I can't get two

I have narrowed my choices down to two bikes, the Raleigh Record Ace and the Jamis Eclipse.

For my benefit I am going to list some pros and cons that got me to this decision.

Jamis Eclipse
Pros - weight, Reynolds 853, looks fast, Ultegra components
Cons - carbon fiber?, white seat/stem/rims

Raleigh Record Ace
Pros - all steel, Reynolds 520, looks elegant/classic, Ultegra components, Brooks saddle
Cons - lower grade steel, weight, Weinmann rims, geared higher

The next step is to test ride them both and pick one.

On A Steel Horse I Ride

I recently decided that since I lost a ton of weight I should reward myself with a new bike. I want a new road bike, something fast, something light. I really like my steel touring bike and want that ride comfort. I started looking to see if there were any steel road bikes out there that met my criteria. I already had one in mind, but wanted to be a good consumer and see what else is out there. My search started with the one I had in mind. I needed a starting point to base everything else off of. The first is a Jamis Eclipse. This is what Jamis calls a steel performance bike. I'd say, it weighs 17 lbs and has Shimano Ultegra components. The frame is a mix of Reynolds 853 steel and carbon fiber. This would truly meet all my needs and then some. For me this is a bike I would grow in to. I'm not used to having a fast bike and would have to train myself accordingly. It's a sweet looking bike and retails for around $3200.


Next on my wish list is a Raleigh International. This is a new bike in 2011 for Raleigh, but has a great heritage. The International was produced back in the 70's and was phased out in the 80's. Don't quote me on that but you get the idea, old bike making a return. This bike has a great classic look. It comes loaded with Shimano Dura Ace everything, and a Reynolds 853 steel frame. It is new enough that there is no MSRP listed on it yet, but I checked with my LBS and they told me $5995 will be the list price. No way I'm thinking about dropping 6 large on a bike. There is also no weight listed.

The next one is another Raleigh. This time is is the Raleigh Record Ace. It comes with Reynolds 520, and mostly Shimano Ultegra components. I never thought I'd like a white bike, but this one has a classic elegance about it I like. MSRP is $1949, no weight listed.
That is as far as I have gotten. There are a ton of steel bikes out there, but they don't all fit what I'm looking for. I like what Raleigh and Jamis are doing with their steel bikes. I hope to see more manufacturers following suit.


The Dude

If you can loose the weight, you must motivate.

As I described in my last post I have lost a ton of weight (45 lbs as of today). Most of it came off with out having to workout. Some might think that is awesome. I do. However the end result is a near skinny guy with no habit of working out. In other words I'm a previously fat and lazy guy, that is now almost skinny and just as lazy as the day I started. Some might be OK with that, I'm not. I want to keep this weight off the rest of my life. Over the last 8 years I went from 215 to 270+. I don't want to get over 215 ever again. I need to work out regularly in order to make that happen.

I have a free gym membership through work that I have yet to use. I have a bike set up on a trainer in my basement that I have ridden. I have free weights, a sandbag, and kettlebells in my basement that I have not used. I'm really hoping February will be the start of a new habit for me. I keep telling myself that literally overnight I went from eating what I want to eating a very strict diet. I need to find the motivation to do something active every day. I have numerous tools I just listed to get me active, I just need the motivation to use them.

I'm usually not big on resolutions, but i just decided my resolution this year is to workout consistently. I want to be healthy, not just skinny. I want to ride my bike a ton this year. I want to run a half marathon this year. I want to have a nice physique as a result of lifting weights. I believe this is possible, but only if I consistently work out.