Bike lust at Cycle 08

by Albertina on Oct 12, 2008 6:19 PM EDT

Today I went to Cycle 08 in London, which I guess is a bit like Interbike only smaller. Still, much fun to be had, and a good excuse for mass Pinarello drooling.....

"I'll take this one please. What do you mean I can't walk off with it? You want me to pay THAT much?!" *sulks*

What a thing of beauty it is......

Or what about the new Saxo Bank Specialized? Nah, once again, too pricey but one can dream.

Gorgeous Condor. So sexy, no?

Arty wheel shot

What happened to Sastre's face?!

After much walking (and drooling) a large lunch was in order. After the pudding I had, exercise was the only option (apologies for the near builder's bum emerging from my jeans. You have no idea how difficult it was to get onto this bike in these garments! You may also notice that I'm wearing heals. What was I thinking?)

Just realised how many of these pictures feature me....I'm not really vain. Just look at the bikes!

More here: Albertina2008

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How many feature you?

I just flicked through them from the other link and I couldn’t believe how many were of that little yellow and red number.

by Monty. on Oct 12, 2008 6:34 PM EDT 0 recs

Well, I got quite excited by it. What can I say?!

by Albertina on Oct 12, 2008 6:41 PM EDT up 0 recs

Hm................

I’m not an expert, but that one looked a lot like the one Valverde was riding this season…

by Le Comte on Oct 12, 2008 11:16 PM EDT up 0 recs

Indeed, the very same!

by Albertina on Oct 13, 2008 8:14 AM EDT up 0 recs

what all did you try???? How'd they feel???????

by JFS_PGH on Oct 12, 2008 7:55 PM EDT 0 recs

Just the Cervelo in the picture.

There wasn’t really much chance to try things out unfortunately. I had a bit of a sit on a bike I’m thinking of buying but sadly it didn’t have any pedals on! The Cervelo felt great, with the fancy shifter thingies, even though it was a little large for me.

by Albertina on Oct 13, 2008 8:16 AM EDT up 0 recs

the 2009 Dura Ace is really a sweet looking gruppo.

How does it look in person?

by Mr Van P on Oct 12, 2008 8:59 PM EDT 0 recs

Sweet!

by Albertina on Oct 13, 2008 8:16 AM EDT up 0 recs

Builders bum

That’s a great new term for me.
Plumbers crack is so last year.
Pics are sweet. I was wondering when we might see that Spec Saxo paint scheme.
Thanks.

If you don't have time to do it right the first time, when are you going to have time to do it again?

by CannonDowell on Oct 12, 2008 10:29 PM EDT 0 recs

I think if they really put their minds to it

they could find more spaces on that bike to write “Specialized”.

Carlos Sastre - Tour de France winner - Born From Jets

by Jens on Oct 13, 2008 2:38 AM EDT up 0 recs

Fabian just won't look the same riding a specialized... :-(

Doesn’t mean he won’t be Euro Hot though…

by CycleGirl on Oct 13, 2008 5:47 AM EDT up 0 recs

Yes, there's a bit of wasted space just under the seat post.

by Albertina on Oct 13, 2008 8:17 AM EDT up 0 recs

Don Alejandro's Pinarello

…was absolutely beautiful.

We saw it at Interbike. Poor Lyne….I made her go back to it over and over and over again…heh-heh. I agree Albertina it was worth the multiple viewings!!

Valverde and Rodriguez went to Japan’s version of Interbike.

by steph- on Oct 13, 2008 10:31 AM EDT 0 recs

Ha! Why didn't they come to ours?! So not fair.

I also made my poor long suffering friend go back an absurd number of times. He kept rolling his eyes when I mentioned it. No idea why ;-)

by Albertina on Oct 13, 2008 10:46 AM EDT up 0 recs

It's rare that Carlito makes someone look like Thumbelina

Is that doll really 1:1?

Reminds me of the first time I heard the sports commentators say that professional bike riders usually are below average hight, which made me feel really good.
In haste to get more of this “joy fix” I looked up Team CSC’s rider profiles only to discover that the vast majority was taller than I. :S

Those commentators got some nerves!

by OctaBech on Oct 13, 2008 11:09 AM EDT 0 recs

It's probably a bit on the large side I'd say.

