Most Drool-inducing Road Bike?

 

Maybe we need a new drool-inducing wheels thread. What are ya gonna get?

Did you see the new Pro-only R-SYS wheels? 900 grams - for the pair!!!

 

LOL, I dunno. I need to lose a few more pounds and complete a few centuries before I can start shopping. You don't want a guy my size on a set of Zipps . I'm currently replacing my Mavic CXP 22 with a 36 spoke set of Open Pro's. 

 

Michael

I'd ride one, but I wouldn't put IF decals on it (I see the buyer can chose what decals (s)he wants). Riding a bike that costs 6G for frame and fork says something about the rider. So I'd leave the frame bare.

Always had an affinity for Indy Fab bikes ... starting with Fat Chance before them (owned a Wicked, and still have my Yo Eddy, but strangely never lusted after the then Slim Chance road frame).

 

The XS and SSR are truly drool worthy choices - excellent choice!.  The only problem I'd have is they're so nice I wouldn't want to ride them!

 

 

 

My wife has been riding steel bikes for years (first a Centurion and then a Terry).  We finally sprung for a carbon fiber bike.  She loves it!

 

 

I'll bet you'd get over that.

 

 

You might be surprised how strong those things can be. I've ridden the 303s and the 404s and they do both feel noticeably faster (and stable in crosswinds too, which you would not expect). If I lived somewhere flat like you I'd be riding those, I don't because I am afraid of heat buildup on long downhills.

On that note did you know that Zipp makes a clydesdale version of the 404 ?

 

I'm not into tubies anymore - too much hassle for very little performance gain / weight savings.  Clinchers have come a lonnnng way in how they feel ... plus 7 flats one summer season was enough to make me give my tubulars away! 

 

I'm not wild about the aluminum/carbon bonded 404 clincher so I went with a set of Bontrager Aeoulus 5.0 clinchers, which are built with the race XXX lite carbon rim - one of the stiffest rims ever tested.

 

I think the nice set of wheels you'd be looking at would actually be stiffer than the ones you're on!  And, funny how when you put wheels like that on even a Huffy they look really good!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm an incrementalist, and a set of Zipp Cyclocross wheels would look good on my CX bike. I have a target weight goal of 185 lbs by October, these would make a nice reward for hitting that goal: http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech.php?id=tech/2005/reviews/zipp_303_cross

 

Cheers,

 

Michael

 

 

 

I've always wondered if that wasn't bike and fit-dependent.    

 

  I used to have  a 72 parallel frame with Campy Omegas on it;  bridge crossings in wind were deadly coz the front wheel would skip 4-6" sideways.

 

It's summertime.   You need to enjoy yourself.    May I suggest:

 

 

Hi C,

 

As you know from trying to follow me at JH, I have no problem enjoying sports.

 

Michael

 

So if I fly into chicago, can we do a Riverbikes hydrobike rematch?

 

do you actually have one of those!?! I've never seen one. 

 

You might get blown to Michigan City if you tried to use it on the Chicago Lakefront.

 

Michael

Edited by WILDCAT - 5/15/2009 at 04:36 pm GMT

Hydrobikes.com insist there's a rental place for something similar by you:

 

http://www.funwatercraft.com/htmls/rentallocations.html

 

 

I -don't- have one of those.   I'd be kinda nervous using inflated PVC in the waters I'd want to look at.  

 

I was in an inflatable kayak playing in the tidal flats off Matthews, VA and wound up losing air 2 miles off shore.   Crab claws are -sharp-.

Edited by comprex - 5/15/2009 at 05:46 pm GMT

 

Probably, but I rode the 404s back to back with Omegas on the same day and the 404s were better in crosswind. I did not expect that.

 

 

If you fly to Chicago, you can use one of my bikes. No rematch, you might get too far ahead of me and end-up in the wrong 'hood.

 

Michael

 

 

You are a funny guy.  

 "As you know from trying to follow me at JH..."

 

Talk smack, then dodge the hydrobike challenge. Weak.

When I first hijacked this thread I didn't name the pro race who sold me the bike--- it isn't proper to post on sponsored riders selling gear.

 

My friend died last night,  Everyone in Bend is shocked and depressed.  I'll be keeping this bike.

 

Here's something from Velonews....Thanks for the inspiration Steve:

 

Steve Larsen, probably the only professional who competed and won major races as a mountain biker, road biker and triathlete, died Tuesday evening after collapsing during a running workout.

Larsen was 39 and he and his wife Carrie Larsen have five children.

"He was doing a track workout and he collapsed. They did CPR immediately and an ambulance arrived quickly, but they weren't able to save him," his friend Michael Nyberg told VeloNews

Another friend of the family confirmed Larsen's death, saying that an autopsy is pending, but that he apparently suffered a heart attack.

Larsen began racing in the 1980s and was on the Motorola team for three years in the early 1990s, racing the Giro d'Italia and other major European events. He then moved into mountain biking, winning the NORBA National Cross-Country title in 1997 and 2000.

In 2001, he switched to triathlon, qualifying for the Ironman in his first year in the sport, and finishing ninth at the Hawaii event. He also competed in XTerra offroad triathlons. He was reportedly the only American to compete in the world championships for road, mountain bike, track, cyclocross and triathlon. He was a member of the 1993 U.S. world road championship team that helped Lance Armstrong win his first world title.
 

 I just saw that on Velonews and was wondering if you knew him. He seemed to be a pretty classy guy.

Newfy, So sorry to hear about the loss of your friend.  I was reading that article on Velonews yesterday, and like Epic was assuming you knew him as Bend is a pretty tight knit community.  My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.

 

Bend turns out to remember Steve Larsen.  Epic and Roadrash were right, a classy guy in a tight knit community,  There was a nice drool inducing Cervelo adorned in flowers but the photo won't copy.

 

The service had more laughs than tears, as people told their favorite Larsen stories..  His wife grew up with newfydogs...I'll bring the dog by to play with the kids sometime.

 

Now back to our regular programming, sorry for the hijack. 

 Thanks for sharing.  You know someone is really special when the whole community shows up to celebrate their life and pay their respects.  I am sure his wife and kids would really appreciate that gesture.

 

New pic for droolery.

 

Sorry Comprex but too much Hardly-Ableson tie in for my liking

 

Bikes should have chains

 

And while we're at it, how 'bout some freaking chainstay length...I've never seen the attraction with

rear triangles this tight.

Edited by Rossi Smash - 6/24/2009 at 11:48 pm GMT

 You mean for some reason other than because of performance?

Pay no mind to RS on chainstay length: he's still sore from riding that RIGI 25 years ago. 

Mind you, 420mm+ chainstays on downhills are just super nice.

The belt drive folder for the win. Honestly, the first bike I saw in this thread that I must have. Please don't PM me with info on how to get one. Thanks

Imaginary performance, trendy, as seen in the Tour day France?

I'm not a racer, never was. I want an efficient comfortable bike. Just threw a tape on 6 of my bikes in the house....41cm, 41cm, 43cm, 43cm, 44cm, 44cm. I also do almost all of my considerable climbing seated which also favor a longer chainstay length. Limited tire choices is yet another limiting factor when a 23mm tire already grazes the seat tube. I want at least a 25mm for pure road work, possibly a 27-28mm. And no don't believe all the hype about narrower, higher pressure tires being the fastest rollers either.