Road Bike Racing - The 2008 Racing Rig

2007 SystemSix-3
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x220/esammuli/7RST3D_blk.jpg

Picking it up first thing in the morning.

I will be exchanging the cranks and shifters for Cannondale Carbon SI and Dura Ace, respectively. In about a month I'm going to be adding Reynolds carbon clinchers with a Powertap SL. Should be a fun season. :D

Very nice rig, I wish I could have one of those.

Cool, but you shoulda got this paint scheme...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2161/2093052272_3f9133f82a_m.jpg

What size are you getting? Do you know the weight? A guy I rode with a few times on weekend rides has one. I picked it up and it was so crazy light I laughed. then he picked up my 20lbs bike and said 'how do you ride this tank?'. I think his was a 56cm.

You say SuperSix
The bike has SystemSix on the top tube.

I'm confused.

You say SuperSix
The bike has SystemSix on the top tube.

I'm confused.

Oops, sorry, meant to say SystemSix. I guess thats just what I wanted it to say. lol.

Nice.

I'm not actually sure why but I've been wanting a 'dale lately.

I'll take a Caad9 or SystemSix with a SRM Si crank and full Dura Ace though.

I was going to get one of these myself, problem is Cannondale has no 63's available in 07's or 08. So I got a tarmac. When they are available I will most likely get one. Nice bike.

I was going to get one of these myself, problem is Cannondale has no 63's available in 07's or 08. So I got a tarmac. When they are available I will most likely get one. Nice bike.

This is actually going to be replacing my 06 Tarmac Pro. I'll let you know how I like it.

Cool, but you shoulda got this paint scheme...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2161/2093052272_3f9133f82a_m.jpg

For an additional $6000...

My new bike for 2008, first new bike I've bought since, well, before Cannondale made bikes.

http://bp1.blogger.com/_TbmplkIYLx8/Ryn_YpU4abI/AAAAAAAAAMM/GiobfgwHlzc/s320/100_2564.JPG

52 cm, Ritchey stem, will use mavic crit bars (not 3ttt which is on for training), and not keeping the wheels (will use Reynolds DV46T and hopefully some carbon clinchers, currently shod with neither - Campy + FiR Zenith). The wheels were on the bike to hold it off the floor.

I cut the "shot glass" bit off the fork (above the stem). The "shot glass" is the stack of spacers (40 mm) provided with the bike. I'll be using 0 mm.

I thought I wouldn't like the seat but I like it. Will need a zero setback post.

http://sprinterdellacasa.blogspot.com/2007/10/equipment-srm-and-cannondale.html
http://sprinterdellacasa.blogspot.com/2007/11/equipment-ups-rules-or-how-i-got-my.html

Coming off of a Giant TCR carbon (Record and other Campy) this bike is a nice surprise. Seems a lot more responsive, will do some tests on a Computrainer this weekend, Cannondale vs Giant.

SRM is still too much for this feeble mind to figure out. I have yet to download a second of data and I have 8 or 9 hours on it. lol.

cdr

That's what I'm talking about cdr!

Nice ride dude, btw if you haven't yet you should purchase cyclingpeaks and just download your srm straight into that. Your life will be simplified immensely, you can dig into the data later but cp gives a great starting point.

heh thanks :)

I decided that if I was going to buy a bike, it better be lighter and stiffer than my Giant. And have SRM. I'm a Campy guy so that's sort of a given. I was looking for a System or Super6 frame, and was going to buy the SI version of the SRM since that's the best SRM crank out there - and when I got the chance to buy this bike for a great deal and get a new Record group out of the deal, well, I took it.

I put the CyclingPeaks software on my Christmas list so I'm patiently waiting.

cdr

Picked it up this morning:

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x220/esammuli/Picture001.jpg

Haven't had a chance to attach the power tap mount yet. I'll eventually be putting on some Cannondale Carbon SI cranks that I'm buying from a teammate.

is that a saddle or a sliding board:D

just kidding, nice machine.

is that a saddle or a sliding board:D

just kidding, nice machine.

I hadn't even ridden it when I took the picture. The saddle has since been leveled.

Coming off of a Giant TCR carbon (Record and other Campy) this bike is a nice surprise. Seems a lot more responsive, will do some tests on a Computrainer this weekend, Cannondale vs Giant.

Tests were inconclusive, not enough data, test rider got too fatigued lol. Couple things:
1. Both frames seemed pretty stiff, no visible difference in bottom bracket sway. My rig at home is primitive - trainer on a rug. My friend has built a computrainer rig with bolted down trainer, a floor mounted cadence pickup, bolted down front wheel chock, and a checkered tile pattern on the platform. He couldn't tell a difference in BB sway. If there was any it's measured in single millimeters.

2. 175 vs 170s. I could turn a bigger gear over easier with the 175s (perception) but my wattage/HR seemed to be about the same. 170s - 153.5 bpm, avg 437 w, 175s - 150.5 bpm, avg 428 w. Peak was 171 and 172 respectively. about 1:05-1:08 total ride time (i.e. 1 minute). I felt I had a lot more reserve on the 175s. Have to do some more research since we were having problems with the computer crashing when trying to save data. I figure a longer loop (not just 0.5 miles) would be better but I didn't feel like having him sit there for 2-3 hours while I raced on his computrainer. I think I'll do two longer loops on two days close together, maybe 20 miles or so.

Used same pedals, wheels, tires.

On a side note, did a loop that takes me about 55 minutes on a road bike, avg HR about 150 or so. Did it on my mountain bike (the one that prompted me to go to 175s, knobbies, front suspension, nothing "road" about it). Did it in 56 min, avg HR 148. Hm. Maybe I should race the mountain bike.

cdr

Now that I've had a chance to ride the SystemSix all weekend here are my thoughts:

I feel like the SystemSix is a more confident descender. It seems to be willing to dive harder into the apex on a fast decent.

The road feel is much different from my Tarmac Pro. With the aluminum rear triangle you can feel every bump in the road, but the carbon front end does a good job of dampening excess vibration. My hands, arms, and shoulders never got tired. I'd say the Tarmac is a better training bike, just because it dampens the road better.

Overall I feel like the Cannondale will be a better race bike than the Specialized. I still love the Tarmac, but the handling is much crisper with the Cannondale.

Cool, but you shoulda got this paint scheme...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2161/2093052272_3f9133f82a_m.jpg

i was looking at one of those yesterday.

two thoughts: the c'dale logo didn't quite work (too orange); for some reason the campagnolo looked odd on it.

It looks hawt in the catalogue, but if my new Advanced explodes, I'll defer to your judgement and avoid that color scheme. ;)