New bike day = new PR day!
10-03-13, 09:03 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
New bike day = new PR day!
Upgraded from the base model Specialized Allez, to a fairly high end Specialized Tarmac today! I immediately jumped on Strava from ~155th place on one segment to 28th place!
I think part of it is I'm a pretty good anerobic sprinter, and it's usually right in the middle of my commute but this time the start was just up the street from the bike shop, so I was super fresh. I think if I get to head straight through the traffic light and I have some speed already I can easily break the front page for the segment, especially since it's going to take a day or so to get used to the new shifters. I might even break the top 10.
I've been hanging out around 180lbs for a while, but when I started I was a little over base Clyde level. On the other hand, y'all are a lot cooler than the 41, and I feel like you never really stop being a Clyde, you're just on a break from it, and if you don't keep your focus you could fall back into it any time. So I refuse to leave you guys and gals, just know I'm here hoping to catch up with some of you faster riders, and I'm pulling for everyone who wants to be better!! Maybe along the way I'll dethrone a KOM, that would be weird.
Maybe tomorrow I'll post pictures, but I just added like 4 lb of lights to it, so I don't quite want to post them tonight before I commute to work on the new fast bike. Have some speed comparison's to make on the distance. :-)
I think part of it is I'm a pretty good anerobic sprinter, and it's usually right in the middle of my commute but this time the start was just up the street from the bike shop, so I was super fresh. I think if I get to head straight through the traffic light and I have some speed already I can easily break the front page for the segment, especially since it's going to take a day or so to get used to the new shifters. I might even break the top 10.
I've been hanging out around 180lbs for a while, but when I started I was a little over base Clyde level. On the other hand, y'all are a lot cooler than the 41, and I feel like you never really stop being a Clyde, you're just on a break from it, and if you don't keep your focus you could fall back into it any time. So I refuse to leave you guys and gals, just know I'm here hoping to catch up with some of you faster riders, and I'm pulling for everyone who wants to be better!! Maybe along the way I'll dethrone a KOM, that would be weird.
Maybe tomorrow I'll post pictures, but I just added like 4 lb of lights to it, so I don't quite want to post them tonight before I commute to work on the new fast bike. Have some speed comparison's to make on the distance. :-)
10-03-13, 10:54 PM
#3
SuperGimp
It would be interesting to hear your impressions of allez vs tarmac since I believe they're the same geometry. Same wheels too?
Totally agree with your thoughts on never really not being a clyde...
10-09-13, 11:35 AM
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Finally got off my bike and took a picture!
It's probably considered ridiculously expensive, all carbon, with Di2 shifters and Dura-Ace components. But I figure after making my goal ride this year with the base model bike, being committed to riding going forward, and having some options to sell from the previous company, I could justify spending more than my first car on a bike that's going to last several years. Just speaking about the servo power shifters though, "It's so choice, if you have the means I highly recommend picking on up." --Ferris Bueller
With pedals and cages, without GoPro, saddle bag, and water, it was right on 14 lbs.
As far as the geometry between the Allez and the Tarmac goes, they feel very similar, I haven't been fit on this one yet but when I picked it up the seat was a good 2.5 inches farther back than on the Allez, making the reach really really out there, so I moved it as far forward as it would go, leaving it still 0.5 inches back from the Allez, but also getting it into the realm of comfortability. The transition between the two has been really easy, other than the twitchyness of the ultralight Tarmac. I feel like the wheels and stiffness make my acceleration actually mean something.
One other difference, I added a triple to my Allez so I had a granny gear that made breathing while climbing possible at all. I went on the same climb over the last weekend on the Tarmac and the weight difference made up for the difference in gearing, even while I had the NiteRider 1800 attached to the Tarmac, adding several pounds.
Totally worth the price, although I'm debating the attention it draws... and whether I should care if people think I'm worthy of such a bad-assed piece of equipment.
It's probably considered ridiculously expensive, all carbon, with Di2 shifters and Dura-Ace components. But I figure after making my goal ride this year with the base model bike, being committed to riding going forward, and having some options to sell from the previous company, I could justify spending more than my first car on a bike that's going to last several years. Just speaking about the servo power shifters though, "It's so choice, if you have the means I highly recommend picking on up." --Ferris Bueller
With pedals and cages, without GoPro, saddle bag, and water, it was right on 14 lbs.
As far as the geometry between the Allez and the Tarmac goes, they feel very similar, I haven't been fit on this one yet but when I picked it up the seat was a good 2.5 inches farther back than on the Allez, making the reach really really out there, so I moved it as far forward as it would go, leaving it still 0.5 inches back from the Allez, but also getting it into the realm of comfortability. The transition between the two has been really easy, other than the twitchyness of the ultralight Tarmac. I feel like the wheels and stiffness make my acceleration actually mean something.
One other difference, I added a triple to my Allez so I had a granny gear that made breathing while climbing possible at all. I went on the same climb over the last weekend on the Tarmac and the weight difference made up for the difference in gearing, even while I had the NiteRider 1800 attached to the Tarmac, adding several pounds.
Totally worth the price, although I'm debating the attention it draws... and whether I should care if people think I'm worthy of such a bad-assed piece of equipment.
10-09-13, 11:47 AM
#5
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10-09-13, 12:08 PM
#6
just pedal
certainly looks like an awesome bike... enjoy the heck out of it man... as long as you do I can see it certainly being worth the $$$
10-09-13, 12:14 PM
#7
got the climbing bug
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awesome machine!! That's one hell of an upgrade and proper too!! I wouldn't give a care what others think, just ride it and enjoy it.
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Rule #10 // It never gets easier, you just go faster.
Rule #10 // It never gets easier, you just go faster.
10-09-13, 12:20 PM
#8
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Good on the new bike, the PR and the weight loss. I feel kinda like you too. I like to post in the C&A forum even if I'm not a clyde anymore. Went from 219 july 23rd 2012 to 179 Today. Love this sport / hobby. I can't see the pic of the bike because the browser at work sucks but by what I read it must be one beautiful piece of machinery... S WORKS!! I assume..
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Cat 6 going on PRO....
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