New stuff from CRC.

Finally got hold of the mail from CRC. Took 12 days including weekends, even though it was on speed post and all. Customs made a mess of the packet. Luckily they just peeked inside - didn't open the product packagings. Everything I got was on sale - so the reason for buying them. . Got a pair of perfect fit 661 gloves (white with green elements); a pair of Brand X elbow and forearm gaurds (good stuff for cheapz); a pair of 'Welgo V8 Copy' flat pedals in blue (they are a straight lift of the DMR V8 originals, on the heavier side); a Kore 50 MM 31.8Diameter no rise Stem (good, looks big + a little on the heavy side); a Sunline 'V3' 685mm 50mm riser handlebars. The pads and gloves were necessary after last years fall on a biking trip, so no more taking chances. Two days back this is what the bike looked like;The pedals were an impulse buy. They were on sale (less than 700, almost the same as here in India). They seem to match the color of the saddle and top-bottom tubes (they change from black to blue) of the bike. The bearings on the V8's don't seem to be smooth - maybe a little breaking in is required. New Welgo V8's on the left and the old unbranded Chinese one's to the rightI had a fall at the gym recently and have been having frequent back pains. Yoga helps, but riding the bike in the old setup was a strain on the back. I was stretching too far to the front. So I went short from a 110 mm stem to a 50 mm; from a flat bar to a 50mm riser bar. Comparison with Old and NewThis is what the old bar and stem looked like,And the new one;Its a wonderful change. The ride is more upright and lesser strain on the back and legs (somehow). The short stem makes it quite twitchy, but I am loving it. A great feel. The new bars are just 10-20 mm wider but they make a huge difference, the front end seems to be more under control. Had to remove a spacer ring (maybe 2mm) from the headset inorder to insert the new (taller) stem. With the new stem, risers and pedals. It feels great (after having many moody days) to have imported my first set of components and installed it myself (thanks to youtube videos).