Sastre’s 5’8’’ which is 4 inches taller than me (that’s 1.73m for not Brits who work on metric ;-)

Don’t let these commentators get to you-there are plenty of small riders out there….Jose Rujano is the same size as me!

by Albertina on Oct 13, 2008 11:29 AM EDT up 0 recs

So in high heels he'd be taller than I : /

No thanks, I’ll just keep imagining that they are no bigger than on my telly.

by OctaBech on Oct 13, 2008 12:49 PM EDT up 0 recs

And that bike weighs how many stone, again?

Carlos Sastre - Tour de France winner - Born From Jets

by Jens on Oct 13, 2008 2:30 PM EDT up 0 recs

+14

by Sui Juris on Oct 13, 2008 4:55 PM EDT up 0 recs

Oh here we go, the obligatory baiting of the old fashioned Britons!

I can’t help it guv, it’s the way I were brung up! ;-)

by Albertina on Oct 13, 2008 6:27 PM EDT up 0 recs

I need me some pink handle bar tape!

fun photos thx

by cyclingchallenge on Oct 13, 2008 12:57 PM EDT 0 recs

by the way

I like the last photo the best

participation gets bonus points :)

by cyclingchallenge on Oct 13, 2008 2:43 PM EDT up 0 recs

:-) It was much fun!

by Albertina on Oct 13, 2008 6:23 PM EDT up 0 recs

awesome photos :-)

yum, bikeys. i so heart pinarellos. but that cervèlo is also a very pretty bikey. really, i think they need to let us do some bike testing here at the cafe. that cervèlo would look quite lovely on my local roads.

by gavia on Oct 13, 2008 1:52 PM EDT 0 recs

the shop up the block

sells both Cervelos and Pinarellos (mmmm, Pinarellos . . .). And as best I can tell, they really really like me. Hmm, perhaps I should add this all together for some reviews, which will then bring additional review opportunities . . .

by Sui Juris on Oct 13, 2008 4:57 PM EDT up 0 recs

that, my friend, would be brilliant

I so wish we lived in the same town. So much fun could be had :-)

by gavia on Oct 13, 2008 6:29 PM EDT up 0 recs

Shhh

You two are going to foil my carefully crafted Pinarello test ride marketing strategy. Please don’t take that away from me. It may be my only hope to ever ride one of those lovely machines. You guys can have the Cervelos and the Orbeas.

by Jimbo... on Oct 13, 2008 11:16 PM EDT up 0 recs

lol, okay

I’m all about sharing :-)

by gavia on Oct 14, 2008 12:48 PM EDT up 0 recs

lol, ditto the nice red and yellow Pinarello on mine.

It would certainly turn a few heads (like that of the big headed so and so I overtook the other week who then delighted in flying past me while replicating ‘the look’ when I slowed for a bit of a breather. Could have thumped him!). I’m going to test a nice little Bianchi number tomorrow though which may actually end up being mine :-)

by Albertina on Oct 13, 2008 6:26 PM EDT up 0 recs

new bianchi?

that sounds like way too much fun :-)

by gavia on Oct 13, 2008 6:30 PM EDT up 0 recs

Hee hee hee hee!

I’m so praying the one they have in is the right size…..if I have to leave without it I may cry.

by Albertina on Oct 13, 2008 6:32 PM EDT up 0 recs

lol

that would be truly heartbreaking.

you simply must post a photo once it’s all home safely :-)

by gavia on Oct 13, 2008 7:19 PM EDT up 0 recs

IF it comes home safely!

Fingers crossed…..

by Albertina on Oct 14, 2008 3:51 AM EDT up 0 recs

Goodluck with the Bianchi, let me know how you go.

I’m still waiting for my Orbea to arrive from Spain, 6 weeks now…

by CycleGirl on Oct 14, 2008 6:58 AM EDT up 0 recs

That's ridiculous!

I’m sure it will be worth the wait though

by Albertina on Oct 14, 2008 7:08 AM EDT up 0 recs

:-)))))

by Albertina on Oct 14, 2008 9:45 AM EDT up 0 recs

Gavia, console me.

