This is a collection of experience and incidents such as I can remember some of my misspent youth and thrash through my later years.
The beatings will continue until moral improves.
I sold the last motorcycle I intend to own. That will open up a lot of room in my tiny garage. The last time I bought a new bicycle was August of 2010. My well used Specialized Roubaix, Expert, Triple.
I’ve gone through about 8 sets of cables and housings. Two sets of brake pads, one full set of chain rings and three sets of cogs. Uncounted tubes, tires, and chains. The bottom bracket has been changed once. The pedals twice. I removed the triple chainring after I got to where I no longer used it much. I’ll put it back once I buy a new bicycle.
My dream had been to buy a top flight bicycle outfitted with topped components. A recreation of my old Pinarello, but fully modern in materials, technology and components. When I rited I didn’t sell my motorcycle as I’d planned. My wife talked me out of that. And since I spent about half what I would have spent on a new dream bicycle build on motorcycling, my budget needed a good deal of moving around to face reality. Sure, I could take the hit of a Colnago, C64 or V4S, or Pinarello Dogma F or any number of other pro level bicycles. But, that seems silly for me. I am riding a good deal more than I have earlier this year, but nowhere near as fast or far as if I were a racer. I won’t be a racer.
I thought about Canyon. I like them well enough. But, the form, color and look don’t move me. I think there needs to be a bit of passion in the equation for the math to work for me.
That got be looking at used bicycles at Buy Cycle, and The Pros Closet. I never found a bike in the color or groupo or size that was right. I finally gave up on those sites. A friend pointed me to a local to him old school pro shop, Velo Pasadena.
The Pinarello F7 is about the maximum of pain I figure I can subject my savings account can take. This photo below is of the 51.5 size in the store. It fits pretty well as it sits. $8,800 price plus tax and some bits will get it into the $10,000 range. Which makes me want to wait a bit more before pulling the trigger. The Roubaix is still working just fine. It is also still faster than I am.
Over the holidays, Christmas to New Years, my wife asked me about my plan to buy a new bicycle. I told her I was eventually, but the Roubaix was still working OK. It was needing some parts here and there. Not too long after the pedal bearings failed. First clicking then just wobbling madly when removed. The plain bearing had grenaded. That was an unplanned $200. I knew the rear derailleur large bushing was worn enough to cause some noise. The front was still functioning, but feeling very loose. The tension spring on the rear derailleur was feeling a bit weak as well with the chain slapping on bumps. One chain ejection over a bump off the big ring. Dropping a chain at over 30 mph is not fun. My wife said I should go ahead and get the bike. The bike I’d looked at during the summer was gone. Some searching brought up questionable results. I emailed Velo Pasadena then a phone call. The upshot is the second week of the new year, I placed an order for a new second generation Pinarello F7 from Velo Pasadena.
I got the call from Matthew at Velo Pasadena on Monday the 27th. We set up the delivery date for Wednesday. I am excited. A bit anxious as well. But, mostly excited. The weather looks to be cool but, clear skies. Matthew helping me figure the start Seat Height and check if we needed to cut the seat pin. Nope.
After a very short check the fit ride, I loaded up and headed home.
Once I was home, I was able to check the seat to BB distance on the Roubaix and replicated that on the F7.
I mounted my pump and cages, then strapped the spares bag on. I’m thinking these rims might be too deep for my tube stems. I’ll measure that up and order spares to fit. I need to order a front light. The rear works for now, strapped to the old seat bag. The Shimano Di2 linked to the Wahoo Element app and a little fiddling I had the gears displayed on the Wahoo Bolt head unit. I need to fond a front light that uses a GoPro mount. Maybe I’ll slap the GoPro on there and get some video?
Component set with the F7 Ultegra Di2, 52/36 I think up front and 11/30 out back. Pirelli P7 Sport tires are heavy, yet feel good. I figure I’ll ride them until I destroy them then stick some GP 5000’s on there with TPU tubes. It looks like 60mm stems will be my new need. The MOST Ultrafast 40 wheel set is tubeless ready, but running tubes. the tires are tube type as well.
I spent some time adding the new bike to my Strava and retiring the old bike. I have come down with a cold that is keeping me off the bike, but hope to get out for a really easy spin to check the saddle height and position for a last little ride of the month of January. I figure I have a couple of fit-check rides before I go getting very far away on the new bike.
I let the cats out onto the deck a little after noon and couldn’t resist the warm weather, even with the freshening wind out of the northwest. I kitted up and went for a short easy spin up to the harbor and back to feel out the new bike more on terrain I am very familiar with.
