Its all stock at this time! But I AM SURE that in time I will get nohting but the best! My clipless pedals go back and forth between BMX and this bike!

Great ride only my back hurts and my hands KILL??? Solutions?

I know I posted in another thread about you getting fitted properly, that should resolve your discomfort issues.

Your seat looks a little low from the pics. You should get a fit done at a shop.

This may help. Raise your seat until you have about a 10 degree bend in your knee when the pedal is at the bottom of the stroke and you are seated on the saddle.

Also, when you are in the saddle and your hands are on brake hoods, you should be able to look down towards your front hub and your bars should block your view of the hub.

Good luck!

Don't eyeball it or guess -- get a pro fit! You can do permanent damage to knees, nerves in your hands, lower back, a whole host of stuff from riding a poorly fitted road bike.

Oh, and cool bike. Glad to see you went with a compact double.

One other thing: If you find reaching the brake levers from the drops to be a too-long reach, Specialized makes a lever insert that moves the lever 5mm closer to the handlebar. My wife has little hands and swears by them.

Thanks Evan I needed your expert advice! So now I guess I need to fly you to Michigan to fit me on my bike! Yeah that reach is really far I told my husband that yesterday! I Will look into them!

Heh, not until the snow stops!

I was typing pre-coffee earlier -- 5mm is nuthin'. They are actually 20mm blocks, and work a charm for the little ladies:

See 'em HERE

Thanks I went for another ride this am and raised my seat up! It felt better on my back! I actually hate having to feel like I have to reach a mile to stop and move my hands from on top to stop that scares me. I guess the BMX in me and my finger is always right there!

STI shifters will become easier over time. There are the levers that mount on the op bar also so essentially you would have it setup like the BMX rig. They use them a ton in the sport comfort road bikes & a TON in Cyclocross bikes.

Now we need to get rid of that boat anchor you use for a helmet. TRUST me, a road helmet weight will actually make a huge difference on your back also after a long ride. Real nice choice on the bike.

Welcome to the roadie club.

PEP
1400 miles last season

You can brake from the hoods and not move your hands, and leave your first two fingers on the levers all the time if you prefer -- you'll get the hang of it!

I am working on the helmet! Spring......

Evan I can not even reach from there to even get to the lever! I like the brakes on top (old school?)
But I would like to have them were they are now too! In time I will figure it out! Thanks