The New Domane SLR or Is Carbon Comfortable Enough Yet?
04-04-16, 05:14 PM
#51
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Jarrett, I have never found a steel bike that could deliver both the comfort and performance of the Giant TCR Advanced I previously owned. Most comfortable bike I have ever owned. Nearly the most functional. Just behind the Workswell carbon frame replaced it with. You seem to have no idea of what you are giving up with your steel frames. Steel make a great bike, but it will never match the comfort/performance profile of carbon. And as your own post demonstrates, carbon is getting better and better while steel is just still steel.
Last edited by rpenmanparker; 04-04-16 at 05:28 PM.
04-04-16, 05:26 PM
#52
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you have to give them kudos for coming up with gimmicky solutions to simple problems, masking it with a trademark, and marketing it as an innovation
you want more comfort at the ass contact point, without changing static pressure on the ass (i.e. softer paddle)? put compliance in the saddle rails, or seat posts.
you want more comfort at the ass contact point, without changing static pressure on the ass (i.e. softer paddle)? put compliance in the saddle rails, or seat posts.
04-04-16, 05:27 PM
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04-04-16, 05:30 PM
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reduced cabling for performance, and aesthetics.
reduced effort for initiating shifts. inline shifting... or, theoretically, unlimited shifting... from tops, tt ends, wherever you please
more significant improvement than "hey, we increased system from 10 speeds to 11 speeds!"
reduced effort for initiating shifts. inline shifting... or, theoretically, unlimited shifting... from tops, tt ends, wherever you please
more significant improvement than "hey, we increased system from 10 speeds to 11 speeds!"
the other advantages are true for an electronic groupset but not unique to wireless.
04-04-16, 06:01 PM
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LOL, I'm not touching this one. I'll just be called a liar again by one of the posters here. 
Of course, aside from the price I find the thought of this new Domane appealing. I found the one I test rode last year decidedly lacking for my needs so maybe they have gotten better.
Of course, aside from the price I find the thought of this new Domane appealing. I found the one I test rode last year decidedly lacking for my needs so maybe they have gotten better.
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Steel is real...and comfy.
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04-04-16, 06:11 PM
#56
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The Emonda has a different geometry and purpose compared to the Domane...the Madone has another different purpose (aero).
The majority of riding on my new bike is to hammer two hour club rides or solo interval puke fests, which the Emonda is suited greatly for. To tell you the truth, when I am riding like that I don't have the time or the inclination to think about road surfaces and how uncomfortable they are. (The Emonda is better at this than my last bike...it's quicker) If I was going to be going cruising on 5 hour long rides at a more moderate tempo I would be more inclined to purchase the Domane. It's still a fine bike with a more relaxed geometry and it is more comfortable over rougher roads.
So far, the Emonda has been fine for the roads where I ride (which aren't glass smooth, but they aren't busted up either), but I'm not riding gravel stuff with it, nor have I taken it down any cobbled streets.
The majority of riding on my new bike is to hammer two hour club rides or solo interval puke fests, which the Emonda is suited greatly for. To tell you the truth, when I am riding like that I don't have the time or the inclination to think about road surfaces and how uncomfortable they are. (The Emonda is better at this than my last bike...it's quicker) If I was going to be going cruising on 5 hour long rides at a more moderate tempo I would be more inclined to purchase the Domane. It's still a fine bike with a more relaxed geometry and it is more comfortable over rougher roads.
So far, the Emonda has been fine for the roads where I ride (which aren't glass smooth, but they aren't busted up either), but I'm not riding gravel stuff with it, nor have I taken it down any cobbled streets.
Seriously I just got tired of getting beat up on the two CF bikes I had. Both pretty stiff so to be expected I guess. Picking up a used steel LeMond gave me instant relief. Tried a Domane but it just didn't give me the improvement I wanted for comfort on my roads.
On a side note, a local seller has a Cannondale Silk Road 800 for sale. An alloy road bike with a front fork and a suspension seatpost. Sounds like I'm not the only one to notice how crappy our roads are.
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Steel is real...and comfy.
Steel is real...and comfy.
04-04-16, 06:13 PM
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Ok, I'll give you reduced cabling for asthetics...performance, I'm not so sure. And you now have 4 batteries to worry about for your drivetrain, 2 2032s in the shifters, and 1 on each derailleur.
the other advantages are true for an electronic groupset but not unique to wireless.
the other advantages are true for an electronic groupset but not unique to wireless.
04-04-16, 06:17 PM
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You totally misunderstand how the Isospeed and other similar systems work. The goal is to isolate the rear wheel, not the saddle. The problem with saddle suspension is that your legs still get full impact through the pedals. To mitigate impact on the legs you need to let the rear wheel flex upward, independent of pedals and saddle. Isospeed is similar to the Volagi approach, in that the seat post is effectively de-coupled from the seat stay, allowing the seat stay to flex more. Specialized (Zertz), Pinarello (K8-s), and Calfee (Manta) have taken a different approach, letting the seat stays flex alot at a single point.
A neat little piece by Dave Kirk on this....
Builder Interview: Dave Kirk, Part II | RKP
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Steel is real...and comfy.
Steel is real...and comfy.
04-04-16, 06:24 PM
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Wow, this turned into a crap shoot quickly.
All I can add is that the two Tarmac's I had didn't ride as well TO ME compared to steel and Ti. That is to me, specifically. I like the lively feel of a metal frame, that really doesn't seem to be possible on CF. That said, I am no speed demon, nor have I ridden a carbon frame in the last... probably four years. So who knows how much better they feel now. The first one I rode was a 2007 Giant TCR Advanced, and that thing was stiff as a friggin' board. I know that compliance in the right places, even on the race frames, has come a long way. One day I will ride one again and see how things have progressed!
