On the checking account ;-)
Seriously.... I have a problem. I can't stop "upgrading" stuff. I'm constantly like... hmmm If I bought this ______ for $$$$$ I could save another 50 grams. A few days later... said component shows up mysteriously at the door via the UPS guy
Here's an example, I needed a new seat post for my Tarmac.... My stock one had a bit too much setback for me to get where I wanted to be. So, I decided to try a zero setback post to see how it felt. This of course seemed like a prime chace to drop some weight off the bike. My stock Pave II post weighted a horrifying 260 grams!
Guys at the LBS suggested a Thompson Elite seat post.... it's a solid performer and comes in at about 200 grams I believe. Was that good enough for me.... oh no... of course not. (They were gonna give me a great deal on one they had in stock) I had to go an make them order a Masterpiece so I could save another 40 grams. I got the post in on Friday... and it is OH so sweet! It cam in a velvet bag for christ's sake!! No wonder it's so expensive.
Now, my sights are set on a new stem.... I need one with a little different angle than the stock Pro Set stem. So, why not drop some weight there as well!! Ritchey 4 Axis looks like it is gonna win out. But I might get a Syntace F119. Haven't settled on it yet.
I won't even get into my obsession with getting a new crank set..... Well... maybe I will
My current SLK Mega Exo compact setup is pure and utter trash. I know some people had had great luck with them. Not me.... I wish that I did! The are fairly attractive looking and I got them for a good (or so I thought) price. Now, in the last 4 months I've had two sets of replacement bearings put on..... the chainring bolts are CONSTANTLY coming loose despite proper torque and even some locktite. Also the bolt holding the left crank arm on is loose after just about every other ride. So... I'm done with them. My frustration is well documented
Ahhh.... so the issue becomes what to do! I need a new crankset for sure. But, what to get? I WANT the Zero Gravity cranks.... but, they are $800 and not even for sale yet. SO scratch that... I could get a current production Campy Record Carbon crankset. Decent Idea for sure.... with a Phil Wood BB that would be a much nicer crank that I have now and weight less. But, the new 2007 Campy stuff is on the horizon. So I can't really bring myself to spend the money right now. So... here are my choices. Stick it out with the POS SLk until the 07 Cmapy stuff is out..... (not probable
) Get something to "hold me over" until it comes out. Something like a Record Standard double alloy crank..... crank and bb would cost about $200 total. That isn't a bad choice at all. I'm used to using my compact and smaller cassettes... but I could deal with it on a 12-25 without too much trouble. This of couse adds expense though... and extra $200 on top of what the 07 Record stuff will cost. Or, I could get something all together different. Like this:
Oh yea
$650 and a claimed weight of 610 grams.... real world reports coming in the 618 gram range. Said to be very stiff (at least the previous ISIS versions) and it looks killer. Price is about the same as the Record stuff will be.... and if you factor in the extra $200 minimum I'd need to get a new crank to hold me over, it's actually cheaper. What do you guys think??? I think it would look killer on my Tarmac
Cranks and stem are about the last things possible for me to upgrade right now on my bike. I already ordered a Token/KCNC 11-23 cassette to use for races. I use Centaur cassettes for training. Maybe some sweet 9gram water bottle cages
Then... I'll be completly broke!
Someone.... please help me......