I sold some of my used Atomic 10-speed parts on here in the ST classifieds when I upgraded to 11-speed and I know a few users have purchased using my regular 10% off code in the past, although I am never sure whether those referrals come from here or my own website. Nonetheless I am curious to know who else on here is running coated parts? If not, do you use a separate race day drivetrain and if so what do you swap out?
From a pro perspective it is always interesting to see the number of people who run Atomic parts but never really talk about it. I follow my direct peers pretty regularly and I am always checking out drivetrains in transition. If I see a dirty bike it immediately gives me confidence on the bike as I know it is hurting them more than it is hurting me. I have seen Tim Reed talk about it and Meredith Kessler (big yellow chainring). I showed up at Raleigh 70.3, racked late in the day, and I was surprised to see Matt Chrabot and Andreas Dreitz on it. In addition I have also seen Leanda Cave, TO, Rinny, Big Sexy (big yellow chainring), Pat Evoe, Kelly Williamson, and Lauren Goss run their stuff along with various BMX racers and track cyclists. I know there are probably many more pro athletes running Atomic parts and I am always surprised that they never bring it up. Opposite of a dirty bike, when I see a pro with Atomic parts I know they are working towards details, and details add up.
As for Atomc, the owner Andy is an extreme hobbyist just like us, although he mainly focuses on track racing now. He went to the wind tunnel, he worked with John Cobb, and when he still wasn't satisfied he started tinkering in new areas including drivetrain friction. He has a day job in Houston with oil, and family, and Atomic is still a labor of love more or less, but his parts helped secure a US Gold at the Olympics.
As for me, I personally have been using Atomic parts since 2013 and frankly one of the biggest benefits I have come to realize is just in the swapping out of race day and training day parts in general. I know it takes some time but the benefits have included running beefier training equipment such as 105 chains, cassettes, and chainrings for longer and more reliable wear. When I switch over to race gear all the equipment is clean and relatively unworn. I don't have to worry about a chain that has become too stretched or a middle cog that is now EOL and jumping all over the place. In addition, I have become much more in touch with my bike and maintenance in general. It amazes me what I catch versus a few years ago when I tended to train and then slap on race wheels for race day.
Fwiw, this past race at IMMT where I was sadly a DNF, I was swapping out pulleys and I noticed the derailleur hanger was loose. I wonder as well as I see so many pros who run beefier tires but flat and here I am with TJ running paper thin Supersonics and usually incur no problems. Again, I think it has to do with inspecting my tires post-race or pre-race for any small glass shards and removing them, where as I feel my peers, and especially those running tubulars, tend to over look this.
As a fellow bike geek I am curious to know if you are running Atomic parts and any feedback you might have. If you don't run Atomic Parts, what degree of race prep do you do, ie, do you use a race day cassette and chainrings, race day chain, pulleys? If not why not? Atomic is running an ad currently on the ST front page - if you are interested in trying out Atomic parts now is a good chance to save 15%. I will notify Andy of this thread in case anyone has some questions as he is a lurker and sometime poster.
Save: $50 on Speed Hound Recovery Boots | $20 on Air Relax| $100 on Normatec| 15% on Most Absorbable Magnesium
Blogs: Best CHEAP Zwift / Bike Trainer Desk | Theragun G3 vs $140 Bivi Percussive Massager | Normatec Pulse 2.0 vs Normatec Pulse | Speed Hound vs Normatec | Air Relax vs Normatec | Q1 2018 Blood Test Results | | Why HED JET+ Is The BEST value wheelset
From a pro perspective it is always interesting to see the number of people who run Atomic parts but never really talk about it. I follow my direct peers pretty regularly and I am always checking out drivetrains in transition. If I see a dirty bike it immediately gives me confidence on the bike as I know it is hurting them more than it is hurting me. I have seen Tim Reed talk about it and Meredith Kessler (big yellow chainring). I showed up at Raleigh 70.3, racked late in the day, and I was surprised to see Matt Chrabot and Andreas Dreitz on it. In addition I have also seen Leanda Cave, TO, Rinny, Big Sexy (big yellow chainring), Pat Evoe, Kelly Williamson, and Lauren Goss run their stuff along with various BMX racers and track cyclists. I know there are probably many more pro athletes running Atomic parts and I am always surprised that they never bring it up. Opposite of a dirty bike, when I see a pro with Atomic parts I know they are working towards details, and details add up.
As for Atomc, the owner Andy is an extreme hobbyist just like us, although he mainly focuses on track racing now. He went to the wind tunnel, he worked with John Cobb, and when he still wasn't satisfied he started tinkering in new areas including drivetrain friction. He has a day job in Houston with oil, and family, and Atomic is still a labor of love more or less, but his parts helped secure a US Gold at the Olympics.
As for me, I personally have been using Atomic parts since 2013 and frankly one of the biggest benefits I have come to realize is just in the swapping out of race day and training day parts in general. I know it takes some time but the benefits have included running beefier training equipment such as 105 chains, cassettes, and chainrings for longer and more reliable wear. When I switch over to race gear all the equipment is clean and relatively unworn. I don't have to worry about a chain that has become too stretched or a middle cog that is now EOL and jumping all over the place. In addition, I have become much more in touch with my bike and maintenance in general. It amazes me what I catch versus a few years ago when I tended to train and then slap on race wheels for race day.
Fwiw, this past race at IMMT where I was sadly a DNF, I was swapping out pulleys and I noticed the derailleur hanger was loose. I wonder as well as I see so many pros who run beefier tires but flat and here I am with TJ running paper thin Supersonics and usually incur no problems. Again, I think it has to do with inspecting my tires post-race or pre-race for any small glass shards and removing them, where as I feel my peers, and especially those running tubulars, tend to over look this.
As a fellow bike geek I am curious to know if you are running Atomic parts and any feedback you might have. If you don't run Atomic Parts, what degree of race prep do you do, ie, do you use a race day cassette and chainrings, race day chain, pulleys? If not why not? Atomic is running an ad currently on the ST front page - if you are interested in trying out Atomic parts now is a good chance to save 15%. I will notify Andy of this thread in case anyone has some questions as he is a lurker and sometime poster.
Save: $50 on Speed Hound Recovery Boots | $20 on Air Relax| $100 on Normatec| 15% on Most Absorbable Magnesium
Blogs: Best CHEAP Zwift / Bike Trainer Desk | Theragun G3 vs $140 Bivi Percussive Massager | Normatec Pulse 2.0 vs Normatec Pulse | Speed Hound vs Normatec | Air Relax vs Normatec | Q1 2018 Blood Test Results | | Why HED JET+ Is The BEST value wheelset
Last edited by:
Thomas Gerlach: Aug 28, 15 9:26
