First Ride (long cranks)

I road the Roubaix this morning in full gear and on familiar turf. I had bought the bike after only three or so parking-lot rides at various stores. When I was at Wheat Ridge Cyclery (WRC), I was fitted on and rode both the 54cm and 56cm sizes. The junior fitter was a little happer with my knee at 90 degrees on the 54, so I came back the next day with proper shorts and shoes to have the fit examined by someone with more experience. I fit right between the two and the 56 puts my knee a little further back than dead vertical over the pedal pivot. I may move the seat forward. The 56 also comes with longer cranks:




My first ride was a single loop around Cherry Creek Res. I must have eaten something questionable because my stomach wasn't happy and I was a little low on energy. I got 25.6 miles at 15.7 mph. The bike seems light, solid and a bit....cheap. But it *is* a plastic bike that doesn't weigh much. The larger frame holds me in a more stretched out position which is nice. I had to lower the seat a few times in 1/8 inch increments to get my knees and hips to be a little happier. The bike felt fast and easy to ride hard. My muscles ached. I wonder how much of this is getting used to the longer cranks. ...the rest of the frame too. So for now, it is a new and different frame. I hope I get used to it over the next two weeks.