+1 to staying in them for crits. You should be able to ride at least an hour in them. Lotsa people don't, but it is better for many reasons, but mostly handling and keeping other bars from mating with yours.

yeah, it's different for me, I'm not particularly flexible and I'm a good slogger for long periods of time, so getting in the drops without losing power and keeping my body still has been good practice.

You're not comparing power curves to determine who wins races. It's whomever crosses the line first. You will be slower and less stable through the turns if you're on the tops or the hoods. You will be slower, especially with your nose in the wind if you're on the tops or the hoods. Even though you may be producing more power up on the tops or the hoods, it is less efficient, and you will be going slower. As someone else already said, you will also be more stable and less likely to tangle bars when you bump and grind in the drops.

Not sure if serious or not?

Rail = the new November line of wheels.

No garage door, sorry, was out riding. :D

Team bike for 2014.

http://www.philipmacino.com/natalia_001.png
http://www.philipmacino.com/natalia_002.png
http://www.philipmacino.com/natalia_003.png

You always have bad-ass bikes, Forza. Nice. How do you like those handlebars?

yeah that's pretty darn hot. I also want to know how the handlebars are, do you ever ride the tops with those?

I especially like that it comes with the DA 9000 brakes, whereas some of the DA equipped specialized bikes don't, drives me crazy that a bike in that price point would skimp on brakes (I fully know how this is normal, but again in this price point I would think it would be better to simply have the right brakes and increase price a bit). At any rate that's a beaut!

Specialized made a Vuka Sprint.

limited time on them. I like them, but i've always preferred "ergo" shapes. I was iffy on the naked approach, so far no issues...comfortable to me, more than I expected. I'm sure I'll have more of an opinion come the summer months, as I am a no gloves rider and I do ride the tops on climbs.

As far as performance, they are stiffer than I expected and that's a good thing for me.

Thanks, I'm pretty lucky in that we are sponsored by Specialized, Shimano, Michelin, Garmin (amongst others), etc..and we get our stuff from them and we don't buy the bike configurations offered, come race season I'll be running Dura-Ace c50 tubulars. The wheels on there right now are de-badged Enve 45s. I need to get rid of the Zipp cages.

Your point is spot on too though, if I (or anyone) were shelling out $$$$$ for the standard configs, it's nice to get the group throughout.

My Velocite Selene racer
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=356822

Velocite Frame
Velocite Forks
Pro 7 Stem and Bars
SRAM Red Shifters
SRAM Rival F.Derailleur
SRAM Rival R.Derailleur
TRP 920 Brakes
Thomson Elite Seatpost
Boyd 30mm Rouleur Wheels
Selle Italia SLR Saddle
LOOK Keo Pedals

[MENTION=236223]pcaldwell[/MENTION] how do you like that frame? I'm thinking of buying it.

I love it. Nice and stiff. Pretty light too, in fact I sold my carbon frame/bike to purchase this bike. I'd say go for it, especially since it's only $299 for the frame. The finish looks even better in person.

I know these a lot of hate towards Venges, (almost as bad as the Trek hatred. ;) :lol: ) but I love to the Venges.
This one is HOT!

If the carpet matched the curtains it'd be much better

True, but we don't make frames :-)

But your seat post doesn't match your stem hence the comment

That RD is crying in pain.

Here are my girls

2009 Specialized Allez
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=356991

1990 Fuso Lux
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=356992

LMAO!!! :lol:

So is the chain...

I know, I apologized afterwards. :D It's just so easy to throw it up there while in the big ring with Di2. When you don't feel the tension like you do with mech, it just becomes another gear...that's my one gripe with di2, is how you lose that connection to listen to what the bike is telling you. I know, 1st world problems.

HOT!

I'm also running the Zipp version of that bar and love it; although, it IS a bit meaty when riding with the hands on top. Haven't decided if I feel I have a reliable grip or not (my riding gloves are XL so it ain't like I have dainty hands).

http://www.philipmacino.com/natalia_003.png

That is really a badass looking rig but I wonder whether those bars would brush up against the front of your quads when you are out of the saddle climbing with your hand on the hoods?

Fuso = Hot

Just busting balls!
Jealousy... That's all I have to say...
;)

You need a big, fat, heavy Kryptonite lock.
You can probably find one that weighs the same as the bike. ;)

S