Pshorty's Group-GO NATHAN!!! (Page 17)

gracetheterp - 2008-03-05 8:10 AM I LOVE that everyone is doing this!! Makes me feel like the whole mentor thing is really working. Come on Paul it's your turn!!! Nate you can definitely do it!! Even if you have stop and take a break, if you've never done an 1800 before you'd be setting a PR and then you just have a new record to look forward to breaking!!

I thoroughly agree -- doing a longer distance has broken up the monotony of those swim drills for me, and its reinvigorated my desire to get in the pool. I've only done that many yards, like, 3 times, and I remember the feeling after doing it the first time -- oh, I CAN do this . . .

I think I may have found my bike . . . its a bit out of my price range and definitely more bike than I need, but its used and therefore I'd get a good price . . . will post it later when I'm home and can access Craigslist to copy the ad (at work now. Schools block SO many websites) . . .

Can you give us a teaser as to what kind it is?  Hope it works out!

Aggghhh.... I got back to work, checked my email, and had a delivery notification for my seat post and saddle.  It arrived at my house like 5 minutes after I had left from lunch!  I guess that's a good thing, becuase if I had been there, I'd still be on lunch break setting it up.

The forward seat post and tri saddle were waiting on me when I got home!  Time to do a little bike tinkering.

Boy, with Tri gear, its like Christmas morning every few weeks!

 Here's the bike I'm thinking about. Its $1000, so $300 beyond what I wanted to spend. But it is being sold through the bike shop where the original owner purchased it, and the shop vouches for it.

 In a nutshell: 2005 Trek Pilot 2.1, 105/ultegra deraileurs; ultegra crank; includes pedals; lots of carbon; supposedly good shape. I want him to knock 100 off the price . . .

Here's the link: 

http://albany.craigslist.org/bik/592979187.html 

That pic he has on the page is of the 2006 Pilot 2.1.  The description is also of a 2006.

Road bikes have terrible resale value.  If he paid around $1600 and never even road it, he should consider $800 to be decent, and anything above that as gravy.  The buyer should aim for half price, probably won't get it, but try to keep it as low as possible above that.

I'd probably pay $900 for that.  Ultegra derailleurs and 105 shifters make it sweet and would justify the the bump up to $900.  The wheels are nice.  Trek makes a really good frame.  The carbon seat post is a big bonus, too, and also justifies paying $900.  I noticed a big difference when I got a bike with carbon stays, but it also could have been because of an overall better frame. 

Will the LBS fit you on it?  See if they'll throw in some tubes, maybe hook you up cheap on a pump, a seat bag, and a few CO2 cannisters, mini pump, and tire levers.  If you go 1000 on it, have them come down a bit and help you out on all the necessities you're going to have to buy from them.

Bill,

Thanks for the feedback. I was thinking I could scrape together $900 if the bike is in excellent condition, and it was my hope that the shop would throw in a fitting. I'm going to email the seller and see if he'll budge (he has said once that his price is firm). We'll see what happens; it seems like the only thing I'll need immediately, in addition to the tubes and whatnot, is a pair of cycling shoes. Then after a fitting it should be good to go . . .

Will let you know how it all goes . . .

Good luck!  I hope it works out because it really is a sweet bike.

My hamstring is tight.  My knee is sore.  I have dead legs.  It's to cold.  It's raining.  I need to get new shoes before running again.

Ok... you guys really came through on the swimming.  Somebody throw something out there and I'll put some guts into it.  Mile runs?

Ummm... progress anyone?  Holy cow, Nathan.  That is so far beyond awesome I can't even begin to explain it.  Wait... let me try.  That's a 3,600% improvement on your distance in five months.  Dude.  I'm pumped up hearing about that.  A well deserved ten times over CONGRATULATIONS!!!

I'll do a mile run challenge, I need to calibrate my ipod nike sensor again by running an exact mile anyway. just tell me when :-) or I suppose I could just go do it and get the ball rolling.

Thanks for the well-wishes. Things just got harder as I learned that the same store has a brand new Giant OCR2 ('07) discounted at $720, a Specialized Elite Sport ('07) at around $850, and a couple of other models from prior years. The store will throw in free service, however, its like an hour and a half drive. Part of the reason their prices are so cheap is that there up in the north where the snow is still 3feet deep.

Now I'm leaning toward the Giant, 'cause I'll immediately be able to buy shoes. (He said that the pedals are "mountain style clipless"?)

Nate -- congratulations on the swim!!! Completely awesome.

And I'm in for doing the mile as our next group time trial, 'cause my training schedule says I should be doing mile repeats and I haven't done one in a few weeks.

Last things last: I was just selected as a wear-tester for Brooks running shoes, so I'll get one or two pairs for free this year! You should all research the wear-testing programs at your favorite brands. Free stuff rocks!