New Wheels!

[bikerz]

As of tomorrow, I will be the proud (and poorer!) owner of a new set of wheels - Mavic Ksyrium SL - wow do they look spiffy! As I understand it, they are pronounced with a silent "K" - kind of strange, but hey - that's marketing!

I'm really looking forward to trying them out on the flat Davis ride this Sunday with SadieKate and others! My old wheels seem to have a lot of flex in them, which I noticed especially when I stood up on hills, and it made me feel a little nervous. Plus I had a spoke break, which was worrisome, considering there were only about 800 miles on the bike then.

So my bike's like a Frankenstein bike - there's nothing left of the original bike except the handlebars, front derailleur, shifters and the frame itself. Is this normal? I think I'm buying a new bike one piece at at time!

[Trek420]

wow, you really took my "shopping days" thing to heart! good choice, now you'll fly up those hills.

[Trekhawk]

As of tomorrow, I will be the proud (and poorer!) owner of a new set of wheels - Mavic Ksyrium SL - wow do they look spiffy! As I understand it, they are pronounced with a silent "K" - kind of strange, but hey - that's marketing!

!

Hey bikerz - these are the wheels my husband put on his Roubaix. He loves his ride.

Happy riding with those new and might I say very posh wheels.

[bikerz]

I'd like to think I'm earning air miles, not spending dollars! (yeah, right! )

I hope they're not too spiffy for me - anyone riding on hills with me will have plenty of time to check them out as they pass me, but I'm hoping to have some fun with them on the flats and going down hill!

Trek420 - you are partially repsonsible for this, you know, by introducing me to Chris at Robinson Wheelworks, not to mention the constant reminder about "shopping days"!) I might start talking to him over the next several months about a new frame...

[Trek420]

"Trek420 - you are partially repsonsible for this, you know, by introducing me to Chris at Robinson Wheelworks, not to mention the constant reminder about "shopping days"!)"

not sure if I should say "sorry about that" or "thanks!" but enjoy the new wheels and I'm sure you'll be faster than ever now.

"I might start talking to him over the next several months about a new frame..."

you mean a whole new bike, right?

[yellow]

A girl can never have too many bikes! (or pairs of skis or shoes or black clothing items!)

I upgraded a bunch of stuff on my bike too...I have the original (small size) handlebars, short reach shifters/brakes, bottom bracket, headset, wheels, frame, and fork. Everything else (both derailleurs, crankset, brakes, seat, seatpost, rear casette) has been upgraded, so it's about half & half. I did it over time as I got to know my bike and became a pickier (and more confident) rider. I would like some new wheels like yours...but I'm shopping for a new full suspension mt bike first (oh! darn!). Then maybe I'll need a time trial bike! And a commute bike! And a 'cross bike!

[bikerz]

When I first started looking at this forum, I couldn't believe that so many people had so many bikes... It's a slippery slope...

[shadon]

When I first started looking at this forum, I couldn't believe that so many people had so many bikes... It's a slippery slope...

It really is...I bought the first bike...not right...to big. to slow. to squishy.

Sold it. Bought the second bike...love it! It fits! it's quick!

Looking for bike number 3, the road bike that will get me through ALC 4...first i have to get rid of some furniture so that I have room for two bikes!

Slippery slope indeed!

[emily_in_nc]

It is a slippery slope, to be sure!

Bought my Terry road bike in 2003 (upgraded from a mostly-unused, cheapie, hybrid, which I later donated to charity b/c no one would even buy it!)...loved the Terry, but it was steel and a bit heavy, so everyone beat me up the hills. So in 2004 I bought a lovely Aegis Swift (full carbon) frame/fork on eBay and had it built up with Campy Chorus - 4 lbs. lighter than my Terry and oh so sweet. But then, I needed a touring bike as we wanted to be able to do loaded touring, and the Terry didn't have enough clearance for fenders or wider tires, so I had a great Bike Friday Pocket Crusoe built for touring and travel, also in 2004 (expensive year!!). Then, early this year, I bought an inexpensive mountain bike (REI Novara Bonita - last year's model on sale) for winter fitness and riding trails around our house. So, four bikes in two years for me!

The Terry has moved permanently to the trainer, and I use the Aegis for club rides and anytime I want to be fast; the Friday I use for running errands and travel (no tours this year b/c of my accident), and the mtb will get more use again this winter - I'm definitely not a mountain biker, just a beginner, but it is great for fitness and for when it's too windy/cold to ride fast on the road.

I still lust after new bikes I see online - especially pink ones!

But on the original subject of this thread - new, lighter wheels are about the best upgrade you can make to a bike if you want to improve your climbing. Rolling weight is what's most important, and lighter wheels will make a difference. I put Mavic Kysirium Elites (650c) on my Aegis and just love 'em!

Emily

[Nanci]

You're so lucky to get those wheels...They are supposed to be good for hills because of the light weight!

Nanci

[bikerz]

I will try them out on my regular hill loop tomorrow morning - just to see the difference - I was expecting more noticable difference on flats, but if there's a hill difference, so much the better! I need all the hill help I can get!

So I've been considering a new bike for a while, and retiring my current bike as a wet weather/trainer bike (after putting all it's original components back on it!). When I bought that bike I was 40+ pounds heavier, and I said I'd just be riding short, flat rides... Now it's hills, longer rides, and in (how many days, Trek420?) as many miles in 7 days as I rode in the first 6 months I had the bike!

I think I'd like a steel bike, and I sure like the look of those Seven frames. I think I'll make a savings plan for the fall and winter, and start researching and test riding...

[bikerchick68]

woooohoooooo.... those are some sweet wheels! I ride the Ksyrium SSC... (the ones a year before the SSL) and really like them... they are way lighter than my open pros were and stiffer... I did not notice a huge difference in flats either... but I DID see an increase in speed that I just didn't notice at first... downhill they are really stable too. The only thing to be aware of is with those bladed spokes you may feel some push/pull in crosswinds. no biggie, just FYI

as to steel... Lemond makes the Zurich WSD too... nice bike! Just another test ride to add to your list... I don't know much about Seven, other than they're supposed to be a great bike too...

happy shopping!

[RoadRaven]

Mmm... Ksyriums...

Yes... these are known wheels in our house, and much coveted... what we have has to be shared... too expensive to have a set each...

Like bikerchick says, veeery sweeeet

[bikerz]

I hope all this drooling over my wheels doesn't rust them!

I'm counting down the hours 'til I go pick up the bike!

[bikerz]

Well, I didn't get a chance to try the new wheels on my regular hill ride Saturday (had to work), but I really liked them on yesterday's ride out in Davis. It was flat with just a few small hills. What I mostly noticed was that starting up was quicker, and they felt a lot firmer. I stood up several time in my hardest gears and felt completely stable and solid. I'm not sure if I was any faster on the flats, because I had never done that ride before. Tonight or tomorrow night I'll try them on the hills. I'm quite pleased, and I'm looking forward to "growing into" them as a cyclist!