New bike: Kestrel RT 800 SL
07-21-10, 08:28 PM
#1
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Thread Starter
New bike: Kestrel RT 800 SL
I just finished putting my new bike together so I thought I would share. This is my first Kestrel so I am excited to see how it rides. I'm not overly happy with the components since I am a die hard campy fan but I'll get over it. The wheelset sucks but that is easy to fix, I plan on getting a set of Spinergy Stealth PBO's a little later on, I love the way those ride and I always regretted selling my last set.
I didn't want to spend too much on a bike since I am still trying to figure out if I can even ride again. I am going against my surgeons recomendations by even being on a bike however I'm am tired of setting around on my ass all the time gaining weight. If everything works out I'll get a better bike later on.
The pictures are dissapointing so I'll try to get some better shots of it tomorrow. And before anyone mentions it, I don't have a white garage door.
Here it was when I brought it home from the shop.
It's much heavier than the bikes that I am used to riding but I am much heavier than I used to be as well. Hopefully this bike will be a good tool to help me lose the weight, that's the goal anyway.
Last but not least, a couple shots of the bike.
I didn't want to spend too much on a bike since I am still trying to figure out if I can even ride again. I am going against my surgeons recomendations by even being on a bike however I'm am tired of setting around on my ass all the time gaining weight. If everything works out I'll get a better bike later on.
The pictures are dissapointing so I'll try to get some better shots of it tomorrow. And before anyone mentions it, I don't have a white garage door.
Here it was when I brought it home from the shop.
It's much heavier than the bikes that I am used to riding but I am much heavier than I used to be as well. Hopefully this bike will be a good tool to help me lose the weight, that's the goal anyway.
Last but not least, a couple shots of the bike.
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I may be fat but I'm slow enough to make up for it.
07-21-10, 08:35 PM
#3
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Awesome bike! I am also a proud Kestrel owner (I have a Kestrel Talon), and have no complaints. Good luck.
07-21-10, 08:36 PM
#4
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What tires are those?
Nice bike!
Nice bike!
07-21-10, 08:41 PM
#5
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Congrats! Your bike looks hawt! The pictures are fine too. I wish I had boxes like that arrive at my front door. 
What components do you have anyways??
What components do you have anyways??
07-21-10, 08:41 PM
#6
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Thread Starter
Thanks. The tires are Vitoria Rubino Pro's. I've never run them before but I'm hoping they wear out quick! I guess I'm old fashioned but I like plain ole black tires and bar tape.
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07-21-10, 08:42 PM
#7
Plz refer to rule #5
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I love the look of this bike. I have been seriously considering the purchase of one. If you don't mind me asking what price did you pay and where did you get it from. THANKS!
07-21-10, 08:42 PM
#8
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Thanks, didn't show up on my front door though, picked it up at my lbs. It just has 105 which will work just fine, I just prefer campy hoods.
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07-21-10, 08:44 PM
#9
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Unfortunately I can't mention the price. The shop that I used to race for hooked me up with it for wholesale even though I will most likely never race again. It was very, very cool of them.
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07-21-10, 08:55 PM
#10
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Cool, nice bike, but if you think your doc is wrong you should at least get a second opinion before going and doing something potentially harmful to yourself (ie. don't be stupid because you're eager)
07-21-10, 08:57 PM
#11
Raising the bar
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I am another proud owner of a Kestrel RT 800. I was very less than impressed, but then I just realize tuning the derailleur correctly would make the experience a lot better. My Ksyriums are flexy, but I can fix that...
07-21-10, 08:59 PM
#12
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It sucks going from being a cat 3 to being a fat ass couch potato.
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07-21-10, 09:14 PM
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I'm on my second surgeon, both of my knees have had two operations now and they are worse than ever. The plan is to just keep me in as little pain as possible for the next six years until I turn 40 and they can replace them. I figure if my knees are only temporary anyway and there is a good chance I will be having some type of surgery every year I might as well try to ride. Plus I'm hoping as I lose weight the pain will also go away some.
It sucks going from being a cat 3 to being a fat ass couch potato.
It sucks going from being a cat 3 to being a fat ass couch potato.
07-22-10, 04:51 AM
#14
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I believe that a lot of my problems came from pushing too big of gears. I have always had knee problems but I think the big gears are what took it over the top. I finished off my right one on a dirt bike when I tore the meniscus however that wasn't the big problem. I ended up having lateral releases performed on both knees and neither surgery was successful. The second set of surgeries did seem to help some but I still have pain all the time but most of the sharp pains I was experiencing after the first surgery are now gone.
The second surgery did tell me that I could ride but he told me to only ride flat ground. I'm not sure if you have ever ridden or seen pictures of WV but there isn't a whole lot of flat ground to choose from.
The second surgery did tell me that I could ride but he told me to only ride flat ground. I'm not sure if you have ever ridden or seen pictures of WV but there isn't a whole lot of flat ground to choose from.
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07-22-10, 09:23 AM
#15
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Nice looking ride. How's the ride compare to the SL-1? I am waiting for my RT 900 SL frameset to come in (warranty for my cracked SL-1).
@ almost 18# that must feel like a brick compared to the SL-1 but I'll take 2 extra lbs. for a better ride.
Enjoy the new ride.
@ almost 18# that must feel like a brick compared to the SL-1 but I'll take 2 extra lbs. for a better ride.
Enjoy the new ride.
07-22-10, 09:26 AM
#16
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My race SL-1 (campy record, zipp tubulars, zero gravity brakes) weighed 14.21 pounds so this bike is definitely heavier but I am so out of shape I will never notice. It is probably only a pound or so heavier than my training SL-1 so that should be pretty comparable. I plan on taking the RT 800 SL on it's first ride today, I'll post a review later this evening or tomorrow.
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I may be fat but I'm slow enough to make up for it.
Last edited by LowCel; 07-22-10 at 09:30 AM.
07-22-10, 09:27 AM
#17
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Compact crank I hope? 12-27 cassette?
Sharp looking ride, I've always like the look of those frames.
Sharp looking ride, I've always like the look of those frames.
Last edited by rankin116; 07-22-10 at 09:28 AM. Reason: Answered already
07-22-10, 09:31 AM
#18
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Yep, compact crank, I've learned my lesson. It has a 12-25 on it right now but that is only temporary.
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I may be fat but I'm slow enough to make up for it.
07-22-10, 12:32 PM
#21
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It only goes in one way so it can't be backwards. I do still need to slide the saddle back a little though. I haven't adjusted the bike yet, just built it up.
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I may be fat but I'm slow enough to make up for it.
07-24-10, 01:29 PM
#23
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I've had a chance to take a few rides on the bike and I am very happy with it. Unfortunately I haven't ridden any high quality bikes for a while so I can't really compare it to my SL's, Team Issues, or any of my other bikes except for my Redline Conquest and since it is a CX bike it wouldn't be a very fair comparison. On top of that I am so out of shape I can't really give a good review of the sprinting or the climbing either. All I can really say is that I am very happy with it which is all that really matters to me. I'm still not a Shimano fan but I can live with it for a while.
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I may be fat but I'm slow enough to make up for it.
07-24-10, 08:53 PM
#25
Throw the stick!!!!
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I may be fat but I'm slow enough to make up for it.