Landgolier

Carbon seat posts. Not actually lighter than a Thompson or other good Al post. Anyone who thinks they can feel some difference in "vertical compliance" or "road buzz" from a seat post is drunk.

Expensive helmets. Start reading the numbers and you realize that within the price range of helmets from $40 to $200, they all weigh 285-310 grams in a medium or large, and there's often no particular correlation between price and weight -- the $40 giros are some of the lightest stuff out there. I also love that since they can't sell them on weight they make sure the most expensive ones have a higher count of vent holes, as though the simple number of holes is anything good. It's all the same stuff, people!

green814

What brand are those cages? Not bad looking at all!

T.Y.
Chris

MadCowMoo

+10

ericcox

A simple standard, but then we get to debate the meaning of "working." And introduce "works better" into the equation. And then we must debate works better -- is it lightness * strength * durability? Should we introduce an LSD scale? Ah, the possibilities for this one are great. (This is where I need a philosophical looking chin-scratching smiley.)

ericcox

Arundel

kster

Arundel Dave-O. They do a great job of holding the water bottle. As do these:




Edit: ericcox beat me to it.

green814

I could be wrong, but don't the lower models have the "Universal" fit compared to the "nicer" models having more defined sizes(S,M,L) with a better fit "system", like the Roc Loc 3 or 4? I know I have an older Giro, an Exodus (mtb) and love how it fits. The same with my wifes Giro Animas (mtb also). Now I have NEVER tried a lower model on, so I don't know.

Chris

FatguyRacer

Nothing in MABRA can top the dirt road section of the Poolesville RR for the sheer volume of ejected bottles.

Im gonna say most energy drink mixes. Gatorade works just fine.

Cdy291

There's something I would love to tell you about those expensive helmets but there would be lot of people here ****ting them selves.

photonick

AMEN OK MOD LOCK THIS THREAD UP ITS ALL OVER.

green814

Oh, please let the "Cat out of the bag"!

T.Y. guys on the Arundel, but what is the "damage"(price)?

Chris

Landgolier

Secrets secrets are no fun! Does this concern being pretty much the same stuff, or something to do with safety?

Yeah, you usually do have to go to the second step up the line to get sizes, but that's still not as expensive as what most people wear by a long shot. My head is about an L anyway so the universal size helmets tend to fit me fine. As for the fit system, I have used probably 10 different kinds of dials, sliders, lockers, clippies, and gizmos over the years, and I've never found one that failed to do its job. It ain't exactly a shifter, I'm not sure what would make one better than another.

CALE262

$49.99 @ my LBS.

green814

Land:

My first 2 helmets were Specialized models, first one('96) was about $40.00, & the second('97 or'98) ran about $65.00ish. The first time I tried my Giro(01) on, my reaction was, "WOW!!!!!" I couldn't believe the difference. It fits like a glove as the other 2 just "kinda" fit. Then again, maybe it was the shape of the helmet and my head.**********?

I would have a hard time spending $150.00+ on a helmet. Cripe, I have been kicking around if I should get the new helmet I want for $120.00 from my LBS, more so since I can get it online right now for about $73.00+s/h! I want to support the LBS, but what do you do in that situation????


Chris

ps: T.Y. Cale!!!

Wested

Those TT helmets. The epitome of dorkitude.

kukusz

Agreed, not even close. Not to mention all of the ejected riders. Someone had a picture of the pile of bottles collected in that section, wish I could find the link.

kukusz

Are you serious? In a crit maybe, but in a TT it's the most aero thing you can do besides TT bars.

urbanknight

Titanium fasteners. Didn't they come out to something like $5 per gram saved?

+1 on the carbon cages.

As for helmets, I do think I feel a difference in the venting, but it is minimal and price does not seem to correlate directly. I have had comfy and cool helmets that cost $50 and I have had uncomfortable and hot helmets that cost $100 (I rarely spend over $100 on a helmet unless I just can't find anything else that fits/feels right)

merlinextraligh

You've actually hit on something that will make a meaningful difference. You can spend a lot of moeny on stupid ****, that won't make you one second faster in a 40k. However, a decent TT helmet, while it will make you look like Rick Moranis ,
(cue spaceballs pic) will make you faster.

urbanknight

Actually, didn't some geeks at MIT claim that having a water bottle in the seat tube cage was more aero than an aero helmet?

urbanknight

Why would you buy bibs for riding downhill only?

waterrockets 

I actually had just started scratching my chin right when I read the end there

I'm just thinking that most of the purchases for which my initial statement is true, a BFer with the credit card out is a sucker.

Nikolai

nice.

merlinextraligh

PCad, Waterrockets just called you out.

urbanknight

Sorry, sometimes I just can't help myself. I used to complain that the students I teach are illiterate, then I started reading these forums and realized it's not just them.