The Bianchi was one size too small. Now I will have to order one and if I can’t have it within the next week I shall be beside myself. I had some fun riding on the slightly small one though, even if I felt like I was about to do a somersault over the handlebars at times! Apparently I have above averagely long limbs for the size of my torso. He also said I was one of the most symmetrical people he had ever met-you learn something new about yourself every day!

But I want that bike, NOW!

by Albertina on Oct 15, 2008 5:13 AM EDT up 0 recs

good things come to those who wait :-)

Aaaaw, you had to leave the cutey bianchi behind :-(

But a bikey that fits is so much more fun. LOL, yes, lots of girls have longer legs relative to torso, so you’re kinda normal and stuff. Mmm, new bikey. It’ll come soon, promise!

And then, you will of course post a picture so I can live vicariously :-)

by gavia on Oct 15, 2008 11:46 AM EDT up 0 recs

lol

oh, and congrats on being symmetrical and stuff. most people aren’t.

gav <—- not totally symmetrical

by gavia on Oct 15, 2008 11:47 AM EDT up 0 recs

Gavia?

Carlos Sastre - Tour de France winner - Born From Jets

by Jens on Oct 15, 2008 2:50 PM EDT up 0 recs

ha!

lol, i wouldn’t go that far

by gavia on Oct 15, 2008 3:41 PM EDT up 0 recs

Tee hee hee!

by Albertina on Oct 15, 2008 6:01 PM EDT up 0 recs

I get the bikey in about 2 weeks!

I have ordered it and paid a deposit. Now how to pass the time between now and then….

What should I call it? I’m not the only one who gives their bikes names am I? Please tell me no…. It needs to be something Italian and feminine and cycling related. Gavia of course would be ideal but that name is already taken!!

by Albertina on Oct 15, 2008 6:04 PM EDT up 0 recs

Celeste

by Hons on Oct 15, 2008 6:08 PM EDT up 0 recs

Hm, nice! Only problem is that the bikey is actually white...

by Albertina on Oct 15, 2008 6:16 PM EDT up 0 recs

ragazza

is girl in italian. might work.

i like cipressa as a bike name – it sounds quick, and a bit like princess, only different.

mortirolo? eh, maybe not, so morbid, you know.

you probably don’t want to call it tranquila, either. the wrong idea, perhaps.

heh, i’d have to think harder.

by gavia on Oct 15, 2008 6:51 PM EDT up 0 recs

If there's a Stelvio is there a Stelvia?

Cipressa, mmm, that’s quite nice.

by Albertina on Oct 15, 2008 7:05 PM EDT up 0 recs

lol

no, but you could make one :-)

i always thought stelvio sounded a bit manly – which is why i didn’t use it as my screen name…

by gavia on Oct 15, 2008 7:21 PM EDT up 0 recs

still thinking...

by gavia on Oct 15, 2008 7:21 PM EDT up 0 recs

Ohhhh You mean i get to name my bike, awesome... I'm sure i'll have plenty of time to think about it...

by CycleGirl on Oct 16, 2008 5:51 AM EDT 0 recs

Of course!

Seeing as Orbeas are Basque, make sure the name you choose contains the letter ‘x’ on at least one occasion :-)

by Albertina on Oct 16, 2008 8:10 AM EDT up 0 recs

I've started looking at Basque names

Arrixaka – meaning “Virgin”.. fitting as it is my first bike hahaha
Bitxi – meaning “Gem”
Frantziska – meaning “Free”
Gaxuxa – “Gracious”
Luixa- meaning – “famous warrior”
Aintza – “glorious”
Xaviera – “bright, splendid”

These are just a few, but wow, how interesting is it googling the different names and meanings from Basque.. No to find a name..

by CycleGirl on Oct 16, 2008 9:05 AM EDT 0 recs

Hmmm, how about

Berezi = special
Bittore = victory
Bixenta = conquering
Ederna = beautiful
Garaitz = champion

I feel these are all appropriate names for a Basque racing bike. Or alternatively, how about Mirari (miracle)….it will probably seem like one to you when it finally arrives!

by Albertina on Oct 16, 2008 10:19 AM EDT up 0 recs