Sneaky peeky

[-dustin]

http://www.pbase.com/inbred/image/87125662/large.jpg

wish my damn cranks would come in.

[LordOpie]

nice.

Does anyone have enough experience with the hoods on all big three? I don't like campy's ergonomics. I find shimano so much more comfortable.

[loco-gringo]

Sram really does feel nicest to me, at the hoods.

Is it Red, or just red hoods???

[LordOpie]

Sram really does feel nicest to me, at the hoods.

Is it Red, or just red hoods???

It says, "SRAM", so do they make more than one road group?

Do they feel that much better? As in, I should try to build my next bike around sram?

[loco-gringo]

Ride it before you buy it, but I am really liking mine right now. I keep wanting to build a Campy bike, but like my Rival.

They are releasing Red, which is top tier.

Force is currently the top, but only for a mere few weeks. Rival is entry, but super nice and the same internals as Force for the shifters. Read up on it. There is only a trim on the little ring on Force and Rival, but lots of cool stuff for adjusting on Red. Mine is set up just fine, but one I worked on was not, until I tuned it. It is easy though. The Rival came out of a crash really well for me, so I am liking it that much more. There is no mix on it though, other than calipers. Everything drivetrain related must be Sram.

[LordOpie]

good info, thanks.

[-dustin]

SRAM feels fat to me. Campy feels narrow. Shimano, in the middle. It feels to me like I can comfortably hold onto the "knubs" that point up from Shimano and SRAM shifters and rest on the hoods. Can't do that comfortably with Campy. SRAM and Campy have fantastic transitions from the bar to the hoods. nice and flat. Shimano's 10sp stuff is better than the 9sp version, but still not as nice, to me. Campy hoods felt hard.

The Easton bar does a lot for the ergonomics. I love the shape of this bar.

Red hoods...

SRAM has Force and Rival, with Red upcoming. Red will be to Force what Record is to Chorus (**** load more expensive, main differences being weight...though, the Red shifters will have some adjustability that the Force doesn't).

[LordOpie]

It feels to me like I can comfortably hold onto the "knubs" that point up from Shimano...shifters and rest on the hoods. Can't do that comfortably with Campy.

That was exactly my #1 complaint with Campy.

[loco-gringo]

<snip>
SRAM has Force and Rival, with Red upcoming. Red will be to Force what Record is to Chorus (**** load more expensive, main differences being weight...though, the Red shifters will have some adjustability that the Force doesn't).

The shifters are less than $100 retail more than Force. The cassette is the only thing that looks like it will be ultra spendy. I saw some retail pricing, but don't recall where. The weight is less than 100 grams diff, isn't it???

[James]

SRAM feels fat to me. Campy feels narrow. Shimano, in the middle. It feels to me like I can comfortably hold onto the "knubs" that point up from Shimano and SRAM shifters and rest on the hoods. Can't do that comfortably with Campy. SRAM and Campy have fantastic transitions from the bar to the hoods. nice and flat. Shimano's 10sp stuff is better than the 9sp version, but still not as nice, to me. Campy hoods felt hard.

The Easton bar does a lot for the ergonomics. I love the shape of this bar.

Red hoods...

SRAM has Force and Rival, with Red upcoming. Red will be to Force what Record is to Chorus (**** load more expensive, main differences being weight...though, the Red shifters will have some adjustability that the Force doesn't).
Red hoods rule, but man, those SRAM hoods are a b1tch to install, I put a little tear in mine, but no biggie.
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c68/BikeNerd/DSC00639.jpg
I back the Easton bars, just got the new SLX3 bar with the new shallow drop, haven't put them on yet though. Was never a huge fan of their wing bars though, but I don't really like too many of those ergo type bars, too thick when they're wrapped with tape. Just personal preference though.
Let's see the rest of the bike!

[-dustin]

where did your's tear? mine have what looks to be an injection point on the top, right in the middle, on the edge closest to the rider. looks like a tear. kind of bugs me.

[ire]

Damn that Look is hot

[James]

where did your's tear? mine have what looks to be an injection point on the top, right in the middle, on the edge closest to the rider. looks like a tear. kind of bugs me.
Right underneath it, the bottom of the opening for the lever. I have my buddies looking for a new one for me. I've heard rumors of a *purple* hood, but we'll see.

