Any Cycling fans here?

MrAcoustat said:
Quote: It's amazing how expensive bikes have gotten likely. It's almost as bad as audio gear! Yes you're right but with my audio system i can listend for 6 - 8 - 10 - hours in a row BUT with a bike i couldn't last 6 - 8 - 10 minutes and that's not a joke all that weight is because of MUSIC & COMPUTER.:)
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You're absolutely right about how expensive bikes have gotten Andre'. It's just another expensive hobby that I enjoy and I figure that one day, hopefully far off in the distance, I won't be able to ride anymore so I'll enjoy it right here, right now while I can.

Beautiful cat, Andre'!
 
RedSectorA said:
4 inches of snow fell were I'm racing next week in Charlevoix, Québec (road closures and everything). Weather is still piss poor here so I'm not even inclined to go out and train. When is summer gonna come? Tired of training in poor weather, thinking of starting my cyclocross season early.BTW Doug, what cx bike do you have?

Dan
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Dan, I have a 2010 Cannondale CAAD8. It looks similar to this one but I've upgraded many of the components. It's been a great bike for the past few years but you know how it goes, time for something different. I like their carbon 'cross frame but I'm also looking at Ridley and the Ibis Hakkalugi.

Cross+Bike+002.jpg
 
Nice bike you have there. Alot of respect for Cannondale, excellent bikes priced right. Out of curiosity why do you want to change? May I suggest you try Colnago if available locally, stiffest thing I have ever riden, perfect for road and cx.

About your comment on yesterday's ride, it sure was epic but man was I happy when I got home. I was dead for the rest of the day.

Dan
 
RedSectorA said:
Nice bike you have there. Alot of respect for Cannondale, excellent bikes priced right. Out of curiosity why do you want to change? May I suggest you try Colnago if available locally, stiffest thing I have ever riden, perfect for road and cx.

About your comment on yesterday's ride, it sure was epic but man was I happy when I got home. I was dead for the rest of the day.

Dan
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I really like the C'dale. It tracks well, has a quick response, and is light for a 58cm frame. It was a much more responsive bike than the Kona Jake the Snake I tried out. My biggest thing is wanting to upgrade components. You can basically get a full build for the price of a separate gruppo.

I do like the Colnago. When there are world class CX'ers like Sven Nys riding them, and I know they get them free, that says something.
 
Doug,

Very often buying a prepackage bike is a compromise, you may end up disatisfied and end up replacing half the parts or worst replace the bike completely. Buying the frame you want and building it up to your specs very often ends off being cheaper. A least if you decide to buy a prepackaged bike swap the parts you want to change right away, most stores will buy the swapped parts back from you if they are new. And finally when you have a gruppo you like take it from one bike to the next. I nowadays buy a prepackaged bike, swap my old parts to the new frame and sell my old frame with the new parts.

What's the gruppo and wheels currently on your CAAD?

Dan
 
RedSectorA said:
Doug,

Very often buying a prepackage bike is a compromise, you may end up disatisfied and end up replacing half the parts or worst replace the bike completely. Buying the frame you want and building it up to your specs very often ends off being cheaper. A least if you decide to buy a prepackaged bike swap the parts you want to change right away, most stores will buy the swapped parts back from you if they are new. And finally when you have a gruppo you like take it from one bike to the next. I nowadays buy a prepackaged bike, swap my old parts to the new frame and sell my old frame with the new parts.

What's the gruppo and wheels currently on your CAAD?

Dan
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It came with 105 and C'dale house brand wheels, stem, bar, post, etc.... The brakes are surprisingly decent ones from Tektro. I swapped out the rear derailleur to Ultegra and am using Velocity A23 rims with their hubs. I put on a Ritchey stem and post, Easton bar and Fizik saddle.

My biggest complaint is the FSA crank and BB it has. The BB can only be swapped with another of the same kind and they suck. It isn't even smooth from the get go. I'd like to go with Shimano cranks and BB or a Chris King BB.
 
105 is a very fine gruppo, underated I may add. I swapped my crank to a SL-K Light from the get go on my Colnago, I know what you mean by the cheap crank they put on new bikes. You can change the crank to whatever you want, you just need the right cups for the crank you want and a sleeve if you want to change from BB30 to conventional english threads. Then put on whatever you heart desires. CAAD 8 is a nice aluminium frame, and with the amount of money you put on the frame already it would be a pity to change it. BTW aluminium frame rocks, a bike shop owner who's a friend of mine rides and races with a CAAD 10. He doesn't understand the craze for carbon fiber, aluminium can be as stiff and ride as well as CF. Better put good wheels and gruppo on a bike than spend all of that money on a frame. Got a good deal on my Supersix this spring (2011 new frame cheaper than a new CAAD 10) otherwise would have bought a CAAD10.

