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Fantasizing of new aero road bike...
Last Post 02/21/2021 06:58 AM by Nicholas Arenella. 72 Replies.
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Orange Crush

Posts:4499

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01/27/2021 09:40 AM
Ok, here is a breakfast thought in context of new technology.

How much pedal power would it take to keep the electronic shift batteries charged and not have to deal with remembering to charge them at home, would it noticeably affect performance? Heck could one not even add a charge port for the garmin? Of course we’re only putting out the equivalent of a couple bright light bulbs so this could be a non starter.
huckleberry

Posts:824

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01/27/2021 09:56 AM
OC - No problem cleaning them. We have a nice area outside on the sunny side of the house with a concrete patio that I clean off my bikes after each ride - I am the definition of anal retentive. And my wife has been very understanding - she is just happy that I am bale to ride again - and I have done lots of work on my bikes in the open living area as the floor is very forgiving, and like I sad, I am anal retentive ; ) Rebuilt my hardtail into a gravel bike, replaced chains, degreased cassettes and other parts, etc. Yet you would come into our house and think we just cleaned the place. It's just the way we are.

Thanks CK for the guestimate. Maybe I'll find a used 2021 Orbea this fall - fingers crossed.

Nick - I'll check out the Marinoni. Thanks.
Dale

Posts:1767

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01/27/2021 11:56 AM
Posted By Cosmic Kid on 01/26/2021 10:29 PM

....at least if rumors of the new Shimano / SRAM stuff are accurate.


Do tell... what rumors? I'm out of the loop on all things new, cool, and upcoming.
79pmooney

Posts:3178

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01/27/2021 12:19 PM
Huck, Mt Ashland was our day 5. A supersized Mt. Diablo. Enjoyed it but I didn't ride the gravel up to the top. 24c tires, fixed and my legs said "really?" Refreshments at the ski lift parking lot was plenty. This was the rest day, the easy day. (Friday) Day 3 (Wed) had been up from a Klamath ranch to the Crater Lake rim, around and back down, then west to Prospect. Billed as 88 miles and 8800'. I took a wrong turn and descended down to the "meadow" above the North Gate. Best descent of the week! Climbed back up and continued. So that day was close to 100 miles and 10,000'. (I was on fumes riding around the Lake. Had almost no food as I knew I was good to do the rim and get to lunch. Too wasted to appreciate the most spiritual place in the NW to the natives. It was just "legs, get me to lunch".) Thursday was another 5300' but the great Dead Indian descent.

Day 6 was back up that climb. Once I'd flipped the wheel to the 23 and gotten about a mile up, it started sinking in. There was another hour or more to do. A long repetition of pass on the left until "car back!". pull in and ride the painfully slow line (in a 42-23!), wait for the car(s) and the long line of bikes behind, pull out and repeat. Suddenly, the respite! A woman came dancing past me out of the saddle. "Yeah!" Wearing a Candlelighters jersey with the name Sara. A few minutes later, I passed her, calling out "Sara" as I did. She lit up. For the next hour, we traded places; me getting the boost every time she came by, me calling out and seeing the smile when I did. (Half way, she corrected me. "My name's Suzie." She was riding for a Sara, a young woman with cancer.)

I eventually pulled away when the riders thinned in the final mile or so. Met her (and her husband) at the rest stop at the top. Like me, she is a born climber and lives for it. Unlike me, she didn't learn this until well into middle age as a tri. Switched to road. Learned later she is famous round Portland for her climbing. Didn't see her again for several years. We tried to ride together, but it takes a very special timing to make it work. She is far stronger than me on the flat and because of her health issues, she had to start fast. I cannot. That day, it just happened we were on my territory, me ahead and warmed up when she passed and it was magic. One of those gifts. (She told me she needed those call-outs to get up the hill as much as I needed to see her dance.)

I never did get to see Ashland. I think the Shakespeare festival was happening. I was too beat to leave camp for anything but the next ride. (I was usually in my tent before the music started.) The reality of being 59 years old and fix gears still being 25-33% harder. (And it's kinda funny - I've only ridden Cycle Oregon on gears the very first time and twice when I didn't have sufficient training so except that first time, I've never had evening energy!)

Last year we did Crater Lake again, this time from the north. Rest day at Diamond Lake. Got to do the North Gate climb rested and the rim in good shape. I rode it for my Mom who passed 2 weeks before to the day. Lots of stops like she would have done and very spiritual. Perfect, clear day. (And that descent - great on a 42-12 fix gear!) I'd wanted to do that North Entrance since the "oops!" descent 8 years ago.

Edit: and to the topic:  No, Jessica J is not aero with hidden cables and 16 pounds but she was a brand new pure road bike!  Just not a modern concept geared one.  It had been 3 weeks from its first ride when I went to the annual Cycle Oregon Kickoff Party and saw the upcoming route.  Looked at the course profile.  Except Crater Lake, each day was one long!! climb and descent.  One cog change and maybe two wheel flips in 70 miles?  No problem!  I'm taking this brand new fix gear that was conceived to do exactly that!  (I'll have to make a lightweight chainwhip.)  And Crater Lake?  The rim can be ridden on just 23 (now 24) and 12 tooth cogs.  There is no flat!
Cosmic Kid

Posts:4209

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01/27/2021 01:27 PM
Do tell... what rumors?


Dura Ace 12 speed and SRAM will be all eTap down to Rival (no mechanical options for Red, Force or Rival). No word if the Rival wireless will be AXS or 11spd. My gut says 11 spd so they protect the desire to move up to Force or Red, but that is solely supposition on my part.

The DA stuff has been long speculated / rumored and I have the SRAM info from a good source. So if both are accurate, suppliers are likely to be pretty lean on some models this year so they aren't unloading "old tech" once the new stuff hits. Combine with alreadu high-demand and it could make finding a new bike this year a bit more challenging.

