Road bike complete.

[HardDrive]

Finished off my road bike this evening.

Started with a 07 Specialized Roubaix Elite triple.

Added:

-Easton Vista SL wheels
-Specialized Armadillo 25c tires
-Look Keo Sprint pedals
-FSA Carbon Pro Team Issue crank set (triple)
-FSA 140 stem.
-Ultegra 6600 brakes
-Cateye Mity 8 computer.
-Lights, bags, etc...

The bike is actually quite heavy, but my goals were:

A) Comfort
B) Low rotational weight.
C) Durability

The saddle (specialized avatar gel) and the tires weigh a ton, but fit my plans nicely.

I have 2 ruptured disks in my back, and I think you can tell by both the frame geometry and my setup that comfort was a huge issue. It IS comfortable. The frame is without question the best I have ever ridden. Light, fantastic road feel, with very little chatter or vibration. Those little 'Zertz' inserts in the frame are not a gimmick. They work.

I would recommend the bike. I wanted to build up the bike myself, but if you don't want to do that, spring for the Comp, which is the next model up.

[cantdrv55]

Very nice, HD. Have you ever used Armadillos before? How long do they last? The Vittorios that came with my bike only lasted about 850 miles before they started wearing down pretty quickly and left me stranded. I've got Michelin Pro 2s now. Slick and low rolling resistance and should last longer but I think I feel the road a bit more.

[cantdrv55]

Oh yeah, what kind of wheels came with your bike and why'd you switch to Eastons?

[k9handler]

very nice....am on the market for a new bike this summer but the temps out right now make me wonder if summer will ever come!

FSA makes some very nice parts!

[HardDrive]

Originally Posted by cantdrv55

Very nice, HD. Have you ever used Armadillos before? How long do they last? The Vittorios that came with my bike only lasted about 850 miles before they started wearing down pretty quickly and left me stranded. I've got Michelin Pro 2s now. Slick and low rolling resistance and should last longer but I think I feel the road a bit more.

I used the Armadillos on my single speed. It seems like they will last a long time. I probably have 500+ miles on that bike, and they look new.

I put them on because I wanted the ultimate punture resistance. I ride in urban conditions, and rolling through glass is a non issue. They are tough. Because they are so stiff, they offer low rolling resistance.

There are a few negative though. First of all, they are a b!tch to get on the wheel. The sidewalls are extremely stiff, and getting them on takes 3 levers and a zen attitude. The second thing is traction. The rubber is quite hard, and I get the impression that they would not be the best cornering tires if pushed hard. Last thing, they really are quite heavy. They add half a pound to the bike.

The wheels that came on the bike were Mavic Open Sports with Specialized Hubs (no name forged hubs with a big S on them). I wanted something more aero and lighter, and I got a screaming deal on the Eastons off E-bay. The 'no name' Specialized hubs are actually quite nice, machined well. The wheels are junk. Wide, flat, ugly and poorly finished. I actually found a defect on both wheels! There was a small burr in the machined braking surface that I needed to filed down. If it was just one wheel, thats one thing, but both?

[nostatic]

cool. My Salsa frame showed up monday. I need to swing by the house and pick up my box o' parts and built it. I just need the fork headset race banged on.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Nice work.

I just put the Ultegra 6600 brakes on my wife's LeMond. Very nice. I'm very impressed with the design and ease of tuning/setting up those brakes.

[Racerbvd]

WAWWWW, I want a new road bike tooo!!!!!!!!!

[Hugh R]

Crap I'm old. I still have my Raleigh Competition, with full Campy. I think I got it in about 1976.

[cantdrv55]

Originally Posted by Hugh R

Crap I'm old. I still have my Raleigh Competition, with full Campy. I think I got it in about 1976.

Dood, steel is real. Don't get rid of it!

[JavaBrewer]

That's a sweet bike. I'd like to have a similar setup - minus the triple ring.

It's too cold to ride bikes now anyway. Morning temps here are low 50s...burrrrrr I'm a warm weather rider. Hotter the better for me.

[SXSMAN]

Originally Posted by Hugh R

Crap I'm old. I still have my Raleigh Competition, with full Campy. I think I got it in about 1976.

Join the club Hugh ( or are you a charter member ? ) , I built my road bike back in 77 .

Franlin custom frame , also full supper Campy .

Had some 700c rims built a few years back and the guy couldn't believe how well and how long the hubs free-wheeled .

May have to post a pic .

Nice bike HardDrive

SxS

[MichiganMat]

Sick.

Its cool that so many of us are bikers, great minds think alike apparently. I just pulled the trigger on this new setup:



A Redline Conquest cyclocross bike, Shimano 105, disc ready. Not a great bike, but Im super stoked to ride the tires off it.

[cantdrv55]

Nice bike, Mat. Are you going to race or just ride for fitness/recreation?

[cantdrv55]

Originally Posted by dmoolenaar

It's too cold to ride bikes now anyway. Morning temps here are low 50s...burrrrrr I'm a warm weather rider. Hotter the better for me.

My son and I went on a ride a couple of weeks back when the sun was out. It was still very cold but we were bundled up with arm/knee warmers, gloves, underlayer, shoe covers, long sleeve jersey, bib and windbreaker.

I'd rather ride when it's cool. Last summer, I tried to ride around Lake Berryessa but couldn't finish because of the heat.

[HardDrive]

I rode 22 miles last week when it was 26 degrees. If you have the right gear its no big deal. The only thing that keeps me home is the '38 degree, rain, 20mph wind' combo, and we have had that for a few days here....

[MichiganMat]

Originally Posted by cantdrv55

Nice bike, Mat. Are you going to race or just ride for fitness/recreation?

Im racing mountain bikes right now, signed up for Sea Otter and and an 8hr race called Boggs. I needed a bike that I could commute with (9miles each way) but also do some road training on, this is really the best of both worlds.

Right now Im planning a ride that will take me from the middle of San Jose, up through the SC mountains, catching a fireroad out to Aptos and back. This CCX bike will be perfect, just gotta set a weekend to execute.

[cantdrv55]

No wonder we haven't heard from you in a while. You missed the BAP fest at Jon's.

Sorry for the hijack, HD.