What is your climbing weapon of choice?

[fordfasterr]

Just wondering...... ?


I just built one up today, VERY low budget build but lighter than my spare 105 caad9. (Anybody wanna buy the frame/fork ? size 56).


Pics coming up... and yes, it's a carbon frame.

[Grumpy McTrumpy]

weapon?

I just ride what I have.

[botto]

legs and lungs.

anymore 41 questions?

[gsteinb]

They are not weapons or rigs. We do not 'rock' either.

[CrimsonKarter21]

My road bike??? Is this a trick question?

[kensuf]

it's not like Sugarloaf is anything more than a 2 minute power climb anyway.

[mollusk]

Do you plan on moving? It is a good 10 hour drive from south Florida to any climbing.

[wanders]

As soon as I get down to #205, I'm buying a set of Zipp 202's.

[fordfasterr]

it's not like Sugarloaf is anything more than a 2 minute power climb anyway.

.... and how many will be shelled even with that short climb?

Anyway, If I'm lucky, I've shed 1/2 a pound from the bike...

We'll see, I'll use 50mm carbon tubular wheels for the races next weekend.


Planet-x super light pro carbon (medium). Sram crankset, ultegra RD, 105 FD, 105 shifters. (budget build)
ultegra chain, ultegra brakes, s-works bars (42mm). S-works Roubaix bar tape.

and finally - I built it all by myself. (uh oh...)

ff_p_x_1_Mar-2010.jpg

[EventServices]

Most Pro riders are issued just two bikes for the entire season. One for training. One for racing.
They don't have a crit bike and a climbing bike and a road bike and a sprinting bike.
They have A bike.

[Racer Ex]

Most Pro riders are issued just two bikes for the entire season. One for training. One for racing.
They don't have a crit bike and a climbing bike and a road bike and a sprinting bike.
They have A bike.

Point?

[ericm979]

Is this climbing bike for some of those extra difficult freeway overpasses there in Florida?

[pkpsu]

50/50 optimism/masochism

[grolby]

Most Pro riders are issued just two bikes for the entire season. One for training. One for racing.
They don't have a crit bike and a climbing bike and a road bike and a sprinting bike.
They have A bike.

This is something I thought about posting, but ended up passing on. But now that you've brought it up, I think it's very funny that we amateurs are often so anxious to emulate Pro style, but that we haven't caught up on this. There was a time when special climbing bikes, crit bikes, etc were fairly common, but that hasn't been true for a while now. But among amateurs it's still some kind of point of pride or symbol of "dedication to the sport" (at least in the mind of the special-purpose bike owner) to own a different bike for crits and road races, for example.

This is usually justified in terms of economics: that it's more fiscally responsible to buy and race a cheaper bike in crits. I feel like a broken record in those threads, pointing out that two bikes do, in fact, cost more than one bike and that frame-destroying crashes are not actually all that common. I usually end up getting shouted down.

But anyway, I climb on my crit bike and race crits on my climbing bike.

[curiouskid55]

The pro's team mechanic will have his bike set up for the days requirements. Wheels, rings, cassette, bars,stems, seats,blah, blah,blah. My CR1 is my sprint , climbing, training, noodling bike same set up regardless. I change the wheels , that's about it. I TT om my trusty rusty Q ROO.

[X-LinkedRider]

I don't know if it is considered a weapon but the Smallest Chain ring is my answer.

[Racer Ex]

but among amateurs it's still some kind of point of pride or symbol of "dedication to the sport" (at least in the mind of the special-purpose bike owner) to own a different bike for crits and road races, for example.

But anyway, i climb on my crit bike and race crits on my climbing bike.

2004 specialized s-works e5 w/rival/2006 surly lht

Indeed.

[thegunner]

Epo

[tmiller9909]

145 lbs bodyweight (or less). Low bodyfat %. Training. Pacing/Rhythm

Equipment? - Zipp 303 Z series

[brianappleby]

My crit bike is the one that I'm less afraid to crash.

If I were a pro and I snapped my only bike in half, I'd get another one. I'm not a pro so I own 2 road bikes.

[El Diablo Rojo]

This is something I thought about posting, but ended up passing on. But now that you've brought it up, I think it's very funny that we amateurs are often so anxious to emulate Pro style, but that we haven't caught up on this. There was a time when special climbing bikes, crit bikes, etc were fairly common, but that hasn't been true for a while now. But among amateurs it's still some kind of point of pride or symbol of "dedication to the sport" (at least in the mind of the special-purpose bike owner) to own a different bike for crits and road races, for example.

This is usually justified in terms of economics: that it's more fiscally responsible to buy and race a cheaper bike in crits. I feel like a broken record in those threads, pointing out that two bikes do, in fact, cost more than one bike and that frame-destroying crashes are not actually all that common. I usually end up getting shouted down.

But anyway, I climb on my crit bike and race crits on my climbing bike.

While some of what you wrote is true, many teams offer their riders completely different bikes for flat and mountain stages...LOOK and Ridley sponsored teams to name just two. Also many riders will change the cockpit set up for mountain stages as well. Not saying this is necessary for an amateur but lets not pretend that all pro's get one race bike and have to deal with it.

[kensuf]

.... and how many will be shelled even with that short climb?

Quite a few. My point was lost, so let me make it clearer.

Surviving sugarloaf is less about the weight of the bike and more about increasing your ability to go super hard for 2 minutes. Based on your sprint and fastest mile reports, I suspect you might have those goods; the spending superfluous time and money to shave the 1/2 pound isn't going to help much. Save that effort for 6 gap.

Edited to add: nice bike, but what's up with that funky seat angle?

[fordfasterr]

Quite a few. My point was lost, so let me make it clearer.

Surviving sugarloaf is less about the weight of the bike and more about increasing your ability to go super hard for 2 minutes. Based on your sprint and fastest mile reports, I suspect you might have those goods; the spending superfluous time and money to shave the 1/2 pound isn't going to help much. Save that effort for 6 gap.

Edited to add: nice bike, but what's up with that funky seat angle?

I have to ride it to day (recovery ride) and make any necessary adjustments, that was just the initial build photo.


Thats a nashbar saddle.

[grolby]

While some of what you wrote is true, many teams offer their riders completely different bikes for flat and mountain stages...LOOK and Ridley sponsored teams to name just two. Also many riders will change the cockpit set up for mountain stages as well. Not saying this is necessary for an amateur but lets not pretend that all pro's get one race bike and have to deal with it.

There are obvious exceptions, of course, though my impression with Ridley was that riders tended to choose a preferred bike (e.g. Noah or Helium) at the beginning of the season based on the kind of racing they expected to do and then stick with that. I can't say I follow closely the details of Ridley's sponsorships. Anyway, the point is that it's definitely less common than it used to be. And changing the setup of a bike is a bit different than having a whole separate bike, IMO. It's not something that I think is wrong, or that racers shouldn't do, I just think it's a bit silly.

Ex, I don't quite get your point, but if you're trying to point out that my signature is stupid, I agree with you.

[pjcampbell]

I have a set of 202s on a PowerTap which is like 2# less than my 303s. Bike is still well over 17# with 202 tubular Powertap + Colnago C50 and Campy Record...