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i started cycling somewhat seriously about 2 years ago. that was when i also learned how to ride a bike as an adult. this is starting to be a more consuming hobby than i first expected. it is all my friend lance doherty's fault.
cyfac nerv alu
LOOK kg361
frame
thanks to the sponsorship of veloeuropa i was able to get this custom frame at a significant discount. a fitting at toby stanton's hottubes suggested that i didn't need much change to the basic available size. so i didn't need a fully custom-sized frame, but the paint and parts are full-custom.
cyfac is a small artisanal frame maker in la fuye, france. it has a strong reputation for quality (everything is hand-made and hand-finished) and for innovation. its keyhole-shaped tubes are copied worldwide, and now it is a leader in custom carbon frame manufacturing.
the nerv alu is a mix of super-shaped aluminum tubing mated to alain prost-designed carbon parts. the aluminum parts use 7000-series aluminum with the said keyhole shaping on the down and top tubes. the result is a super-dynamic frame with very precise handling that is very efficient and fun to ride. its handling is superior to my look, and is definitely is a faster bike than my older look kg361.
this frame uses an integrated headset with FSA parts. some people are fussy about integrated headsets but i don't see anything wrong with a well-made integrated headset. once properly installed, you don't have to worry about it anymore.
gruppo
i'm an unabashed fan of campagnolo parts. this time i decided to go with the 2004 chorus gruppo, except with an FSA SL-K compact (34/50) crankset. veloeuropa supplied the seatpost, stem and bar for a great deal.
wheels
the newer wheelset that i have is a set of campagnolo record hubs mated to 32-hole mavic open pro rims, laced 3x. totally bombproof for boston roads and quite light.
frame
the LOOK KG361 frame is a steal at its price point. super-stable, very comfortable but a little flexy and sluggish. however, it is also very well-made, durable, and is a proven design. it has been replaced by the KG451 on the LOOK line, the only difference being an integrated headset in the new model.
LOOK gained fame as the supplier to the super-team la vie claire in the 1980s and saw victories in the tour de france. it started as the first automatic pedal manufacturer and now also manufactures frames and wheels. recently it has come to be associated with cycling legend laurent jalabert.
gruppo
this bike came pre-built with campy centaur parts, except for the use1.com alien seatpost and bontrager bar/stem. the alien seatpost is super-light and has a radical design that means that any small adjustment == complete dismantle of the seatpost cluster. once you have it set perfectly, it's a great post, but if you like to fiddle with your fit, start with something else.
wheels
when i purchased this bike, it came with a set of gipiemme 024 tecno star wheels. while it's pretty heavy, this wheelset is somewhat aero, super-stiff and totally bombproof. definitely one of the underrated wheels for its price range. i never had to true them, but after years of abuse, its rear hub finally gave up on me recently.
cycling photos
la gruyere trip
lausanne to la gruyeres and back, july 2004.
short travelogue
TBA
gear reviews
FSA SL-K compact (50/34) crankset w/ megaExo BB
this SL-K set is basically the megaExo (outward bearing) BB version of the previous year's pro elite compact set, which used the ISIS BB. the jury is still out on the durability of the megaExo BB, but it requires fewer installation and deinstallation tools, which is a good thing.
installation was straightforward, but requires the old-style BB installation tool. the manual was outdated in that it didn't explain things very clearly. it initially made me think that some parts were missing, only to find that they had already been pre-installed at the factory. thanks for not explaining the extra favor, guys.
this setup is definitely stiffer than my older campagnolo centaur alloy cranks/square taper BB! climbing is definitely improved and i like the extra lower gear ratios.
people complain about shifting but i never had an issue with compact cranksets. campagnolo released special "compact" front derailleurs with more curvature for the smaller rings, but i was able to achieve reliable shifting with the standard front derailleur. front shifting is a little slower due to the larger cog jumps at the front but still reliable.
one thing to note is that the crankarms are straight and not curved laterally as is the case with the pro elite compact crankarms. the Q-factor is identical. the carbon process is also identical.
manufacturers website: http://www.fullspeedahead.com
FSA pro elite compact (50/34) crankset w/ Ti ISIS BB
the pro elite compact crankset gained instant fame after tyler hamilton's endorsement during the 2003 tour de france. suffering from a shoulder injury, tyler chose a lower gearing and won a stage in the process of finishing the tour!
the idea of using compact ratios is not new; however it is only recently that the materials engineering allowed the manufacturing of smaller cogs and gears with good reliability. larger cogs mean less wear. the popularity of spinning at higher cadences also help. note that the jump from 50 to 34 is larger than the jump from 53 to 39 and back. this means more rear shifting to compensate for front shifts.
this crankset is just as stiff as the SL-K; at least i cannot tell the difference. i prefer the curved crankarms as that means less chances of rubbing against my shoes as i like some float in my pedals. the carbon on the crankarms are made from the same process as the SL-K.
manufacturers website: http://www.fullspeedahead.com
rudy project rydon sunglasses
no two faces are made identically, and one important indicator of fit when considering sunglasses is the curvature and width of the glasses. for that i am grateful for rudy project. it's almost the only brand that fits. the rydon has replaceable lenses and adjustable arms/nose pads for better fit. their lens quality is second only to perhaps oakley's grossly overprices offerings, and the design of the rydon is superbly suited to cycling pursuits. i like it so much i ended up with two pairs of the same model.
manufacturers website: http://www.rudyprojectusa.com
met stradivarius helmet
it is unfortunate that the over-restrictive laws of the US has meant that many great products are not available for same over this side of the atlantic. one such example is the met stradivarius. it is not certified to the US safety standards, because it costs too much to do so. as a result, it is not available for sale in the US. that is really unfortunate, because the strad is well-made, has generous venting helped with pads on the inside of the casque which effectively creates additional space for air inside your helmet, and is quite light. no wonder US cyclists like to ask friends to buy one for them in europe.
manufacturers website: TBA