Dan
 
It's funny you mention that Dan. My dealer said the same thing regarding the CAAD 10 vs. their carbon frames. He thinks the Aluminum is a better ride than the carbon. Carbon's just the big thing now.

Do you like your SL-K? I've been eyeing those.
 
Does exactly what it's supposed to do, transmit power efficiently. So yes I do like it. Chances your local bike shop can find a CX ratio (36-46) discounted. Although you do both cx and road I would probably go compact. BTW whereabouts do you live?

Dan
 
RedSectorA said:
Does exactly what it's supposed to do, transmit power efficiently. So yes I do like it. Chances your local bike shop can find a CX ratio (36-46) discounted. Although you do both cx and road I would probably go compact. BTW whereabouts do you live?

Dan
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I just moved from Grand Rapids, MI to a little town on Lake Michigan called Pentwater.

Pentwater_MI.gif
 
Funny, the friend from Boston I'm riding with just purchased the CAAD10 w SRAM Force groupo. He likes the bike, but may not be warming up to the groupo.

dlb2 said:
It's funny you mention that Dan. My dealer said the same thing regarding the CAAD 10 vs. their carbon frames. He thinks the Aluminum is a better ride than the carbon. Carbon's just the big thing now.

Do you like your SL-K? I've been eyeing those.
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socfan12 said:
Funny, the friend from Boston I'm riding with just purchased the CAAD10 w SRAM Force groupo. He likes the bike, but may not be warming up to the groupo.
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I've been a Shimano fan for a long time and tried the SRAM stuff last year. It's definitely a different feel as far as shifting goes. Not sure if I could get use to it myself.
 
The beauty about SRAM is that you can get good money on the used market compared to Shimano. ;) I guess their marketing strategy is good, main emphasis on lightness and pro team support but I don't really understand how it could make me go faster. As usual YMMV! Same goes for 11 speed, nice but......

For me Campy is the one I prefer for one simple reason, the carbon fiber....... no seriously I like the fact I can go from 1st to last gear on the cassette with one shift. Front shifting is also very adjustable so you can trim on the go. Interesting to note that Campy's higher end shifters can be rebuilt, the only brand that offers so. Finally I like the mechanical feel but thats personal.

Anyways my $0.02,

Dan
 
Just noticed this section of the site... nice to find other audio gear junkies who like to push the pedals. Looks like its been a while since anyone posted, so the weather must have gotten better so y'all are out riding. My wife and I just got back from an organized tour in the Czech Republic and Austria, but we got rained out of several days due to some of the worst flooding they've seen in central Europe in a couple decades.

We didn't take our own bikes to Europe, too much hassle. But here at home I made the move a couple years back to a custom carbon frame and DI2 setup. My prior bike I still ride was custom steel touring frame I had made for me back in 1981. So after 30 years I figured I was due for a new bike. DI2 seemed like a large enough tech evolution to warrant a new bike. I went with a little boutique French mfg for the frame -- CYFAC. They built frame for a couple decades for Fignon, Hinault, and many others in the peleton. They'd build the frame and put the sponsors decals on. When frames started to be identifiable by shape they had to go retail. Google them and watch the little videos of the way they build up a carbon frame. It is all tube to tube, not monocoque. They weigh a little more than a frame made in a mold, but they are able to fine tune a frame as you want it.

I added ENVE 3.4's last year, with full ceramic upgrade.

As someone said in a prior post, I'm just an old guy trying to stay young. Some people just don't accept that denial is a valuable coping mechanism!

View attachment 2201

"To attack the pedals may be strenuous over the short
run, but is an expression of trust in one's own powers,
for with the bicycle everything depends on the self."
--Wolfgang Sachs
 
Bobvin said:
Just noticed this section of the site... nice to find other audio gear junkies who like to push the pedals. Looks like its been a while since anyone posted, so the weather must have gotten better so y'all are out riding. My wife and I just got back from an organized tour in the Czech Republic and Austria, but we got rained out of several days due to some of the worst flooding they've seen in central Europe in a couple decades.

