[James]

Great info James, thank you. Do you find that the Element has enough pickup for most city and highway driving?

It's not going to set any records, but it's decent. 160hp, but the AWD takes a bit of the oomph out. I would trade a bike for a 5th gear, a 5spd auto would be the only change I'd like to see in the car, but it's fine for that stuff. Mostly mountain driving where I most wish for that last gear, but around town it's perfectly fine.

I just got a new mattress, a pillowtop full, and put it entirely in the car, with the back shut. And I could have put a bunch more stuff in there had I wanted/needed to, so that made me pretty stoked.

The one I bought had some stupid polished wheels, some side-steps, and a brush guard on the front, but I'll be taking those off when I get unlazy about it. The steps would be good if I had a roof rack though...

 

[MMcG]

James - is the winter bike complete yet?

If so, pics?

 

[James]

James - is the winter bike complete yet?

If so, pics?

Gonna install the chain and cable it up today, then wrap the bars, dig up some pedals, and she's golden!

 

[MMcG]

Gonna install the chain and cable it up today, then wrap the bars, dig up some pedals, and she's golden!

Awesome - can't wait to see her unveiling.

 

[LordOpie]

Is it done yet?

Photos?

 

[James]

All done, though I have to re-wrap the bars as something funky happened around the hoods, but I'll get a pic in a couple of minutes.
Wish I could have dug up my red tape, but blue will do for now I guess. It'll be getting pretty dirty, so I shouldn't care that much...

Update- Here are the pics:

 

[Mr. Hankey]

I'll be the first one, very, very nice "Beater"

 

[splat]

Very Nice to haveto Slum On

so what is the story on all those bueties in the background ? Yours ?

 

[James]

Very Nice to haveto Slum On

so what is the story on all those bueties in the background ? Yours ?

Mostly some Colnago demo bikes we inherited from the last distributor, and a couple of Look bikes from the last year or two that we haven't gotten around to selling yet.
Shots taken in our bike assembly room.

 

[splat]

here is a Buddy of mine on his winter bike

Might be a Step above yours I took this picture a couple of years ago.

 

[MMcG]

Very nice! Is that an Easton seatpost? Lots of offset on that model eh?

 

[Wumpus]

Is that an Easton seatpost? Lots of offset on that model eh?

Wow. I would be scared to ride that. Seems like there would be a lot of torque on the bond.

 

[ire]

I like the bar tape.....what brand?

 

[James]

Wow. I would be scared to ride that. Seems like there would be a lot of torque on the bond.

It's an Easton EC90. It's a great post, but I have issues with it because it's only a single-bolt clamp, and the clamp is carbon, so my seat can tend to loosen up a bit. I guess I should have learned after I replaced the one on my 555 with an FSA K-Force, but I had that post, so...
I'll most likely take it off and put either an EC70 on there, or the Deda I got. The Deda doesn't match the bar/stem for color, but whatever.

And Ire, it's Easton tape, again I had it around. Pretty nice stuff actually.

Back from my first ride this AM. Overall I really like it, I have to switch out that seat, as I forgot how bad it was for me, and the post, but it rode really well. A lot stiffer than my carbon bikes in the ride, but that's to be expected. Had a small issue with brake rub while standing and cranking, but I think it was mostly due to the rear brake being slightly misaligned.
On a side note: Brrrrrrr!!! My legs are still cold, even after a shower!

 

[BikeMike]

Very nice!