Yesterday evening I received my new Blade from my LBS … while checking the bike one of the members of our local tri community went into the LBS with a blown tire, saw me getting the bike, asked a few things about it and left with the words “we should get out for a ride soon …”. He bought a new P3 a few weeks ago and is - although the bike is still makinng some noise - quite happy with it. So soon it will be clear which bike is faster, the Blade or the P3. If he is faster then of course the bike is to blame, if I am faster then of course it is all about the rider riding it.
BTW, my new Blade is f_a_n_t_a_s_t_i_c. All I need now are newer and better legs.
Bladed(thick) top tube makes no sense aerodynamically (except at zero degrees yaw). And I can’t remember the last time I raced in a perfectly straight line with a tailwind. Please help me make sense of this blade design element. Maybe I have malaria?!
Comon’ This dude just bought a new bike - don’t be choppin’ his new ride down before he gets to enjoy it. The bladed top tube looks cool, but as far as I know that’s where the benefit ends. I don’t think it will really affect him is cross winds unless he’s riding in a hurricane. I don’t know why they did the bladed top tube. Maybe they thought people would buy into the “sail” affect hogwash that disc people profess happens.
Now Gotta - I’m not dissing your ride - you’ve got a fine machine there and I’m green with jealousy. Enjoy it - I hope it gives your more miles than your car.
No choppin’ his ride here. Just trying to understand the logic behind it. Never understood it. I hope he loves it and rides it well. And I’ll be bidding on those legs on eBay.
I own a 99 Blade, it still has the round tob tube and also a P3. Sorry Gerard, but I like the Blade best. Faster bike, who really knows?? Just a personal preference in my case. I will say though that on race day I ride the P3 amd most training days are on the Blade.
Frank, Don’t you have a Trek TTT? Why the new frame? Which do you like better?
Thanks.
Yes. Am I crazy? Probably. I have a steel, two aluminium, a carbon and now also a titanium bike. I had my first ride on the Blade today and the first impression is very positive but I need several hundred kilometers to know which one I like better. I think I like all of my bikes. Often there are discussions about which frame material is the best material. People say aluminium bikes are stiff and harsh and carbon bikes are smooth and titanium is best of all … sigh … IMHO the most important factor for a pleasant and comfortable ride is the saddle and good bike shorts. I bought San Marco Azoto/Aspide saddles for all my bikes and I like them very well - but - big problem - saddles are a very individual thing. A saddle which fits perfect for my a** is not automatically perfect for another rider’s a** so one has to try out different saddles till one finds the perfect one. The same with bib shorts - I bought a USPS team kit (the shorts being made by Nike) and those shorts have seams at a point where it hurts between the legs … so I have to wear additional bike underwear when I ride them … very bad shorts. I also have some older adidas bib shorts which fit perfect … I can ride for very long without having any sort of unpleasant feeling.
Why did I want the Blade? First I read Tom’s review about the 2002 model. He wrote he recommends the bigger frames for strong and powerful riders … well … I’m very sturdy built and a not-so-slow clydesdale as you can see here: http://www.usa-clydesdale.com/Rankings/2002/Duathlon_Men_Long_Masters.htm you find me as the highest ranking European there. I’m not fat but have lots of muscles from another sport I did for 15 years. Litespeed did some improvement on the 2003 model and my LBS gave me a very good price for the frame with fork so I couldn’t say no. Someone wrote about the useless aero top tube … it might not make me faster but as it also does not make me slower I have no problem with it. I like the look of the bike and as I compared the lengths of the different tubes to my Principia triathlon bike I knew that the 59cm frame should fit for my size - today I know it fits perfect.
The P3 riding friend is also a clydesdale you can find in the worldranking list and so we both are looking forward for hours of riding in a competitve but friendly manner. If he drops me thats just motivation to train more and harder for me and if I drop him its vice versa. Sadly summer’s gone and no racing before May.
Geez, you guys are edgy. Regarding the blade top tube. I just commented on it because when it comes to great design, lees is more. Meaning, if it’s there, there should be a reason. I didn’t say it was slower or not good. Frank, congrats on being one of the fastest Clydes. Great job! I’m sure you’d be fast on a Huffy or a Schwinn. You’ve got the engine and that’s what really counts. Have a great off-season.
I have ridden a Blade for several years now and have nothing but positive remarks to make about it. The only real downside is that I can not take it out for a easy ride without someone wanting to race me.