To those who like steel? Sweet, ride on. Ti? Same. CF? Go for it. Alu? Good on ya. Get out and ride and don't snidely judge other peoples bike choice. At least they are riding and spending money on bikes, which helps us all.
All I can add is that the two Tarmac's I had didn't ride as well TO ME compared to steel and Ti. That is to me, specifically. I like the lively feel of a metal frame, that really doesn't seem to be possible on CF. That said, I am no speed demon, nor have I ridden a carbon frame in the last... probably four years. So who knows how much better they feel now. The first one I rode was a 2007 Giant TCR Advanced, and that thing was stiff as a friggin' board. I know that compliance in the right places, even on the race frames, has come a long way. One day I will ride one again and see how things have progressed!
To those who like steel? Sweet, ride on. Ti? Same. CF? Go for it. Alu? Good on ya. Get out and ride and don't snidely judge other peoples bike choice. At least they are riding and spending money on bikes, which helps us all.
04-04-16, 06:51 PM
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Right but those extra batteries are a benefit, not a problem. If one goes bad like either the rear derailleur or rear lever, you can shift onto the most appropriate front ring and then switch the bad battery for the good one and still have 11-gears to use. Plus the 2032s are so small you can carry one or two easily in your tool bag. It is actually much preferable to the wired together on one battery setup of the competition.
04-04-16, 06:56 PM
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Right but those extra batteries are a benefit, not a problem. If one goes bad like either the rear derailleur or rear lever, you can shift onto the most appropriate front ring and then switch the bad battery for the good one and still have 11-gears to use. Plus the 2032s are so small you can carry one or two easily in your tool bag. It is actually much preferable to the wired together on one battery setup of the competition.
04-04-16, 07:06 PM
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Laughing at what? Like how easy it is to carry a 2032? That must be it.
04-04-16, 07:09 PM
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Ooh! I bet that is hard to do. Like pumping up your tires. Just changing the batteries on the first of each even month ought to be fail safe. I mean they are dirt cheap in quantity.
04-04-16, 07:13 PM
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Wow, this turned into a crap shoot quickly.
All I can add is that the two Tarmac's I had didn't ride as well TO ME compared to steel and Ti. That is to me, specifically. I like the lively feel of a metal frame, that really doesn't seem to be possible on CF. That said, I am no speed demon, nor have I ridden a carbon frame in the last... probably four years. So who knows how much better they feel now. The first one I rode was a 2007 Giant TCR Advanced, and that thing was stiff as a friggin' board. I know that compliance in the right places, even on the race frames, has come a long way. One day I will ride one again and see how things have progressed!
To those who like steel? Sweet, ride on. Ti? Same. CF? Go for it. Alu? Good on ya. Get out and ride and don't snidely judge other peoples bike choice. At least they are riding and spending money on bikes, which helps us all.
All I can add is that the two Tarmac's I had didn't ride as well TO ME compared to steel and Ti. That is to me, specifically. I like the lively feel of a metal frame, that really doesn't seem to be possible on CF. That said, I am no speed demon, nor have I ridden a carbon frame in the last... probably four years. So who knows how much better they feel now. The first one I rode was a 2007 Giant TCR Advanced, and that thing was stiff as a friggin' board. I know that compliance in the right places, even on the race frames, has come a long way. One day I will ride one again and see how things have progressed!
To those who like steel? Sweet, ride on. Ti? Same. CF? Go for it. Alu? Good on ya. Get out and ride and don't snidely judge other peoples bike choice. At least they are riding and spending money on bikes, which helps us all.
Last edited by rpenmanparker; 04-04-16 at 07:30 PM.
04-04-16, 07:20 PM
#67
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The batteries aren't AAs, dude. They stay charged for far longer than you can ride in any given circumstance. It's unlikely that you'll have to worry about running out of power if you're batteries aren't charged to 100%, or even 50%.
04-04-16, 07:29 PM
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Thats exactly my point...nobody is going to change them once a month like Robert suggested...regardless of how cheap and plentiful they are...which means you need to remember to change them before any big ride or race, which isn't a big deal, but certainly isn't an ADVANTAGE as was suggested by someone, and is one more thing on a list of things to think about before a big race, ride or cycling vacation. Also, in the instructions, SRAM recommends that you disconnect the batteries on the derailleurs prior to putting the bike on your car to drive around, I'm not sure why, but again, another thing easy to forget, and another thing on a list of things to think about. . . And nobody's going to do that either.
04-04-16, 07:32 PM
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I guess my point is that SRAM eTap is not revolutionary like someone had suggested, like brifters especially when compared to other electronic systems like Shimano Di2 or EPS.
04-04-16, 07:35 PM
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04-04-16, 07:38 PM
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I disagree. It IS revolutionary, but it is a revolution you don't appreciate. You just seem to be loyal to the old order. That's fair, but it doesn't diminish the value of the etap features for other folks.
04-04-16, 07:40 PM
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A good carbon bike is comfortable in the same way an Aston Martin is comfortable; a $500 steel bike is comfortable in the same way an early 90's Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser with blown out shocks is comfortable. It is really comfortable, like a couch with wheels.
04-04-16, 07:45 PM
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I disagree. Carbon can be plush too...and still stiffer than steel.
04-04-16, 07:51 PM
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And you seem to be a truly loyal SRAM guy...good for you...we'll see if the revolution of eTap changes SRAM's position in the world of road Groupsets...I'll bet it doesn't change much once the novelty wears off.
04-04-16, 07:57 PM
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That is actually the thing I am most interested in. Will this propel SRAM to parity with the other two in road cyclist's esteem?