My very first impression was the narrower bars, big flat top to the bars and the road feel. The road feel was so intimate, I thought the rear tire was flat. No flat tire, and the ride is definitely not harsh, evidenced by the two dip bumps that are usually sharp enough to set off the Apple fall detection on my watch. No detection this ride. Next up was steering after making the turn at the bottom of the street so I now had gusts crossing me. The deeper rims catch more of the breeze than the Roubaix radial spoked shallow rims. The Pirelli P7 Sport tires with butyl tubes have a good feel, but do feel heavy compared to the Higher spec Pirelli P Zero Race and latex tubes on the Roubaix. I likely won’t buy P Zero race spec again because they have been very delicate, but even the Continental GP 5000 will likely be my choice with TPU tubes. By the time I got to the harbor I was used to the deep wheels in the wind.
Next was teaching myself to shift with Di2. The fifteen year old mechanical Ultegra on the Roubaix always shifted well, but required quite the throw to go up to larger cogs and the big ring up front. Enough throw, I had to position my arms so my wrists had enough rotation. Di2 is finger tip active, and this action is very slight and quick. By the time I got going back toward home I was getting better at not letting my fingers linger on the tabs. I still need to think about which tab does what, but the helpful display on the Wahoo Element Bolt head unit lets me know as do my legs that I’ve made the shift I wanted to.
Road feel is so incredible. Very precise, yet not harsh. This route has several sections of rough pavement that can rattle teeth if you’re not paying attention. There is plenty of tree debris always blown into the bike lane around the harbor to access steering quickness. The bike is instant to steering inputs. Part of that is the racing geometry over the more relaxed endurance or touring geometry of the Roubaix Expert. The Pinarello is if anything more comfortable and precise than my old 1983 steel Pinarello from my racing days. I can say I am very happy with this purchase. This is absolutely more bike than an old man needs, but look at it like an old guy buying a Ducati Panigale V2.
Instead of a $22,000 spent to get the V2 motorcycle, the Pinarello at around $8,200 before tax is a health machine. Tax added another grand to the total. I plan on adding a 4iii dual sided Precision. 3+ Pro power meter. I’m working out how to do the Factory installation with the least impact to my riding.
I am confident that belly will get a touch smaller thanks to how much fun this bike is to ride. I really can’t wait to get over this cold so I can put a good bit more effort into riding it. This test fit ride I did I never strayed about zone 2. Good for riding with a head cold. Gearing feels fine so far, but I didn’t ride any steep or long climbs. The usual climb up from North beach I took it easy in the 1-5 as indicated on the Bolt. I moved the seat forward a tiny bit and fiddled with the fore and aft level. The shorter saddle feels a wider, yet is sized the same as my old saddle. The saddle is quite comfortable.
By the end of my ride I was able to sit up no hands on the saddle and control the bike with balance very easily.
My Second testing fit ride is a success. I think this is where the saddle will stay for a bit. Everything is beginning to feel very natural. This ride I wicked the effort up a bit, spinning up to catch a fast group that went by over the barrier on the road bike lane. I managed to get shifted to the big ring, spin that and shift up and up and up. Chase, catch, spin and drop. Felt good and didn’t get into zone 5. The very short zone 4 work didn’t hurt, legs, lungs or heart. My lungs are very clear, this is just a head cold so I might just use tomorrow’s predicted warmer weather for a little longer, but still flat ride.
I’ll set up the shifting so the bike will not let me cross chain, just in case I ever get into that situation. I’ve not done that before. The bike can do that so why not? The MOST forward computer mount for my Wahoo Element Bolt holds the new Lezyne XL 400 front light. I have mounted my bell a second try with the trigger on the front, under the brake hood. This feels like it is going to work best for me. The top of the bar is not only a wide flat area, but tapered along the length so clamping there would be a struggle.
I’ve only gotten about four hours of riding in on the bike. Nearly half of that in one go. But, my impression is this is exactly the right bike for me. It is responsive yet not harsh or twitchy. it is quite a b it more comfortable than the Roubiax was. The tech is 15 years newer and feels like a huge step. I’m of course still getting used to gearing and really have to use the head unit display of where I am in the gears. My head still has an issue with being 1-9, that is small chainring, 9th cog down from the largest out back. 2-4 , or 2-5 is about right for flat speed. I’m working through a head cold and figure once I’m fully clear of the virus I can add some bigger efforts. Bottom line is I have zero misgivings and zero second thoughts.
If you’re in the market for a new ride, the Pinarello F7 is a very good ride.
Along The Way 