Differences between mid range road bike and high end?
04-11-15, 05:25 PM
#276
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Shimano put out and an infomercial on the DI2 system. Cavendish was interviewed and said that he really liked the sprint shift buttons because he could keep his hands on the bars and change gears without twisting his wrists like on mechanical. I have talked to a lot of riders who like the climbing shift buttons because they can shift while on the tops of the bars. I talked to a rider who a climber, probably 120lbs. He liked electronic shifting because at the end of long races and rides, he would be tired enough that shifting would be very fatiguing. For riders who spend a lot of time in the saddle, electronic shifting could
04-11-15, 05:29 PM
#277
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Yep.
If one lacks the actual experience of riding shoulder to shoulder in a race the performance and safety benefits of 'brifters might be not apparent, but they were a game changer for us.
As previously mentioned shifting while standing on a brutal climb and winding up for the sprint w/ hands fully in control position(s) at all times is what is required in racing today.
And No, DT controls are not faster/whatever than 'brifters and dumping across the cog range just does not happen in my decades of cycling.
You won't see the current crop of Big $ Racing bikes, and this thread is about modern racing bikes, w/ the provision for DT controls simply because they are obsolete for racing.
Here's a pic of a nice bike that I built for road racing many years ago that still sees service on solo rides, never in a paceline anymore.
It also fits the parameter of a high quality race bike of it's period. One thing that's not been mentioned is that buying a Quality machine, even at a premium price, can provide a very long service life if properly maintained over lesser machines which are disposable. See the C&V sub-thread for others.
-Bandera
If one lacks the actual experience of riding shoulder to shoulder in a race the performance and safety benefits of 'brifters might be not apparent, but they were a game changer for us.
As previously mentioned shifting while standing on a brutal climb and winding up for the sprint w/ hands fully in control position(s) at all times is what is required in racing today.
And No, DT controls are not faster/whatever than 'brifters and dumping across the cog range just does not happen in my decades of cycling.
You won't see the current crop of Big $ Racing bikes, and this thread is about modern racing bikes, w/ the provision for DT controls simply because they are obsolete for racing.
Here's a pic of a nice bike that I built for road racing many years ago that still sees service on solo rides, never in a paceline anymore.
It also fits the parameter of a high quality race bike of it's period. One thing that's not been mentioned is that buying a Quality machine, even at a premium price, can provide a very long service life if properly maintained over lesser machines which are disposable. See the C&V sub-thread for others.
-Bandera
Yeah, I don't race and never will, so I can't argue that.
But of the millions of bikes sold every year, how many do you think are raced? A few thousand out of millions?
So, what about all of us who ride recreationally? Why must we be limited by what's appropriate for racers? (And even with brifters, I usually sit down if I'm going to shift while going up a big hill)
04-11-15, 05:34 PM
#278
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NICE bike!
Yeah, I don't race and never will, so I can't argue that.
But of the millions of bikes sold every year, how many do you think are raced? A few thousand out of millions?
So, what about all of us who ride recreationally? Why must we be limited by what's appropriate for racers? (And even with brifters, I usually sit down if I'm going to shift while going up a big hill)
Yeah, I don't race and never will, so I can't argue that.
But of the millions of bikes sold every year, how many do you think are raced? A few thousand out of millions?
So, what about all of us who ride recreationally? Why must we be limited by what's appropriate for racers? (And even with brifters, I usually sit down if I'm going to shift while going up a big hill)
04-11-15, 05:47 PM
#279
~>~
It was built precisely because it is Not a race bike, and serves it's purpose very well, which has Nothing to do w/ the OP thread which is about modern race bikes.
Maundering about obsolete race tech should be left to C&V where it can be debated infinitely.
edit: Look back at Post #84 :
I get to spend several days every season on a Big $$,$$$ no-holds barred race bike. Compared to my CF Merckx:
the Team Shy replica just does everything that a high performance bicycle does just that much better.
Amazing machine, that's my answer to the OP.
-Bandera
Last edited by Bandera; 04-12-15 at 08:16 AM.
04-11-15, 06:55 PM
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A lot more than you imagine. I just got an email from the USA Triathlon Association. It has 550,000 members. Many, many more race triathlons each year thebikes belong as well.
04-11-15, 07:03 PM
#281
~>~
[
The Dedicated TT machine, a highly specialized piece of modern bicycle kit if there ever was one, they have come a Long way......
A great place to dump serious $$,$$$ that's instantly obsolescent but Fast (for the moment).
-Bandera
A great place to dump serious $$,$$$ that's instantly obsolescent but Fast (for the moment).
-Bandera
04-11-15, 08:17 PM
#282
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I love the correction capability of this software. What I meant to say was many, many more race that don't belong to the tri association as well.
04-11-15, 10:07 PM
#283
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Daaaaaaaaarn! Over half a million peeps? Are those all current, active members, or do they kinda keep inactive members around for a year or two?
04-11-15, 10:08 PM
#284
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You get what you paid for with reducing marginal utility per dollar as price goes higher. But after riding better bikes, it becomes very hard to ride lesser ones. Almost like wines, I rather drinks beer than crappy wines.
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