Now, that said, I've been poking around the interwebs on some bikes for huck....depending on the size he is looking for, there are a few options out there. But inventory across the board is definitely low right now.

Huck, another option you could consider is a frameset and then building it up with components yourself (or having a shop build it).
Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
huckleberry

Posts:824

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01/27/2021 01:34 PM
Great stories, Ben.

That's an accomplishment!

Never done Crater Lake - I'm hoping it's in the cards this Summer. Gonna really try to get there.

When I lived in Marin, I would ride Mount Tam at least once a week as it was so close and wonderful. Once in a while we would do the quadruple climb and ascend a different route each climb, returning to sea level in between - I think that was a total of 12K feet climbing. Don't know if that would be smart for me these days.

My joints have no desire for a fixie ; )

As a matter of fact, I am liking some of the new gearing options with the SRAM Force 12 speed - a 33/46 crank with a 10-28. I could use those ranges. My days of big gears are behind me. Dance me up a hill, please.

The Shakespeare festival runs 8 months out of the year, but it doesn't look like it will even start up again this year - typically starts in March, I believe. Possibly a half season, but I am not hearing good possibilities.
zootracer

Posts:833

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01/27/2021 04:55 PM
I had my LBS build up a 2014 Trek Madone 5.9 with Ultegra 11, Ultegra R8000 50x34 crank, Hed Belgium plus rims, rim brakes. It has internal cable routing, which frankly is a PIA and I really don't find an advantage accept for maybe appearance. Changing cables is something I have my LBS do. It was a NOS frame and it cost me $3100 (including tax). It weighs under 15 pounds. My suggestion is try to find a NOS frame and have it built up. I'd go with rims brakes, Keeps the cost (and weight down). My new Trek has Disc brakes, Ultegra Di2 . But's that's a story for another day (it's an Ebike. I threw in the towel.
huckleberry

Posts:824

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01/27/2021 05:59 PM
Zoot -

I'm curious about the cables, and the headaches they can give. I rarely touch my cables but every 5 years, give or take. Is it that big of a deal? What am I missing?

I have built up many bikes, and have a nice Lynskey that is fairly light - about 16 pounds for me who is 6-3 and 195 pounds - but thought it would be fun for a totally new experience. It's starting to feel like the new experience may not be worth the $6K expense and the wait to find the bike I want back in stock.

But, like I said, I am exploring my options now, and appreciating the comments that point out the negatives, as I have plenty of time to decide what I want to do.

Gracias!
Orange Crush

Posts:4499

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01/27/2021 06:40 PM
Orbea used to have a build your own bike option. Pick a frame, pick a wheelset, pick component level. That's how mine came together, superlight everything (by 13 year ago standards). Not sure if they still have that option. The only thing I ever really updated was handlebar cable routing, in its original inception that was still old school.

Is 33/46 crank with a 10-28 best option? My understanding is chain efficiency declines with these really tiny cogs. so somewhat bigger both front and back might run smoother while having effectively same gearing? I like my 50/34 w 11-28 on Orbea. The 28 used to be a 25 until this year but changed for same reasons as Huck.
6ix

Posts:485

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01/27/2021 07:59 PM
Since you said you like SRAM, have you considered the BMC Teammachine? The 'three' model has Force eTap.

https://www.bmc-switzerland.com/intl_en/teammachine-slr-01-three.html
zootracer

Posts:833

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01/27/2021 08:21 PM
O.C.

I broke the cable for my front derailleur about 2 years after I bought it. I finished out the ride using the small ring. I got home and was going to try and install the cable myself, but digging through my stash of cables I only had Campy in stock (long time Campy guy). I took the bike down to my LBS. It was late in the day and I asked if they could replace the cable while I waited. Wrench said no. It's a pain and they use a magnet to guide the cable and it takes a little time. But he took pity on me and said they would do it first thing in the morning. And they did. One problem is my eyes are shot, hard to see in my garage even with good light. I'm starting to have my LBS do stuff I could easily do myself in the past.

If you are on a limb about Di2, do it. Man, it is nice. Perfect shifts and no adjusting. You can recharge the battery by plugging it in to your PC. I'm not completely sold on disc brakes, but I have not ridden in the wet yet. For 6K you should find a nice ride.
Cosmic Kid

Posts:4209

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01/28/2021 10:50 AM
huck, what about a BMC Time Machine? A bit higher than you wanted to spend (~$7K), but a number of sizes in stock and looks like it checks all your boxes (integrated cables, electronic shifting, aero, discs, etc).

https://www.bmc-switzerland.com/us_en/timemachine-01-road-three.html
Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
huckleberry

Posts:824

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01/28/2021 02:40 PM
CK -

Yeah, 6ix mentioned the Team Machine also. I do like the BMC's, but would have to go with used as they seem to be a grand or so higher for the same specs that I am finding on the Orbea.

BUT, they do seem to have both of the BMC's in my size in stock... Hmm.
6ix

Posts:485

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01/28/2021 03:49 PM
There are a number of things I personally really like with the BMC if comparing to the Orbea. I like both brands a lot, but the BMC includes bottle cages that are semi-integrated into the frame and the thru-axle ends are closed off on the opposite side of the levers. Plus the fully integrated bar and stem. Although I love the color orange, don't think I'd want my bike that color as it seriously limits my clothing options.
huckleberry

Posts:824

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01/28/2021 04:46 PM
6ix - I get it. It's a beauty, except for the Halloween colors ; )

The link that CK posted is the U.S. site and has a different color - Petrol, much more agreeable.

With BMC showing the only available bikes, it may be the way I go, but still not in a hurry.

AND I couldn't fit how wide of tire you can get on the BMC...
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