eating my words

So...remember when I said that I wasn't going to make my MS150 challenge goals, so I wasn't going upgrade my bike?

Weeelll...I changed my mind.

I was recently offered a very good deal on one of these...too good to pass up. Though I feel a little bit like I'm cheating on my 30-lb./5000-mile upgrade requirement, I was able to justify this to myself because I'm only buying the frame right now. I figure it will take me at least till summer to buy the rest of the components, so I'll definitely hit 5000 miles by the time this bike is ready to ride. Until then, I'll just store it in my office, stare at it longingly, maybe run my fingers over the top tube every once in a while.

The bike is a little bigger than my Pilot, which worried me. I've been thinking for the past year that the reach on Amelia was just a teeny bit too long, and the Orbea top tube is about 4mm longer. However, with the more-aggressive geometry all around, I wondered how much difference this would really make. I went to the local Orbea dealer and asked his advice, and he didn't really set my mind at ease. He said that a 51cm frame (the size I'm buying) was a borderline fit for me...he would normally fit someone my size on a 48. However, when I got home and looked at the specs for the 48, it seemed way small. The top tube on it was only 51cm...the same length as the Dolce I tried back in July '05, which was eliminated from my list of possibles because my knees were all up in the handlebars. Again, the frame angles make a difference, but ultimately I would have to ride and see.

So, I asked the seller for a test ride. Even with his 110mm stem (I ride with an 80 on the Pilot), the reach wasn't uncomfortably long. I mean, it was long, but I was also more stretched out overall. And aside from the reach, the bike was the best ride I'd ever had--light, fast, responsive, stable. And, of course, really beautiful. Not as dead-sexy as the 2007s , but I'd have to sell my car to afford one of those. I like bike commuting, but not THAT much. Houston's a big place. :)

So anyway, I should be picking up the frame sometime in the next few weeks. I think I'll call him Keiko.