[-dustin]

Well, I was hoping to get some wheels today, but no dice. I'm now in search of some Zipp 404 or 303 carbon tubulars (preferably the Paves). Anyone got any laying around?

Plan is to build them up to Kings.

My carbon SI compacts are going onto eBay...right now I've got SI Hollowgrams with Shimano rings. Waiting to get money for the SI SLs.

[James]

Well, I was hoping to get some wheels today, but no dice. I'm now in search of some Zipp 404 or 303 carbon tubulars (preferably the Paves). Anyone got any laying around?

Plan is to build them up to Kings.

My carbon SI compacts are going onto eBay...right now I've got SI Hollowgrams with Shimano rings. Waiting to get money for the SI SLs.

What wheels were you hoping to get today?
I got a chance to check out the new Zipp line at the show, we might spec some of their wheels on some bikes next year. Custom-colored decals and all. I'd love to try out a set of the 303s, or the new 202s, sooo damn light. Have you seen the new Easton EC90 SLX wheels? 1170g, low-profile rims, so hot.

I know the carbon SI cranks, and the alloy ones, which are the SL? Personally I think the alloy ones at least look a lot cooler.

[-dustin]

I was hoping to get some 404 tubies for cheap, but a deal fell through. So now I'm looking for the rims (or the 303 rims).

Don't like Easton because I don't like the hubs. Want either Zipps to Kings or Reynolds DV46s (as much as I dislike Reynolds, they use a good hub).

SLs are the new, lighter weight alu cranks. Cannondale's not supposed to have any for sale until December, but a fellow employee got some last week. Not exactly cheap.

[James]

I was hoping to get some 404 tubies for cheap, but a deal fell through. So now I'm looking for the rims (or the 303 rims).

Don't like Easton because I don't like the hubs. Want either Zipps to Kings or Reynolds DV46s (as much as I dislike Reynolds, they use a good hub).

SLs are the new, lighter weight alu cranks. Cannondale's not supposed to have any for sale until December, but a fellow employee got some last week. Not exactly cheap.

The older R3 hubs, or the new R4s? Or both? Just curious. I have a set of the Orion II wheels that I've been running for a couple of years, when I first built my 555. They've held up great, light, stiff, fast to accelerate, no complaints. They're going to be relegated to the winter bike, as they're probably the more worn of my wheels, and I'm certainly not running any of my carbons in the rain and or snow.

The Reynolds wheels are pretty hot, I'd love to try out some of those.
So when are we going to see a pic of the complete bike???

[-dustin]

The R3...haven't seen the R4. What changed?

Complete pictures whenever I get some flashy wheels. Right now I've got my D/A, RR1.1 wheels on. Not flashy, not light, but strong.

[James]

The R3...haven't seen the R4. What changed?

Complete pictures whenever I get some flashy wheels. Right now I've got my D/A, RR1.1 wheels on. Not flashy, not light, but strong.

They're totally different. They ditched the twin-thread spokes, and went to a straight-pull design.
They kept the R3 hubs on some wheels, but the new redesigned wheels are all using the new R4. Much better for swapping spokes, no more letting the spoke prep compound cure for 24 hours.
For example, these are pretty much the new Orion II wheels, just updated with the new hub, and I think a new rim too.
http://www.eastonbike.com/PRODUCTS/WHEELS/wheel_ea90_sl.html
They're still selling the Orions, but probably just until they run through their hub/rim stock, that'd be my guess.
Their new carbon rim is pretty hot too, they're making it themselves, no more Zipp rims. If you're in the market, I'd track down some info on them, the EC90 Aero I think they're calling it.

[-dustin]

called I9 today. Their roadie wheels sound quite nice. Alu rims coming from the same manufacturer that does Easton and Reynolds, carbon rims from from Edge (38 and 48mm, if I recall) and Lew (highest level wheel...same rim as the Pro VT-1). The only thing I don't like is that the "nipples" are at the hub. I really, really dislike that.

I wish our Zipp rep was a little more responsive. I've called him twice w/o return call. And he lives like 1mi away.

[-dustin]

talked to Jake at Edge Composites today. I will be buying some of their rims and building them up to some King hubs I have laying around.

from what Jake told me, Edge Composites seems to have the right idea about rims. Can't way to see them. Being made Tuesday...should have them not too long after.

