickering about bikes. I headed back over to Bonzai todrive Darrin insane do one last test ride and put in the order. I thought it would be smart to have tried everything, so then I could say without a doubt that I had chosen the bike that was best for me (this is called foreshadowing).
When I got to Bonzai, I pulled out the (one size too big) B10 to ride again and asked if there was a Quintana Roo CD.01 that I could try. I've been a bit prejudiced against QR, because I have a few friends who ride them who have had a REALLY difficult time getting a good fit on the bike, and it spooked me. Similarly, I have a few friends on Felts who adore them. The only CD.01 Bonzai had (also a size too big) was this one:
I KNOW. I have some good friends who are stellar triathletes who love rocking the pink, but I don't think I can pull it off. Also, yes, they put commuter pedals on it for me to try, I have no idea why but it was VERY strange. So I took it out for a test ride.
I was a little shocked. It kind of felt awesome. But then I tried the B10 again (more ass shots):
And that kind of felt awesome as well. So now I'm really in a pickle, because these are both great bikes, but I know nothing about the QR bike because I hadn't been stalking info about it like I had with the Felt (although I've been reading my brains out the past 2 days). Plus, that Felt B10 is dead sexy. Slap some race wheels on there and I'm drooling, but no one can find it anywhere. The 2012 B12 is sorta kinda close enough, and the 2012 CD.01 is nearly identical to the 2011, but I'm just so hesitant. And when I sit down and compare the B12 and CD.01, neither on paper is a "better" bike, they are just different. So. Anyone out there ride any of these bikes and have a free opinion for me? I love free opinions, please stick your fingers in my pie.
After I signed up for CdA, I made a giant list of all the things I would need, but I knew that the single biggest purchase would be a triathlon/TT bike. I have a sweet road bike and I absolutely love it, but after lots of thinking and researching, I decided to start saving my pennies for a TT bike. I don't think everyone has to have a TT bike to complete an Ironman, it's just what I decided is right for me. So I started looking at bikes. We're at the end of the triathlon season right now, which makes it a weird time to look for a bike. Most 2011 models are sold out, and there aren't a lot of 2012 models showing up in stores yet. I started by stalking everyone who went to dealer camp and saw the previews of what was coming in 2012. Spoiler: lots of REAL shiny bikes. I wanted to bring them all home with me and snuggle them under my pillow.
I headed out to Bonzai - the first of many, many trips to test ride - and was able to test out a Felt B16 and a Lightspeed. I was not a fan of the Lightspeed but I did enjoy the B16. After that trip, I started looking at the 2012 Felt's, and quickly learned that they had redesigned their line for 2012. I fell in love with the DA4, and then fell right back out of love with it after a conversation with my coach. A 2011 B10 or B12 fit what I was looking for pretty well, but with the line redesign, neither of those bikes are available/the same in 2012, and no one ANYWHERE had a 2011 version in my size.
A month or so went by and I kept putting pennies in the piggy bank. I decided to try and track down a Cervelo P3 - arguably the most popular TT bike sold - for a test ride. I was secretly hoping to fall in love with it, as that would make my Felt conundrum much easier. But after a test ride, I was sad and surprised to not like it at all. I couldn't really put my finger on why, I just wasn't a big fan. Gratuitous ass shot pretending to be a picture of me trying the bike:
After trying the P3, I did a lot of thinking. I decided that I would order a 2012 B12, because I liked how the B series rode in 2011 and I was tired of dickering about bikes. I headed back over to Bonzai to
When I got to Bonzai, I pulled out the (one size too big) B10 to ride again and asked if there was a Quintana Roo CD.01 that I could try. I've been a bit prejudiced against QR, because I have a few friends who ride them who have had a REALLY difficult time getting a good fit on the bike, and it spooked me. Similarly, I have a few friends on Felts who adore them. The only CD.01 Bonzai had (also a size too big) was this one:
