Originally Posted by
mschwett
i think the pendulum has shifted a bit away from super light since most everyone seems to know that aero is really more relevant for most serious road riders, plus disc brakes, plus more cogs, plus bits and pieces of electronics. For the latest 12 speed DA, there isn’t a weight penalty for di2 (comparing to most comparable previous groups) but I’m guessing there is with SRAM’s approach, even at the top end?
i have a 14lb s-works aethos, 12 speed da/di2, disc brakes of course, and the two big compromises it brings are aerodynamics (relatively shallow wheel profiles, round tubes) and cost. It’s really the only bike i ride, and I ride it a lot, so the latter isn’t too much of a concern. I do sometimes wonder how much faster an extra pound of wheels and frame in the interest of aero would make me, and now much would the ride quality suffer from the bigger profiles in various locations.
I've watched a number of videos about high-grade Chinese carbon frames on both Cam Nicholls' and Jourdain Coleman's YouTube channels, and I briefly flirted with the idea. The thing is, it's still too rich for my blood. Figure $1000 - 1500 for the frame and cockpit. Then another $1000 or so for wheels. Then another $1200-1500 for the kit, because it would have to be at least Di2 105 to make it different enough from what I've already got. Add a power meter, that's $800-1000 (dual sided). Then toss in another $300-500 for ancillaries, and you're talking $4300 - $5500 just to try out an aero bike with all the bells and whistles. And since the position would almost certainly be more aggressive than even my most aggressive current bike, would it even be comfortable? And if not, why would I spend more than any of my current bikes for a bike I wouldn't ride as far?