Back in March, I'd been doing my "Winter dreaming" again.
I found a carbon road bike that weighs under 8 kilos, kitted out with Campagnolo Chorus, on clearance, advertised at about £1150 (c. $1600, €1400).
Wow, just wow !!!!
(Not many things in life are worth FOUR exclamation marks!)
Just price up a Chorus groupset to see how great that price is.
Worth buying for the parts alone!
In case you are wondering about the price, it was from a "pro" race team that races in the class below the real top end (so not Team Sky, then!), and the team was ending, not entirely unconnected with quite a few of their riders having failed drugs tests. There were a number of bikes, and each had rider names on them, and had been used, but not that much. Some were the riders' number one bikes, and some were the riders' number two bikes, each rider having had two bikes. Sizing was: if there was a team rider about your size, there is a bike (or two) available.
So "proper" racing bikes, then, not poseur's toys.
I found a carbon road bike that weighs under 8 kilos, kitted out with Campagnolo Chorus, on clearance, advertised at about £1150 (c. $1600, €1400).
Wow, just wow !!!!
(Not many things in life are worth FOUR exclamation marks!)
Just price up a Chorus groupset to see how great that price is.
Worth buying for the parts alone!
In case you are wondering about the price, it was from a "pro" race team that races in the class below the real top end (so not Team Sky, then!), and the team was ending, not entirely unconnected with quite a few of their riders having failed drugs tests. There were a number of bikes, and each had rider names on them, and had been used, but not that much. Some were the riders' number one bikes, and some were the riders' number two bikes, each rider having had two bikes. Sizing was: if there was a team rider about your size, there is a bike (or two) available.
So "proper" racing bikes, then, not poseur's toys.
But then I thought about it.
For a couple of days.
Bikes like that are rather a one trick pony.
For a couple of days.
Bikes like that are rather a one trick pony.
Think of all the things I like to do that a fancy carbon-framed road bike is rubbish at.
Getting the groceries with my wife, for example
.
Mermaid is a great "errands" bike.
Leaving in an outdoor bike rack at work is another example.
Mermaid is cheap and unattractive to most thieves.
Getting the groceries with my wife, for example
.
Mermaid is a great "errands" bike.
Leaving in an outdoor bike rack at work is another example.
Mermaid is cheap and unattractive to most thieves.
So what would a sub-8 kilo road bike get me?
Well, more than 10 kilos of weight less than Mermaid for a start!
But I reckon I could knock about 3 kilos off Mermaid's weight by:
1) just fitting racing tyres - 28mm tyres will fit on my existing rims, 50 quid, ($70, €60) or so a pair, and would save about 1300g
2) removing the mudguards, which are steel - Velo Orange stainless steel mudguards are listed at 700g, so I guess Mermaid's will be in the same ballpark
3) removing unused/unnecessary accessories. Mermiad has a side stand and one front pannier rack. Plus I keep two locks and 4 lights on the bike, too.
So that is 3 kilos of the weight savings I could make for only a modest expenditure.
The other 7+ kilos I should aim to at least partly take off my bodyweight. With a BMI of about 23, I still have plenty of spare long-range fuel (i.e. "fat") onboard
.
Well, more than 10 kilos of weight less than Mermaid for a start!
But I reckon I could knock about 3 kilos off Mermaid's weight by:
1) just fitting racing tyres - 28mm tyres will fit on my existing rims, 50 quid, ($70, €60) or so a pair, and would save about 1300g
2) removing the mudguards, which are steel - Velo Orange stainless steel mudguards are listed at 700g, so I guess Mermaid's will be in the same ballpark
3) removing unused/unnecessary accessories. Mermiad has a side stand and one front pannier rack. Plus I keep two locks and 4 lights on the bike, too.
So that is 3 kilos of the weight savings I could make for only a modest expenditure.
The other 7+ kilos I should aim to at least partly take off my bodyweight. With a BMI of about 23, I still have plenty of spare long-range fuel (i.e. "fat") onboard
.
The three things that I
need to improve (in order of importance) are aero, rolling resistance
(Marathon Plus are not the worst tyres in the World, but they don't roll
like "race" tyre), and weight.
Weight I've covered.
Rolling resistance would be vastly improved with just a new set of tyres (e.g. 28mm Schwalbe One tyres have a coefficient of rolling resistance just over half that of the 35mm Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres that are my commuting "staples")
Aero is harder.
At the end of the day, Mermaid has a frame about three sizes too small for me - Mermaid is a "fill-in" built from my wife's old bike, and my wife is 8 or 9 inches (20 to 22cm) shorter than me, so the frame is a "ladies" small/medium, whereas I would take a "men's" large.
If I achieved a nice aero position, my butt would be VERY far back, and my chin would be VERY far forwards.
With a fairly upright riding position, I can wing it with a MUCH longer seatpost, and strange handlebars.
But for aero, I need a bigger frame.
No getting round it.
If I went for a "bike fit", I'd be paying them for the blatantly obvious.
I need a bigger frame.
Then I need drops.
So I'd need new brake/gear controls, too.
At the end of the day, Mermaid has a frame about three sizes too small for me - Mermaid is a "fill-in" built from my wife's old bike, and my wife is 8 or 9 inches (20 to 22cm) shorter than me, so the frame is a "ladies" small/medium, whereas I would take a "men's" large.
If I achieved a nice aero position, my butt would be VERY far back, and my chin would be VERY far forwards.
