Originally Posted by NWS Alpine (Post 13877746)

I'm completely new to cycling. I just started commuting bi-modal to work. Now that I am getting great exercise I want to get into road cycling. I have a Trek sawyer that I just picked up as well. Converted it to single speed and some slicks. It's perfect weather year round down here and there are some nice bike routes along the ocean that it would be a shame not to get a proper road bike.

Originally Posted by Velo_Tut (Post 13877117)

Can someone explain to me why "slamming the stem" is held on such a pedestal? Sure it offers a more aggressive geometry and looks better, but why is it sooooo popular? Also, if I've been fitted for a 56 CAAD9 with spacers and I slam the stem, in theory, isn't my fit on the bike ruined?

Originally Posted by Foblander (Post 13878141)

Yes I know also like the know the phenomenon with slamming the stem. For the people who claim it feels better slammed, do you ride the hoods mostly or the drops? I will admit it does look good but if it makes it harder to ride in the drops I'll probably hold off on slamming it since I prefer riding in the drops.

Originally Posted by NWS Alpine (Post 13880571)

More I look at it I really want to get the CAAD10 4 with SRAM Rival with the CAAD10 replica liquigas color frame. Ugh why must I be so picky. I wonder how much it would cost to do the groupset swap from my dealer. Most likely more than it's worth.

I should prob stick to 105 but I like the SRAM levers just from playing around in the shop. Never ridden either one.

Originally Posted by FPSDavid (Post 13880795)

Why does Cannondale not use the full groupsets on a lot of their bikes? Is it a cost reason? Or they think some parts are better? i.e. brakes (tektro), cranksets (fsa)?

Originally Posted by NWS Alpine (Post 13880571)

More I look at it I really want to get the CAAD10 4 with SRAM Rival with the CAAD10 replica liquigas color frame. Ugh why must I be so picky. I wonder how much it would cost to do the groupset swap from my dealer. Most likely more than it's worth.

I should prob stick to 105 but I like the SRAM levers just from playing around in the shop. Never ridden either one.

Originally Posted by 2ndGen (Post 13878605)

...or, some people are just more comfortable with a different height than
those who aren't comfortable with lower stem heights on their bikes. :D



I ride the hoods most of the times. I don't like riding in the drops personally.
The only times I'll ride the drops will be on descents and to accelerate.

Here's a question:
How many of those who can't ride with slammed stems (or at least, low stem heights)
can physically work in a bent position for 8-10 hours a day with a 10lbs of tools around
their waist in all kinds of weather extremes (weather from the teens to the high 90's)
while swinging a 5lb pneumatic nailer about 4,800 times a shift on an angle?


Like this:

http://www.charlotteroofingcontracto...=1265738763666

Seems unrelated, but it's not really.

I could see how this position might be more difficult to sustain for those who aren't conditioned by hard labor,
but for others it's part of the job and even easier in recreational activities (trust me, a 16lb bike with wheels is
much easier to push than a 100lb stack of shingles up a 40' aluminum ladder). For those who aren't used to
hard work, they have to condition themselves with exercise and with working out to get to that level.
For others, it's another day at work.

When I hear all these rules (and there are a lot of them), I wonder...who do we trust?
The guy who says (A) or the guy who says (B) is right or the guy who insists that (C) is the only way?

That's why "to each his own" is the most appropriate phrase here.
Not everyone who rides a bicycle counts watts or charts their progress.
Not everyone who rides a bicycle races their bike or is on a college team.
And not everyone who rides a bicycle is a dentist or an engineer or a student.
Right? In the immortal words of that late 70's sitcom: It takes different strokes to move the world.

:thumb:



:lol:

Originally Posted by alpha_bravo (Post 13880815)

The former, definitely not the latter. If there is one part I would change first, it's the Tektro brakes. Second the cranks, I don't think FSA cranks shift smoothly at all.

Originally Posted by I <3 Robots (Post 13880861)

So all those husky roofer guys I see can run a 8-9cm saddle to bar drop?

Originally Posted by Burglar (Post 13880964)

My CAAD10-5 is coming along. Sorry for the lack of white garage door pic. My garage door is old, crappy, and bullet hole ridden.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v8...t/IMG_0111.jpg


Changes so far:
Saddle: Selle San Marco Regale
Bar tape: Fizik (grey).
Wheels: Velocity A23/Shimano 105 hubs from Handspun http://handspunwheels.com/products/view_product/1802/
Tires: Conti Gatorskin 25mm (got in on the $30/tire deal last at westernbikeworks.com SCORE!!!)
Cateye wireless thingy that shows me how slow I am.
The stock stem was too short, so the LBS swapped it for a 120mm Cannondale C4.

Planned future changes:
Brakes: probably Shimano 105. (might as well stick with 105).
Handlebar: Not sure yet. I'm not really digging the shallow drop. But I like the flat transition to the hoods. Considering the Pro Vibe 7S Round bars.
Pedals: Speedplay Zero or Light Action. Not sure yet.

I'm undecided on the grey bar tape. I LOVE the Fizik Microtex, but I might just go with black. The grey does compliment the graphics on the fork though... and that was the idea.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v8...t/IMG_0109.jpg

Originally Posted by FPSDavid (Post 13880895)

What about Cannondale brakes? My bike is a 2010 CAAD8 6 (Sora/Tiagra combo) with Cannondale brakes (and salmon whateveryoucallem brake pads), but it actually has Shimano crank (although its Sora).

Originally Posted by Ultraslide (Post 13880816)

FSA cranksets are because Shimano does not offer a BB30 crank.

Originally Posted by 2ndGen (Post 13880968)

I don't know. I can't speak for them because as I stated in my post, everybody's comfort level is different.
I can speak for myself only on that. That's the point of my post. Can I expect anyone who doesn't roof at
the level of a pro to roof anywhere near the level of a pro roofer? Or even an apprentice roofer? Should the
same standards that apply to the pro roofer be applied to them on ther first day of work? Or should
different standards be applied and expected (like, say expecting him to be less efficient than the pro)?
How does one set the standard/limit (again, the rule making guys)? Comfort is subjective.




Thank you for proving my point on there being different strokes for different folks.

Welders actually stay in one place for an extended amount of time where as
Roofers are constantly on the move for the overwhelming majority of their work day.
It would make perfect sense that he wouldn't be as flexible as a Roofer. Despite
him being in a bent over position, both have very different approaches to their work.

:)

Originally Posted by I <3 Robots (Post 13881101)

Adjust your bars so that you can ride all the positions comfortably.

Originally Posted by I <3 Robots (Post 13881101)

Auto mechanics are bent over all day to...so they should be super flexible too?

Your logic only seems to make sense to you. :)

My point was that most people "slam" for cosmetic reasons and cannot ride the drops for more than a few minutes.

Adjust your bars so that you can ride all the positions comfortably.

Originally Posted by Velo_Tut (Post 13882248)

It's taken me over a year to finally find the perfect setup for my CAAD9. By that I mean the perfect handlebar height, seat height, pedal and shoe position, etc. For the longest time both my feet and junk would go numb after only 10 miles and my neck would kill me. I guess I'm hesitant to slam my stem and mess up the geometry I've finally succeeded in mastering.