Ok Silver, Here she is! (New Bike)

[ilima]

Yowza!! Nice looking bike there. Have you use the Rotor chainrings before? I'd be interested in hearing how you like them.

[jesvetmed]

Sweet and SExy bike! I bet it is FAST!

[Mr. SR500]

Thanks again!

Only TT's, but I'm not fast in the grand scheme, just like to race against myself and keep improving. My age group is packed with some very fast people, it's amazing how fast they are.

It came with a 11/25, but since I already had the DA 12/27 I decided to use that. I normally run a compact 50/36 and 12/27, so I'll gain a little gearing going to the 53/39 in the front. On my Madone I usually don't spin out until the mid-upper 30's, so the standard double should buy me a couple more mph before started to spin out on the TTX. I'm always trying to work on being more of a spinner then a masher, and given the local terrain, I should be ok. The TT's are fairly flat, but we'll get in some hills for training.

I did ride it with the group last night, riding a TT bike in a group ride just means lots of miles on the base bar, I was happy to get another ride in before the upcoming TT, but prefer my road bike for group rides. I also had a mechanical, so got dropped from the "A" group, and had to pick up the "B" ride after I made the adjustment.

We do have a Team TT in October, but won't start training for that until late July/August. That should be a blast.

I've used Rotor rings on my road bike for about a year, and missed them every time I ride a bike without. It's hard to say if they really increase my power, they seem to have the most benefit while climbing. My legs/knees feel better during the ride as well. The price has really jumped last year, but I was able to save a little with the team discount. I do recommend them.

That was a lot more then you gals wanted to know...

Now for a couple questions. They bike feels good, legs feels strong, base bar seems to be correct, and I have the aerobars in the ballpark. However, when riding in the aerobars, my shoulders get a little tweaked, and air intake is a little more difficult. (these are similar to when I had aerobars on my road bike). I can ride a 20k TT in the drops on my road bike, usually only popping out if I blow up (occasionally happens on a climb), and at the turn around. So given the bars generally feel good, I'm guessing I just need a lot more time in the aero position? Any thougths?

Thanks again

[silver]

Thanks again!

Only TT's, but I'm not fast in the grand scheme, just like to race against myself and keep improving. My age group is packed with some very fast people, it's amazing how fast they are.

It came with a 11/25, but since I already had the DA 12/27 I decided to use that. I normally run a compact 50/36 and 12/27, so I'll gain a little gearing going to the 53/39 in the front. On my Madone I usually don't spin out until the mid-upper 30's, so the standard double should buy me a couple more mph before started to spin out on the TTX. I'm always trying to work on being more of a spinner then a masher, and given the local terrain, I should be ok. The TT's are fairly flat, but we'll get in some hills for training.

I did ride it with the group last night, riding a TT bike in a group ride just means lots of miles on the base bar, I was happy to get another ride in before the upcoming TT, but prefer my road bike for group rides. I also had a mechanical, so got dropped from the "A" group, and had to pick up the "B" ride after I made the adjustment.

We do have a Team TT in October, but won't start training for that until late July/August. That should be a blast.

I've used Rotor rings on my road bike for about a year, and missed them every time I ride a bike without. It's hard to say if they really increase my power, they seem to have the most benefit while climbing. My legs/knees feel better during the ride as well. The price has really jumped last year, but I was able to save a little with the team discount. I do recommend them.

That was a lot more then you gals wanted to know...

Now for a couple questions. They bike feels good, legs feels strong, base bar seems to be correct, and I have the aerobars in the ballpark. However, when riding in the aerobars, my shoulders get a little tweaked, and air intake is a little more difficult. (these are similar to when I had aerobars on my road bike). I can ride a 20k TT in the drops on my road bike, usually only popping out if I blow up (occasionally happens on a climb), and at the turn around. So given the bars generally feel good, I'm guessing I just need a lot more time in the aero position? Any thougths?

Thanks again

Can you tell me again why you like the Rotor rings....You told me before, but I'm too lazy to look it up.

Oh, no! not more info than we wanted. I could talk this stuff all day long, it's just that most people tune me out.

Ok some thoughts on the aero position...The guy that owns Big Shark was talking to me about this and had me do a demostration about how I held my arms and how that effected (affected, grammar nazi's??) my lung capacity. I can't quite figure out how to describe this on words.

I find that I have several variation of my aero position depending on my needs. There's two extremes of this: for into the wind or absolutely going all out....head/neck tucked into shoulders upper body as low as I can go = can't breathe as well = most uncomfortable. And then there's very relaxed, rounded back, head fairly high, = can breathe well, = could ride like that forever.

[Mr. SR500]

Thanks, I thought today's TT was going to rained out, but there is a chance it will be clear, keep your fingers crossed.

On the Rotor rings, I like them and really miss them when riding a bike without. In general I think they help smooth out my pedal stroke, and help my climbing. Not sure how they translate into increased speed, my I would guess is the 3% Rotor claims is within reason. You should try a set.

[Mr. SR500]

Well we sort of had the TT. The Blue Streak TT is at Wright Pat Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. It's a low dollar affair, with a min $2 donation to cover electronic timing. I was running late, but arrived in time to register, however no one in charge was there. Apparently the base, or timing people, or someone canceled. Looked like about 40 riders, milling about, but to do the 10 mile TT loop, the base opens two gates and posts a guard at each one. No ride, no guards, no gates open. Fortunately you could still ride 90% of the course without going thur the gates.

Overall I would call it a success, I was about .3 mph off my previous fastest average, but since I self timed, and only have about 2 rides and 50 miles on the bike, I was pleased. Biggest success was only coming out of the aero position once. Bike is very stable and easy to ride. Shoulders got a little tight, but not as much as I was expecting. Neck, hands, legs, etc... all felt good. My biggest challenge is breathing, and the aero position only seemed intensify my issued. Once the heart rate cranked up, my breathing became very quick and rapid. More so then in the drops on my road bike. I would appreciate any exercises or techniques anyone may have.

Overall very pleased with the bike, now as always it's the engine. Next TT is Sat. so hopefully I do well.