As many CAAD guys have Hollowgrams, I figured I'd post this here: I have a set of brand new green crankbolts and bearing covers that don't match my setup. If anybody wants to trade straight up for some black, silver, or red crankbolts, shoot me a PM. I'm just looking to swap. Thanks, and go CAAD.

Nice :thumb:, congrats.
Love the pics and location BTW.

Thanks. 38 mile ride from Queens. Sore as hell today. Hoping to make longer rides a habit.

Addiction more like. ;)

Meh. She needs proper wheels. (And a matching inner ring).

Love this bike to death though.

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2811/9...bd5199a0_c.jpg

HED Belgiums 32/32 + Chris King R45s in the near future.

What handlebars are you running?

Just trying to compile a good list of classic/traditional drop handlebars.

That wheel build sounds phenomenal. HED Belgiums laced to Chris King R45s are one of my ideal builds, but at this point I'm thinking about a different build.

excuse the noob question, but do you ride a bike that's too small for you to have the seat that high up? Or did you change other things to get the seat up high for a preferring riding position?

it's not uncommon to see a lot of saddle to bar drop on a race bike. The bike you are looking at seems to have more because it has a slammed stem vice a spacer stack. It doesn't meant he bike is to small at all. Imagine the aero position he can get on that bike.

I understand the slammed stem, but doesn't raising the seat up that high mean you're stretching your leg more than normal to pedal? Isn't that where frame size comes into play?

They are Ritchey WCS Classic bars. I must say that they have to be the best handle bars I've ever ridden on and I've ridden FSA Wing Pro Compact bars, 3T Ergonovas, and the stock handlebars which were Cannondale C2 bars, if I remember correctly. I'm pretty stoked on those planned wheels. I'm a broke college student so it'll be a while. These stock RS10s tend to flex and rub the brakes whenever I'm out of the saddle. They just can't handle my fat ass. Lol.

I've actually gotten this question plenty of times as I do look very big on my bike but that's mostly because I'm big and fat. Lol. At 5'11" 240 lbs, I'm usually the biggest racer on the field whether it be my category, or any category. I also have short legs, hence the 54 cm instead of 56cm, and my torso and arms are fairly long (and wide) so that makes up for the long reach. I've ridden with this similar set up for a century and had no back problems and also through a 54 mile road race with any kind of hurting. (Aside from my legs being blown up.)

And also what this guy said. Haha. It's a race bike and sadly my only bike. :(

*Cue sad violins.*

Thanks for the patience and answers. I'll be doing a short 8 mile ride tomorrow morning. Can't do long rides until the weekends.

I'm no Pro but I think many tend to a smaller frame so they can slam further (relative to the seat position) and as stated by seymour, get a more aero position. To compensate for the shorter reach you get with a smaller frame, I see a lot of longer stems. The one in this pic looks relatively long to me. I may be wrong too though.

no, you are correct, a lot of pros will ride a frame one size smaller but not one that's "to small" and then run a 130-140mm stem.

This all makes sense in light of my recent dilemma. I had to decide between a 50cm & 52cm. The 50cm was recommended by those saying it would be if I wanted to race. Ended up with teh 52 since I'm not racing.

a lot of people can ride two sizes, I can ride a 56 or 58. If I setup the 58 with a 90 or 100mm stem, it feels great, but I love the feel of a 56 with a 110mm stem and more seatpost.

An aero position was partially what I was going for when I first slammed my stem because let's be honest, the other part of me did it because it looked rad and pro. But I'm as far as a pro as you can get. Lol.

I have long arms so, when my stem wasn't slammed, my head was way up in the air when I got on the drops and it was even worse when I was holding on to the hood, I might as well had a beach cruiser with it the way it was. I slowly worked my way down the steerer tube and in a year or so, I slammed all the way. The stem is currently a 120 mm -10 degree stem. I used to have a 130 mm which was fine but since I had changed to these classic drop bars, the reach on the hoods changed so I had to compensate for the longer reach on the bars by shortening the stem.

I also can ride a 56 cm with a shorter stem but I think with the smaller size frame, I feel like I can handle the bike better in criteriums but that may just be me. :p

I'm really interested in trying out a 50cm bike now. I sat on the 44cm caad10 that I got my girlfriend over the weekend and something about a smaller bike was feeling more comfortable. Can't quite explain what it is. Only seat time will tell I guess.

Nice on the handlebars! I've just ridden the stock C2s in size 42cm c-c and now some Deda Newton Shallows in 42cm o-o (40cm c-c). I really like these new ones, but I'm always interested for what else is out there.

As far as wheels go, I understand! I can't say my wheels flex to much, but I do understand the broke college kid part... I was looking at HED C2s laced to Chris King R45s, but the hubs are just to expensive for me for a training wheel set. I wouldn't mind having a set for a race wheel set. I talk to the bike mechanic in my college town about wheels every chance I get and he speaks highly of the R45s, saying he's seen people use the same set of hubs through 4-5 different wheel sets. Sometimes the hubs even out last the riders bike! In order to save money, I think I'm opting to lace KinLin XC-279 to Novatec A291SB/F482SB, which is almost exactly November's alloy wheel build, so I might just order through them. Swapping out the C2s for XC-279s and the R45s for A291SB/F482SB will save you a lot. The rims are similar, and the hubs are much cheaper, although they probably won't last as long as the Chris Kings.

Links to all: http://www.bdopcycling.com/Hubs-Road.asp
http://fairwheelbikes.com/kinlin-m-52.html
http://www.novemberbicycles.com/fsw-23/

Discussing bike sizes: I ride a 54cm CAAD frame, and it fits perfect without any modifications (I did get handlebars with a shorter reach though). I've been told I have the legs for a 56cm frame, but the torso for a 54cm. That all being said, I'm trying to get my hands on a 52cm frame for my next bike. Just buy a slightly longer stem and show more seat post (I have about 15cm of unused seatpost). I feel like I can handle a smaller bike much better. Plus it would be a little easier to weight weenie a smaller frame down.

The way I think of it, if I'm gonna buy wheels and spend hundreds and even close to thousands on it, I might as well get the wheelset I really want and wait a bit longer.

Just scored a Brand New* Premium+ fork....and for what I'm getting it for, couldnt be happier to upgrade from the Ultra on my Caad9!

That's a good mentality. I'm sure they'll be excessively awesome. The shop in my college town has the tools to service Chris King hubs, but we'll see if I get on them. If I can manage to ride for their team a bit, perhaps.

I just upgraded my Caad7 with a new Campagnolo Athena triple group.

http://i39.tinypic.com/2gy7kzl.jpg

Love the ride

Premium+ fork is on the way...paint it to match or leave it?http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/...ps33dc763f.jpg

+1 leave it