We didn't take our own bikes to Europe, too much hassle. But here at home I made the move a couple years back to a custom carbon frame and DI2 setup. My prior bike I still ride was custom steel touring frame I had made for me back in 1981. So after 30 years I figured I was due for a new bike. DI2 seemed like a large enough tech evolution to warrant a new bike. I went with a little boutique French mfg for the frame -- CYFAC. They built frame for a couple decades for Fignon, Hinault, and many others in the peleton. They'd build the frame and put the sponsors decals on. When frames started to be identifiable by shape they had to go retail. Google them and watch the little videos of the way they build up a carbon frame. It is all tube to tube, not monocoque. They weigh a little more than a frame made in a mold, but they are able to fine tune a frame as you want it.

I added ENVE 3.4's last year, with full ceramic upgrade.

As someone said in a prior post, I'm just an old guy trying to stay young. Some people just don't accept that denial is a valuable coping mechanism!

View attachment 2201

"To attack the pedals may be strenuous over the short
run, but is an expression of trust in one's own powers,
for with the bicycle everything depends on the self."
--Wolfgang Sachs
Click to expand...

Cyfac is not well known but a premier boutique bike builder, very nice rig nicely equipped you have there!

Congrats,
 
Nice ride Bob. It looks fast just standing there! I would say that after 30 years you owed it to yourself to get a new ride. How are you liking the Di2? A guy I know who has it says it is just incredible and he doesn't know what took him so long to make the switch. He's a dealer too!

There's another thread entitled "Did you ride today" that you can share your daily ride if you like.

p.s. Like the sig... :)
 
dlb2 said:
Nice ride Bob. It looks fast just standing there! I would say that after 30 years you owed it to yourself to get a new ride. How are you liking the Di2? A guy I know who has it says it is just incredible and he doesn't know what took him so long to make the switch. He's a dealer too!
p.s. Like the sig... :)
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Thanks Doug, the DI2 is sweet, every shift, every time, quick, precise, auto-trimming feature is amazing. That said, Campy has done it better with being able to sweep the cassette, where Shimano is one shift at a time. (Though the latest DI2 can be set up for multiple shifts). The other "issue" for me is moving from an old half-step & granny system to compact gearing. The front shift on my half-step was four teeth, on a compact it is 16 teeth. So going into a hill the timing needs to be right on to keep perfect momentum, or you need several shifts in the rear to get a change that feels balanced. The ability to set up the number of cogs you wish to change by holding the shift paddle a little longer will remedy this. I'm an old Campy fan, but the Shimano kit is terrific. I hear the Campy electronic shift in front isn't quite as immediate as the Shimano. I haven't ridden the Campy but would consider swapping the kit if it felt appreciably better. Shimano crank has hollow chainrings which are beefy stiff, but I find there is a little more overall "noise" in the system vs. a solid chainring. But being an audio geek I probably am hearing something others would never notice.

Overall, the feel on my old half-step campy setup is smoother feeling than Shimano with ceramic crank bearing upgrade. I still love riding that old steel bike, but the new rig easily gets me a couple more miles per hour for the same effort. Must be combo of stiffer, more efficient frame, and the amazing ENVE wheelset. With the ENVE wheels I feel like I'm drafting someone even when I'm out front.
 
My wife's birthday is this weekend. Last year I got her a Cyfac as well, one model (Gothica) below mine and stock size frame. I just ordered her a nice set of wheels from WheelBuilder. I really like the ENVE 3.4 wheels so I had a duplicate set made up for the wife. I went with the 3.4 set even though I know consider I should have perhaps upgraded my own to the 6.7 set and passed the 3.4 set to her. But a 60mm deep front rim, even though it is supposed to provide balanced handling, seems like it would be challenging in a sidewind (regardless of what reviewers might say.) I can get a little anxious on a steep downhill with a crosswind on the 35mm front wheel on the 3.4 set. What I don't know is how much "more" the tug would be with the deeper wheel.

The custom build up is Alchemy ELF front hub, Sapim CX-Ray spokes, DT Swiss 240 rear hub (decal removed), and full ceramic speed bearing upgrade (both front bearings, both rear bearings and also the two in the freehub.) Total weight about 1368 grams.

I'll post a pic once the wheels get in.
 
1368 grams, sweet! Wow, that's light! And your specs sound fantastic! I would love to get a set of lighter/faster tires, but stuck in analysis paralysis myself.:skeptical:
 
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