Cat5 and expensive frames
10-22-11 | 07:43 PM
#76
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,190
Likes: 1
From: RTP, NC
Bikes: LOOK 595 & Cannondale CAAD9
More like half the cost, but still pretty expensive. I wanted to build a bike with very nice components, but I didn't want any one particular part to cost too much money. If my 595 frame got destroyed in a crash it would cost thousands to replace. The caad9 frameset can be replaced by another for ~$500. The fact that the Rotor crankset with the Stronglight chainrings cost me $500 is kind of sad, but again, it wasn't exactly a budget build. It was more of a purposeful utilitarian build that would still satisfy my need for a very nice bicycle.
10-22-11 | 07:47 PM
#77
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,201
Likes: 289
From: Vancouver, BC
Maybe in states other than CA, but not true here.
It's actually not uncommon around here for an unranked or registered Cat5 rider to equal or even outsplit the Cat1-4 category riders in a TT hillclimb or regular time trial. Also, if you look at the winning time for Cat5 vs Cat 1-3, it's usually pretty close.
If you were strong enough to ignore tactics and just pull away from the field on the first lap in Cat5, the avg speed of the Cat5 finishing group should be wayyy slower, which is definitely not true here in CA.
I'm not even fast enough to race against Cat2s or good Cat3s, but I've passed at least 3 guys out in the mountains here in the past 2 years who were wearing 'state champion road race' jerseys from other states, 2 of which admitted they failed to catch me despite trying on the climb. I do think these were "age-group" categories and those 2 guys may have even from sub-categories in road racing, but still, the concept of me catching any 'state champion', even if it were a pure short-track sprinter, is laughable in CA.
It's actually not uncommon around here for an unranked or registered Cat5 rider to equal or even outsplit the Cat1-4 category riders in a TT hillclimb or regular time trial. Also, if you look at the winning time for Cat5 vs Cat 1-3, it's usually pretty close.
If you were strong enough to ignore tactics and just pull away from the field on the first lap in Cat5, the avg speed of the Cat5 finishing group should be wayyy slower, which is definitely not true here in CA.
I'm not even fast enough to race against Cat2s or good Cat3s, but I've passed at least 3 guys out in the mountains here in the past 2 years who were wearing 'state champion road race' jerseys from other states, 2 of which admitted they failed to catch me despite trying on the climb. I do think these were "age-group" categories and those 2 guys may have even from sub-categories in road racing, but still, the concept of me catching any 'state champion', even if it were a pure short-track sprinter, is laughable in CA.
10-22-11 | 08:21 PM
#79
CAADdict
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 6,756
Likes: 5
From: BF Heaven
Bikes: 2009 Cannondale CAAD9-?
More like half the cost, but still pretty expensive. I wanted to build a bike with very nice components, but I didn't want any one particular part to cost too much money. If my 595 frame got destroyed in a crash it would cost thousands to replace. The caad9 frameset can be replaced by another for ~$500. The fact that the Rotor crankset with the Stronglight chainrings cost me $500 is kind of sad, but again, it wasn't exactly a budget build. It was more of a purposeful utilitarian build that would still satisfy my need for a very nice bicycle.
Sometimes, I've cringed when I've looked at what I've spent on it.
But when I look at the actual rig itself? I feel joy. And that's priceless.
Worth it? Absofrikinlutely. Knowing what I have beneath me is well worth it.
I know exactly how this bike is going to react in just about any condition.
So, FTW...enjoy it.
And if anybody female dogs about it,
just tell them you don't like their bike.
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