Is it time for a new bike?

[Veronica]

Bar End Shifters? Is this one of those numbered dials?

Ahhh... no....




Bar end shifters are the silver levers at the end of the handlebar. the left one is pointed down, that tells me I'm in my small gear in the front. If it were pointed straight back, I'd be in the large ring. On my triple I also have a middle position.

The right one is about halfway through the cluster. The closer it is to being straight back, I know I have fewer easier gears. The closer it is to straight down, the harder the gears.

V.

[SR500]

SR500's DH here. You should go for more of an upgrade. While the 2.1 is nice, it's fairly close to what you have. The new Madones are running several hundred off list price (although delivery is slow). I would go carbon with a compact. A light stiff bike with an awesome ride, will improve all aspects on your riding, climbing, group rides, comfort, enjoyment, everything. I ride a Madone compact and love it! I've not been on a new one, but everyone I've talked with that has ridden them LOVE them. As far as durability, the carbon will last as long as a good steel or AL. Trek has the best warranty on the biz, so go carbon. Trek's entry level Madone is a fair be less and imported, but I would go with a 5.2 of get all the advantages the new bike.

PS. Keep you old bike. I have a Binachi I ride a couple hundred miles a year; vacation, rain, and if the Madone is out of commission for any reason. Have fun shopping, buying a new bike is a blast!

[Mr. Bloom]

Mr. SR500...how do you feel about carbon for someone who's prone to low speed falls (although it's been a few months, my experience doesn't make me think that it's beyond happening again )

[smilingcat]

Dear Mr. Silver,

It used to be that nick in the carbon frame meant the end, but these days things are so much better that a minor scratch or nick does not impare the frame whatso ever.

Now having said that, if you are prone to slow speed fall, you might consider steel or titanium. Steel can be reworked, titanium is like a spring so it flexes and pops back to its original shape. None for the wear.

Aluminum frame with its over sized tube, I'm not too terribly sure how it fares in slow speed crash.

Then there are Metal Matrix composite boron nitride matrixed into aluminum (you'll only find it in Griffen bike from Austin Tx was it). probably can't be reworked? or Calfee is developing a bike for the third world country. Its to be made from locally available material mostly bamboo for the frame. How neat is that!!

just my highly opinionated comment regarding frame material.

I'm partial to Ti 3Al/2.5V tubes. The more stiffer Ti tubing using 6AL/4V tends to suffer from stress fracture and cracking. So stay away from the super stiff Ti tube using the 6AL/4V composition.

smilingcat

[SR500]

Mr. SR500...how do you feel about carbon for someone who's prone to low speed falls (although it's been a few months, my experience doesn't make me think that it's beyond happening again )

I wouldn't worry about it. I've fallen over once on the bike, extreme slow speed, my body took the blow, I can't remember if I even unclipped. I've also had the bike fall over on several occasions, other then a couple scuffs, again no problem. Carbon will tend to bounce off, whereas aluminum and even steel will dent. Most of the time a dent isn't a problem other then appearance.

With carbon you need to be careful of deep scratches, but like the other materials, carbon is also repairable. Titanium is nice, and Waterford makes some beautiful steel bikes, but carbon is an excellent frame material.

I also run a carbon bar, stem, seat post, and crank, and don't worry at all. Trek does their homework, and tests bike and components as good if not better then anyone else. They also have a decent crash replacement program, if needed.

I would try and at least ride a '08 Madone (I think there are a few at a couple shops in Indy and Cincy). We have a new 5.1 WSD on order for SR, and got a great price, just have to wait on it for a couple months.

[silver]

Looks like it's time for Mr. SR500

[Jo-n-NY]

If you need a 49, Specialized offers their Tarmac & Roubaix in a 49 both are carbon. Or the Allez which is aluminum, however, has carbon seat stays, fork, etc as does the Trek. The Allez also comes in a 49.

Specialized also does indepth testing on their carbon bikes and lists such info in their catalog.

Just thought I would offer another option.

~ JoAnn

[Mr. SR500]

Looks like it's time for Mr. SR500

What ya know, I'm already online. Makes sense since I'm online like 99% more then Kim. I've been trying to get her new Madone squared away. Our LBS was purchased, so her order has been a little up in the air. Still looking at a '07 delivery we hope. When we placed the order we were number 152 for a 52 cm Madone 5.1, however production wasn't scheduled until December. I guess Trek underestimated demand a bit when they rolled them out in August. Anyway, I think Mr. S should still consider a Madone or other carbon frame bike.

Do you guys do any time trails? I'm trying to get Kim to go with me on the tandem. On singles my age group is so competitive, it makes it tough to get in the medals, but now mixed tandem

[Mr. Bloom]

Mr. SR500...welcome out of the world of "lurking" into the sunlight

I will consider a Madone...but my guess is I'll shoot for that in '09 due to the cost and my relative low skill level (when we have the first year of college tuition )

I've not done anything competitive yet, but I do have a goal of doing something competitive in '09. Do you have any time trial event suggestions for a mid-40's greenhorn rider?

[Mr. SR500]

You'll be fine, TT's are fun because it doesn't take the whole day and there is plenty of down time to hang out with your buddies and have fun. I don't even have aero bars, but enjoy seeing if I can improve against myself. The course is 20k (12+ miles), and fairly flat out and back. It sort of reminds me of a 5K in the running world. We go over to Ohio the last Sat of the month (Feb - Sept). Last month they had ran a team TT, so the Zipp Team boys came over from Indy and went home with the money. They were impressive, 4 identical Cervelos all with DEEP Zipp rims, on top of a black Mercedes wagon. In general the hardware the people bring is amazing, full TT bikes, disk wheels, lots of deep carbon wheels, etc... But there are also kids, recumbents, and everything in between. At the end they give medals in each age/gender cat, and occasionally door prizes.

Back to bikes, lots of great bikes to try, but I would consider a bigger jump and if you needed to wait a year you'll be happier in the long run. I try to focus all my hobby attention and money on biking, and with the health benefits make it easy to justify.

P.S. SR500 gave me my Madone for my 40th b-day, great wife!

[Jo-n-NY]

What a great gift. My dh surprised me with my Ruby Pro in March.

How nice to see another Mr. on the board.

~ JoAnn

[RoadRaven]

Without even reading the whole thread, i have the answer...

Its ALWAYS time for a new bike!



And of the whole thread, the bit that caught my eye next after the title was in these last few posts...

Welcome MrSR500
And yes, there are a few of here who time trial... do a search on the word/s and you should get linked to quite a few threads.
There is also one in the tips/tricks forum on tips for time trialling I started last year (I think) and quite a few TE-ers have added to it.

Its the ultimate race - the race of truth, the great equaliser, because all you have is you and your bike... I love TTs (can you tell?)

Ans like MrSilver says, they don't take all day and you can really measure yourself and challenge yourself

[RoadRaven]

Ahhh... no....
Bar end shifters are the silver levers at the end of the handlebar. the left one is pointed down, that tells me I'm in my small gear in the front. If it were pointed straight back, I'd be in the large ring. On my triple I also have a middle position.
V.

I looked and looked for a looooong time... where? where? where?
But I was looking for aero bars - thank you - I am enlightened! I have bull horns and aero bars so my bar-end shifters are at the end of aero bars, and the brake levers on the bull horns.

I had no idea bar-end shifters could/did go also on drops!

Seek TE for Ultimate Enlightenment!

[Starfish]

My compact double is a 46 - 33, with an 11 - 34 in the rear. What's the rear cluster on the Trek? And I have no problems climbing 20% grades. Other than they are 20% grades!
V.

V, what pros and cons are there to the 46 being your largest CR?