My Sweet New Ride!!!

Wow - if every new decade of my life starts off like this one... I am in for some awesome birthdays!  It's been a week since I officially turned 30 and I can honestly say it was the best birthday of my life so far!

Part 1 of 3 for 30 started out in Mohonk Mountain a few weeks ago.  Part 2 of 3 happened last Saturday night.  Myself and one of my besties had our 6th annual Birthday Party together!

Hehe - I love this photo!

After a late night where I might have indulged in a few birthday drinks and/or shots.... Sunday was spent on the couch til I had to do a quick run.

Part 3 of 3 was Monday, March 21st!  I woke up and did a nice little birthday swim, finally feeling like myself after being sick for a week.   When I came back up to the apartment I found THIS!

HOLY SMOKES!!! Simon got me the BEST birthday present a future Ironman could ask for... a fancy, smancy, pink camo tri bike!!!!  I was so incredibly surprised and I thought I was dreaming!  Simon said that I can now finally shut up about this bike!  I may or may have not been talking about this particular bike for months on end.

After the amazing surprise present, Simon pulled off another surprise that night where he organized a big dinner with about 15 of my friends and my parents!  Am I lucky or what?!?  It honestly was THE most amazing birthday and I am officially spoiled.  There will be no more birthday presents for me til I turn 35 - hah!

So now, being this is a triathlon blog, let's get back to the bike!

What a pretty girl!

As you could see from the first photo, I needed a proper fitting.  I was able to schedule one for after work on Thursday.  I went over to Toga Bikes on West End and met with Will.  Will made me feel very comfortable and answered my hundreds of questions with patience.  My first question, "How do you shift this thing?!?"  Yeah, I felt like a newbie but I also learned a ton.

After Will took one look at my current bike shoes, he gasped and said I needed to get new ones.  Apparently tri/road shoes are supposed to be tight... yeah my current Lake Tri shoes were loose, dirty and about 3 years old!  After trying on a few styles I stuck with the Sidi Tri shoes (Viva Italia!) that just happened to come in pink and white.

After a 10 minute warm up on my Roo, he then tested my flexibility.  It turns out I'm flexible in my neck and shoulders but not my hamstrings, quads or IT bands.  That would help him determine the correct position on the bike.  Then he hooked me up to some sensors, where I felt like I was filming Tron, and had the computer read my angles as I pedaled.  Will was shocked.  This bike fit me pretty much perfectly!  Hooray - it was was meant to be!

After comparing my left side to my right side he did have to change my right cleat and insole to help prevent my right knee from coming in towards the frame.  But that was basically all the adjustments he made.

As you can see from the photo above I'm not in the most aero position I could be.  This is due to my flexibility issue.  Will said he wants me to start off here because if he raises my seat any higher, it might aggravate my leg muscles.  So once I get more flexible I'll go back to get refitted and get more aero.  I am 100% happy with that.  This is my first real tri bike so I want to get used to it before I get more aggressive... even though one of my nicknames is Aggressive Agresta.

Super thin bike that will need a smaller butt to go on it!

The other cool thing about this bike is the stock seat it comes with.  It's the Adamo ISM road saddle.

I've read a lot about this saddle and I am excited to try it!  I have to say, so far I like it.  I rode the bike 3 days in a row, including a 2 hour ride, and my lady parts didn't hurt until the end of the long ride.

ROO!

This past Saturday I enjoyed a long 2 hour ride down the Jersey Shore by my parents place.  Simon and I decided to do an hour out and an hour back ride.  Well, the hour out was met with a strong headwind. We only went about 16 miles in that hour.  But the way back?  We were flying!!  I've never held a 25 mph average for more than a mile, but I did on Saturday!  This wasn't even going downhill, just flat with some rollers.  The Roo is one fast bike and I loved the way she felt when I got out of the saddle and climbed up the rollers.  I cannot wait to get faster and stronger on my Roo!!

Pine Barrens ride on the Roo!