Elissa McConaghy Rides Trek
For a while now I’ve wanted to talk about bikes, we’re not just women who ride bikes. We know about our bikes and we care about our bikes, a lot of women out there in the community actually know what they’re talking about when they walk into a bike shop. This is Elissa McConaghy and she rides a 2011 Trek Madone; here’s why.
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The Bike:
2011 Trek Madone 5.5 in white & platinum
SRAM Force
Shimano 105 pedals
3T Sealth Ergonova bars
Zipp 404
2012 Selle Italia SLR Lady Flow
- How did you choose your bike?
My first bike was a Trek Lexa S. It was an entry-level women’s specific design with an aluminium frame.
After falling in love with cycling, my lovely husband offered to upgrade it to a carbon frame as I was interested in starting to race. I was originally looking at the 2011 Trek Madone 5.2 WSD, however there were none left in my size. I kept looking around online to find a style of bike that I liked within my price range. I wanted something that was neutral in colour and offered good value for money. The Trek First sale kind of sealed the deal and I acquired by 2011 Trek Madone 5.5.
- How does the bike make you feel?
My bike gives me freedom. It is my stress relief and social life combined into one.
- Customising my ride
I sprained my AC joint in a cycling accident in November 2011 and had been experiencing pain when riding in my neck, arm and shoulder on rides over 1 hour. After numerous visits to the physio I decided to look at my bike set-up.
The result was removing the bontrager carbon bars that came standard with the bike with something that was more uniform in shape – the 3T Stealth Ergonova.
Earlier this year I also changed to the new Selle Italia SLR Lady Flow saddle to improve ride comfort. I had previously been using a Selle Italia Diva saddle which was very comfortable on my Lexa, however it was very uncomfortable with the different geometry of the Madone.
I’ve also added a set of Zipp 404’s which I absolutely love and go well with the colour scheme of the bike. These were my husbands alternative for buying me a TT bike (the rule of n+1, where n= the number of bikes you currently have, is strong in our household)
Changing the bars to the 3T also meant that I could use clip on aero bars should I decide to try triathlons.
- Why do I ride?
I started riding in April 2011 after signing up for the inaugural Brisbane Ride to Conquer Cancer – a two-day 200+km bike ride to raise funds for cancer research. At the time of signing up – I didn’t even own a bike.
In August 2011 I became the Secretary of the Moreton Bay Cycling Club where I had been an active member since I took up the sport those few months prior.
I currently ride every Saturday and Sunday with the Club in their social rides and am currently training to make the jump to the racing arena.
The next 12 months are going to be very exciting for me. I am working on establishing a Women’s cycling development program within the Club to encourage more women into the sport and give them a training avenue to prepare them to race, should they choose to. This will also include recruiting and training female coaches. I am also aiming to participate in the 2013 Townsville to Cairns Bike Ride and also compete in my first Open racing event.
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What do you ride ladies?
sheridescycling@gmail.com
I love the silver bar tape. Great to see a women’s bike that has no pink on it. Well done. It’s almost as lovely as my Specialized Amira Expert.
Love your wheels.. The development program sounds great. Would love to have joined you if I lived near Moreton Bay. Good luck with it all. Carolyn
Great post here Elissa, and good on you for starting up a women’s development program for your club. I’m interested in getting into racing too shame that I’m on the other side of Brisbane to MBCC! Looking forward to seeing more of your girls racing in the near future around Brisbane….I like your clubs kit too!
Cheers Lisa