[loco-gringo]

I sold some Race XXX Lite clinchers this week. Pure sex. :drool:

[James]

talked to Jake at Edge Composites today. I will be buying some of their rims and building them up to some King hubs I have laying around.

from what Jake told me, Edge Composites seems to have the right idea about rims. Can't way to see them. Being made Tuesday...should have them not too long after.

Those Edge rims are leaking more and more into the market, pretty nice looking in my opinion. The UD-finish rims are hot. They have some pretty interesting construction techniques.
So let's hurry up and get some pics of that damned bike!!!

[-dustin]

the construction is why I have chosen to go with them. it just makes sense. especially after having to rebuild a Reynolds Cirro....what a ****in' pain.

[-dustin]

real quick...

http://www.pbase.com/inbred/image/87912039/large.jpg

man, i love this bike. put on the carbon 2 piece SI compacts today...we'll see. i really, really want some SL cranks in black.

[James]

real quick...

man, i love this bike. put on the carbon 2 piece SI compacts today...we'll see. i really, really want some SL cranks in black.

Soooooo hot!
Do they make the SL cranks in black? That would be super dope.
Those wheels are going to make that bike really pop! Love the color combo too.
What bar is that?

[-dustin]

Stock Easton EC90 bar. i love the bar. so comfy...from what I understand, quite a few folks aren't digging it, but man...it's just about perfect, to me.

the black SLs are apparently Euro-only. going to chat with the C-Dale rep and see what he can do for me.

[James]

Stock Easton EC90 bar. i love the bar. so comfy...from what I understand, quite a few folks aren't digging it, but man...it's just about perfect, to me.

the black SLs are apparently Euro-only. going to chat with the C-Dale rep and see what he can do for me.
How come you didn't wrap the whole thing?
Or is it the new EC90 with the finger nubs?

[-dustin]

to answer old questions that i looked over....

didn't wrap the entire thing 'cause I prefer a thinner feeling bar up top. or at least, wrapping it would've felt too fat. and i lied, it's actually the EC70 wing.

since that picture, i've swapped cranks over to the carbon compacts, replaced the stock post with a Thomson, and swapped the stem for a 100mm FSA stem. i'm afraid my reach is a little stretched currently. having been fit, i'm trying to tweak things. i want to swap the EC70s for something with a shorter reach. oddly, the EC90 Equipes have a 75mm reach, which is like 10mm shorter than my EC70s. and that 10mm is what I need. I do not want a 90mm stem. i can't seem to find many carbon bars that have ~75mm of reach.

[loco-gringo]

FSA SL-K claims to be 78mm, according to QBP. Still looking.

Aren't Kestrel EMS bars pretty shallow??? Doesn't Spec do one???

[loco-gringo]

Nevermind. EMS is 85mm.

[Mr. Hankey]

since that picture, i've swapped cranks over to the carbon compacts, replaced the stock post with a Thomson, and swapped the stem for a 100mm FSA stem. i'm afraid my reach is a little stretched currently. having been fit, i'm trying to tweak things. i want to swap the EC70s for something with a shorter reach. oddly, the EC90 Equipes have a 75mm reach, which is like 10mm shorter than my EC70s. and that 10mm is what I need. I do not want a 90mm stem. i can't seem to find many carbon bars that have ~75mm of reach.

Without pics it didn't happen

[-dustin]

went to a 90mm System6 stem. i like the EC70 too much to get rid of it, so my only option was a shorter stem.

full shot:

http://www.pbase.com/inbred/image/89047278/large.jpg

hate inline adjuster, so i just used 1:

http://www.pbase.com/inbred/image/89047279/large.jpg

bye bye USE Alien. obligatory slap-bracelet:

http://www.pbase.com/inbred/image/89047280/large.jpg

right shifter is being warrantied. it's acting up...i asked SRAM if the shifters were rebuildable, and they told me no, which is contradictory to what everyone else has told me. hm.

[James]

Hot, hot hot man!
I love those bikes, the color scheme is just DOPE!

I would have gone a bit deeper-section, but I guess the other depth that Edge makes is 68mm, which is a bit deep for all-around riding...

Side note, does anyone have a line on a previous model Easton Tempest II carbon rear wheel? I've got a front, need a rear! :)

[-dustin]

I would just like to state again how much I freakin love this bike.