Originally Posted by
t.braxt
I too have a criterium. Not a black lightning but a "pink panther???". I was hesitant to get the bike at first because it was pink and the other juniors in my area had newer, carbon bikes. But I got it and I love it. I can easily keep up with them and even pass them when I want. I'm still scared to go fast on corners so I need to really work on that. Might add some black paint to the frame or a black fork. Also going to get new wheels one day. But I need a name for it, for some reason pink panther doesn't cut it.
Corners....I hear you on that. Working on that myself. It helped when I joined in last week on my first group ride without realizing the level of the group and held on while we blasted out. Plenty of hard cornering and having to learn to figure it out fast without eating it or causing a pile up. That helped - but still, this bike, this frame asks for a certain kind of attention.
Get those new wheels. I JUST installed a new wheelset today on my BL (more ******* pics coming) following the footprints/advice of oldsCOOL and PastorBob. Took it out tonight with the new wheels and the thing was like a different bike. I didn't realize how much difference the change in wheels would make. The originals were in good shape (the build), but I wanted to try these "modern" wheels out on it. Good grief. Took an already mega responsive bike and amplified that x 50. Cornering felt MUCH easier, yet as if I could be more aggressive. Just felt different. When you can, go for it. That rear wheel at 130mm slipped right in without hardly any dropout coaxing. Less than I thought, at least. 4mm or so isn't much.