Ezzactly. That's why I don't want to rush into spending $1500 on a 2nd Quarq. I could easily swap it over from my 595 if I decide I need power in relatively short race. Granted, it would be a compact, but still.

any updates?

Not really..made reverse progress lately. Decided to sell all my SRAM/Shimano stuff and switch over to Campy in preparation for EPS coming out next year. I picked up a full Record group for now and it will be going on the caad9. Once EPS comes out I'll get it for my Look.

The Record group is supposed to be in around the 20th (it's coming from the UK), but I'm going back to the Midwest for the holidays on the 21st. I probably won't be able to install the Record group until after New Years. I still need to put my DA c24 wheels up for sale and pick up some Campy wheels. I figure I'll have it built up by mid-Jan. I'm also moving to North Carolina on Jan 23rd, so that might get in the way too.

Gotta love the campy components!

not so much. They work great, but hate having to find stuff locally in a pinch and paying through the nose for it. Not to mention the wheel support issues in a race.

That's why you have two bikes with Campagnolo! You won't find yourself in a pinch if you have two of everything.

Update photo. It will be finished with Record 11 by the end of the week! I'll post more pics when it's done.

Hot.

If I had money to burn my everyday ride would be a caad9 with shamals (or eurus) and record11.

My nice ride would be custom ti or stainless steel w/ boras and super record eps.

I would keep an eye out for some eurus or shamal wheels. Then when you build the look you can move the bora wheels to it.

This is going to sound strange, but I want to thank you for the motivation. I've been following this thread and I initially saw your frame on eBay and used it to judge what my CAAD9 frameset would be worth. I've been on the fence about selling it in favor for something more "exotic" as I've become very fascinated with higher-end steel. Anyway, I digress. I was under this sick impression that having built mine up with SRAM Red, a Cannondale SI crank, upgrading the fork to an Easton EC90 SLX and sticking a set of 1400g Roval wheels on, that the group and components were simply too "high-end" for the CAAD9. I mean, CAAD9s are everywhere, right? I'm really glad I didn't decide to sell it because I absolutely love the ride. It's everything a road bike should be and I would have been pretty unhappy if I let the frameset go and had to replace it. So, as I mentioned, thanks for the motivation that CAAD9 frames still kick a$$. I'll post a photo of mine with the new fork, but for now:



-Collin-

Haha! You are very welcome dude! The caad9 rocks, hands down. I actually like it much better than the caad10, which is why I chose to hunt down a caad9 w/ English BB rather than going out and buying a 10 with parts I don't want and a silly BB30 BB. I also have a Look 595, which is a "superior" carbon fiber bike, but in the end the choice of components and how it's set up determines how nice the bike is. To some degree a frame is just a frame. It's only 1 component of the bike, ya know?

Totally agree. My other ride is a Cervelo SuperProdigy with Record 10 speed and I don't know which one I prefer. I think the components, wheels, cockpit, etc. make up more of a difference than carbon vs. aluminum vs. steel and whatnot.

Life is tough when you're choosing between these sorts of bikes, eh?

-Collin-

No kidding. What size is your Cervelo? I'd be interested if it fits and you have a fair asking price.

mind if he post a picture of the superprodigy? i bet it looks perfect with record 10.

Hell no I don't mind! This is the internet. The more pics the better.

I really like that shade of blue. Looking good.

Since the titanium bolt snapped on the ARX Team stem that you see in the picture, I took off the handlebars and naturally got curious what the same setup would look like on my 595. I think it looks pretty good. If I don't get the replacement stem by Friday, I'll probably just build up the 595 instead.

p.s. Please excuse the sign in the background. My fiance is sneaky like that.

that is why i posted this

if your plan is still to buy eps i would just build up the caad9 and be done with it. (keeping in mind the boras will eventually go on the look)

Yeah, I'll probably still build up the caad9 because ultimately the parts need to end up on that bike. EPS is going on the 595 in the next year. Boras will probably go to the 595 eventually as well. I've looked carefully at the Eurus and Shamals, but I might go with some 32 spoke handbuilts instead. Something like a CK r45 hub laced to the Velocity Aerohead with the offset spoke bed. Something that will be bomb proof for a very long time. I'd like to build them up myself because I need to learn how to do that anyways.

another great option. dont discount the record hubs either. they are great hubs, and like most campy parts, dont cost much if you buy them smart. ive debated lacing a set up myself. i already use the front on my single speed cross bike.

Record hubs would also work fine. I just took apart and serviced the hubs on the Boras last night. Very simple and user friendly design. I'm pretty sure Record hubs work the same way.

you are correct.

Ask and you shall receive. Not bad for an "old" groupset, right?

Oh, and the bars have since been adjusted properly





It's my favorite riding bike of all time.

-Collin-

that is one of my favorite groups and one of my favorite frames.

Everything is pretty much done except the chain, cables, and bar tape. Had to order new brake pads too because the 2011 Record pad holders need 2011+ pads. Also need a 2.5mm headset spacer instead of the 5mm spacer to bring the stem down a hair. The fork steerer was cut pretty short when I got the frameset so there's about 4-5mm between the top of the steerer and the top of the stem. There's supposed to be no more than 3mm to keep things safe so I need to drop the stem another 2.5mm.

I had two more hiccups that prevented me from getting it 100% done. First, what I thought was the OEM front brake mounting bolt stripped on me while I was torquing the front brake to 10 Nm. It had a T25 Torx fitting inside a hex head. Kinda weird. So first I stripped the hex, but it wasn't fully stripped in the reverse direction so I was able to get it out. Then I noticed the T25 Torx inside the hex opening so I tried that, but that opening stripped like butter too. Clearly it wasn't the original mounting bolt so now I need to find a replacement. I have the longest Campagnolo supplied nut in there right now, but the way it interfaces with the rear of the fork doesn't seem ideal.

The second thing has to do with my seat tube bottle cage and the FD clamp-on adapter. The bottom of my bottle cage hits the FD clamp. Even when using the lower set of holes on the bottle cage, there isn't enough clearance for the bottle cage to lay flat against the frame bosses. I think I need to grind the FD clamp down where the bottle cage hits. A few passes with a dremel should take care of it.