Ok, I know this has been done a ton of times before, but since we likley have some new triathletes hanging out, I feel curious, and it has never been done with The Good, The Bad, And the Ugly as a backdrop, let’s try it again. (que stupid whistle music) So the question, what are you riding? Try and keep it a shorter in length: frameset, wheelset, groupo, any noteable upgrades. And then tell us whats good about it, bad, and the ugly truth. (or feel free to brag.)
So here's mine, QR Kilo and fork. stock stuff except Azoto for my tush, and Axial Pro Lite for my wheels.
The hopeless (cowboy movie) gopher
2002 Cervelo One, 105, stock wheels w/ Vredestein Fortezza Tricomps, and Azoto w/ QR seatpad. High quality and very functional, yet still quite inexpensive. Although it looks as though my decals may come off over time.
cannondale caad3 w/ ultegra. rolf vector pro w/ michelin pro race clinchers. bullhorns w/ ultegra sti’s and profile carbon stryke aeros. selle san marco aspide tri saddle. speedplay x2 stainless.
likes: stiff and light. love the sti’s on the bullhorns.
dislikes: can be uncomfortable on bad roads. not optimally aero but does well by me:)
Race: Merlin Ariel ti frame Dura Ace components Syntac bars Hed CX Front; Renn Disk Rear Reynolds Ouza Aero Pro fork Deda Black Stick carbon seat post Selle Italia SLR seat Speedplay X-2 pedals
Training: Schwinn Paramount (Serrotta built) ti frame Dura Ace components Speedplay X-2 pedals Kestrel Cabon bars Reynolds Ouza Pro fork Deda Newton stem Chris King headset U.S.E. Alien seat post Mavic Open Pro/Dura Ace hub wheels
Giant OCR-2, large. Bought new in Aug. '02. Made the following upgrades: Kestrel carbon fork, TruVativ 55 tooth crankset, Cane Creek wheels, 3T stem, 3T mini sub 8 shorty aerobars, Ultegra rear derailleur (just so’s I could have something on there that says Ultegra!). Still has the Tiagra STI shifters and front derailleur. So it’s a $750 bike that’s now worth about twice that (and I got most of the upgrades on sale). I use Look-style pedals as well. For race day, I will use an old Mavic Cosmic front that I bought from the Bunnyman and a Renn disc. My disc hasn’t arrived yet, though my new tubulars have (Continental Sprinters). My bike is a mix of components, but it works well for me. The frame is quite comfortable, and I really enjoy riding this bike. I hope to round out the rest of the bike with Ultegra before the season ends. I use an old purple Cannondale with downtube shifters on my trainer. I have no idea the model or year of this bike; it’s a 7-speed Shimano 105/600 with big round tubes. Still rides well, though – I’ve done a couple of rides out on the road with it just for kicks.
My race bike is a Klein Quantum Race with a Thomson no setback post, Azoto saddle, Syntace Stratos/C2/Space Controls, Ritchey WCS stem, other components are Ultegra/DA mix, Nimble Fly Front, Renn Disk, Tufo S3 rubber, and Look PP 396 pedals.
hte general lee is a bright orange mongoose like the bp stealth. sometimes run it w spinergys. the only thing i dislike is it is set up a little heavy. other than that ridden it is more fun than eatin bugers. also got a giant tcr. nice bike but is a little wobbley on decents. oh yeah then there is the look. ridden her is like rockin on the front porch n a recliner. smooooth. oh yeah feels like a wet noodle when i pedal. use it as a commuter till i get rid of er.
Kestrel KM40 with Dura Ace drivetrain, Cane Creek brakes (changing back to Dura Ace soon), Thomson seatpost, Terry Zero saddle, Chris King headset, Syntace cowhorns and aerobar, ITM stem, Speedplay, HED 3’s, Michelin Axial Pro Race; built-up and custom-painted by John Cobb with my kids’ names (my happy little inspirations) on each side of the top-tube in the same font and color as “Kestrel”. Oh… and a silver/yellow (Once) Pneumo and silver/yellow Carnac’s.
in the words of rich strauss, i ride a bike “nobody has ever heard of”.
main bike - curtlo custom ox platinum steel with sloping tt and radiused stays. built light and compliant - rides crazy sweet. looks a lot like a ghisallo. fillet brazed thru-out. DA shifting, brew brakes, SRP bolts, ritchey crank/stem, AC ti post, etc. roadie wheels - vary. profile jammer gt’s for tri and call it done.
PC bike - rivendell all-rounder. 753 frame originally built at waterford, later crashed in half ( no helmet !! lived to tell the tale, believe it or not) and rebuilt to superfine lugged and filed perfection by the man responsible for saving masi. i ride it like a slut-bike, tho. built with PC’s, and a hodge podge of old stuff - suntour, friction bar=ends, campy, old mt bike wheels of the freewheel era 6 or 7 speed, various cantilevers, whatever bar/post etc. parts bin build, even the chain is a castoff. weighs like 28 pounds and i dig it and ride it the most. tho superfine in quality and featuring a pink joe bell paintjob the bike looks ghastly weird by any modern standard and not only would no self respecting bike thief even consider stealing it but he wouldn’t get very far with the PC’s even if he did. even retirees on their giant comfort bikes and DUI guys on their wal-mart rust buckets think their bikes look sleeker - and i think they are right.
Well, I guess I started this thread to try and prove to people newer to the sport, and myself included, that a lot of people ride a cheaper bike. I guess I was wrong. Thanks alot Tom (i’m just kidding) Oh well, just a note, don’t be afraid of posting even if you aren’t that proud of your ride. You are a Triathlete, brag a little.
