cyclenutnz wrote:
I was going to say that this thread topic would draw you nearly as fast as one about a certain type of brake caliper and undersized rotor.
You didn't have a pic of your bike to hand?
My Merckx MXL is heavier, less aero and not quite as smooth as my S5. But I still really enjoy riding it and would not call it an inferior bike. Oddly enough, in the days I commuted to work (26km) my best time on the Merckx was equal to my TT bike so by common 'logic' it's actually as fast as a modern tt bike and position.
You were probably goofing on me about the picture, but here you go :-)
"This is Violet. At least once every 1-2 weeks I like to take her out for a spin...not just because she's cool and retro (although she is!)...but because she's fast, fun, comfortable, and still one of the best handling road bikes I've owned. She also keeps me calibrated on what have been the very few truly transformative road cycling improvements over the last 30 years or so, namely: clipless pedals, indexed shifting, and shifting from the brake levers. Everything else is just a bunch of technological "farting around". With a retro-looking, yet modern
@jonesprecisionwheels wheelset on her and quality tires and tubes, the performance doesn't give up anything to modern bikes, besides a small bit of weight. In fact, she's still the BEST braking road bike I've ridden, regardless of brake type (rim or disc) and only serves to remind me of how bad road bike braking was allowed to get over the last 25 years or so that folks would think disc brakes are somehow necessary on road bikes. I like Violet."
Oh...and of the few KOMs I have on Strava, there are a couple that were set on this bike. So much for being "good for nothing unless you just like looking at it." :-P
http://bikeblather.blogspot.com/