This is Melinda’s brand new 650c Axiom S. We built it in partnership with our friends at Podium Multisport in Atlanta. The challenge here was to find a good, balanced design and fit for Melinda, who is both diminutive in stature and aggressive in riding style. Working around a 650c wheel size, Podium gave us positionals to work from, and we came up with this bike, which seems to be just what Melinda was looking for…
She reports:
My first real ride didn’t occur until yesterday! We went about 53 miles, and I honestly didn’t know what to expect. Here is my first impression: All the the ‘hot spots’ where I felt uncomfortable on my other bike were nonexistant..The pinch at the ankles, tweak in the knee, hip; ache in the back, etc….all gone. It felt like I could be on the bike and actually relax my entire body. Like sitting in a “stressless” chair (if you know what those are).
From a power perspective, on my old bike I always felt that I couldn’t pull up on the pedal stroke efficiently and I was correct! I was missing about half my power in the stroke because I couldn’t get the pull. On this bike I felt like I could utilize muscles and power that I never had access to. Rather than feeling the crunch at mile 20 and hanging off the back and thinking I couldn’t possibly go another 30+miles, I stayed toward the front most of the time, was able to fly up the hills, and even had energy left over at the end of the ride. It was beyond anything that I could have imagined!
Needless to say, I am pleased! I felt the road but not all of the bad things that come from the road like uncomfortable bumps, etc. It absorbed those nicely. It was incredibly responsive and ZIPPY! There is no better term for it! I don’t think Alan is very happy though because I smoked him up the big hills and had to hold back to fetch his sorry ass at the end of the ride. Oh well, can’t please them all!