With a fairly upright riding position, I can wing it with a MUCH longer seatpost, and strange handlebars.
But for aero, I need a bigger frame.
No getting round it.
If I went for a "bike fit", I'd be paying them for the blatantly obvious.
I need a bigger frame.
Then I need drops.
So I'd need new brake/gear controls, too.
But do I need a fancy carbon bike?
No, not really.
No, not really.
A
look around reveals that Decathlon, the French sporting goods
superstore chain, have their Triban 500se model at £300 ($420, €390).
Weighs about 10.5 kilos. 8 speed. Handy, because I have some 8-9 speed
parts. Triple on the front. Looks like square taper BB (Mermaid has a
triple, with a square taper BB).
Drops, too.
Mixed groupset, with Microsoft levers/derailleur. But hey, I have a Shimano long cage 8 speed and a Shimano long cage 9 speed already (the "8" is on Mermaid at the moment).
Drops, too.
Mixed groupset, with Microsoft levers/derailleur. But hey, I have a Shimano long cage 8 speed and a Shimano long cage 9 speed already (the "8" is on Mermaid at the moment).
 |
| This is a slightly lower spec "flat-bar" Triban 500. The frame etc is the same as the 500SE. |
Yes, it won't change as well as a Chorus groupset.
But the entire bike costs less than a Chorus cassette and derailleur.
Oh, and as a bonus, the Triban has mudguard mounts and rear rack mounts, too.
So watch this space.
I might just get that Triban, then start to strip Mermaid for parts.
Or keep Mermaid as a commuter, with the Triban for pleasure and Audax.
I might just get that Triban, then start to strip Mermaid for parts.
Or keep Mermaid as a commuter, with the Triban for pleasure and Audax.
But I'll think a little longer about it first.
Think twice, buy once.
Think twice, buy once.
In the end I went for the £230 ($345, €299) Hoprider 300, and then changed a few parts.
(the bars are from Mermaid, the saddle is from Lidl).
You can read the changes I made to get the new bike down in weight a bit here.
The Hoprider takes thicker tyres, and comes with a hub dynamo, both of which will be useful for the primary task I undertake by bike, which is commuting to work. There is still some scope to strip a few bits off, though, and if I made the spec similar to the Triban models, the Hoprider would only weigh about an extra pound (half-kilo) or so. And with a 25kg-rated rear carrier, the Hoprider will be better for shopping, too. The wider tyres will be handy on canal paths, one of the places where I like to ride sometimes.
OK, so not quite as light as a Triban, but get some lighter wheels and some fancy "race" tyres on there, and the Hoprider will manage well enough for my needs.
As it is, with a few tweaks to Hoppy, I knocked a whole hour off my time in the local charity sportive! Passed quite a few bikes costing a good bit more than mine. Got passed by quite a few riders with much more trained legs than mine.
Legs seem to matter more than bikes.
So time to get my legs into tip-top shape.
I recently purchased a turbo trainer, for some rehab after a back problem (walking and static cycling are both recommended by reliable health organisations), and also to build my legs for next year (2017).
So before I worry any more about a "proper" road bike, I'm going to be working on my "proper" road legs first!
I ought to get my BMI down to 20, as well.
No point being a fat rider on a skinny bike!
(the bars are from Mermaid, the saddle is from Lidl).
You can read the changes I made to get the new bike down in weight a bit here.
The Hoprider takes thicker tyres, and comes with a hub dynamo, both of which will be useful for the primary task I undertake by bike, which is commuting to work. There is still some scope to strip a few bits off, though, and if I made the spec similar to the Triban models, the Hoprider would only weigh about an extra pound (half-kilo) or so. And with a 25kg-rated rear carrier, the Hoprider will be better for shopping, too. The wider tyres will be handy on canal paths, one of the places where I like to ride sometimes.
OK, so not quite as light as a Triban, but get some lighter wheels and some fancy "race" tyres on there, and the Hoprider will manage well enough for my needs.
As it is, with a few tweaks to Hoppy, I knocked a whole hour off my time in the local charity sportive! Passed quite a few bikes costing a good bit more than mine. Got passed by quite a few riders with much more trained legs than mine.
Legs seem to matter more than bikes.
So time to get my legs into tip-top shape.
I recently purchased a turbo trainer, for some rehab after a back problem (walking and static cycling are both recommended by reliable health organisations), and also to build my legs for next year (2017).
So before I worry any more about a "proper" road bike, I'm going to be working on my "proper" road legs first!
I ought to get my BMI down to 20, as well.
No point being a fat rider on a skinny bike!
With a posh bike replacing the parts will cost a bomb when they wear out. Unless you are racing for money why have a sporty bike at all. If I felt the need to compete (which I don't) but entered a race for fun then why not do it on my normal bike, and except you will be a bit slower.
ReplyDeleteI suppose many are competitive, and there is also the placebo effect of getting on a "fast" bike and therefore going faster. I read an opinion the other day:
Bikes were for utility, then cars became affordable to many, bikes went down in popularity so bike manufactures had to start selling bikes as a sports accessory. An upright ride, sprung saddle and fat tires disappeared because they were not sporty, regardless of how much people actually needed a sporty bike.
I don't really care what bike people ride, but I have built mine to suite me. I am not really happy to ride a bike that is put together based on a marketing strategy.
best part(s) of my bike is/are probably the heavy tyres/tires. every time i go for a long ride, i seem to see someone with a puncture.
DeleteMe?
I've got Schwalbe Marathon Plus :-)