Just drafted an email to a good friend that talks a bit about why I went with the Cervelo S1 with some additional information about why I think it's a good bike for Ride the Rockies.
What do you want to pay for a bike?
I did a TON of research, and found that for and level under PRO, the Ultegra component set is more than adequate. Also, at the $2200 price point, I could get a superlight Aluminium (which I got in the Cervelo) or a Carbon frame.
The guys at the bike shop put it this way: When you compare a $900 bike to a $2500 bike, the major benefits are performance and overall weight. Meaning that the component set goes from a Tiagra/Sora mix to Ultegra, which is a noticeable increase in performance, and you get the lighter frame (either Carbon or Light Aluminium).
When you go from a $2500 bike to a $5000 bike, the major benefit is weight and high-level performance (stiffness). Meaning you'll save approx. 1 pound off the overall weight of the bike, and the Carbon you get is a higher quality, stiffer and more responsive ride. So for me, it was smarter to stop at the $2500 level.
What other components did I add to the bike?
The other 2 things I changed on the bike were the pedals (Crank Brothers Eggbeaters SL: http://www.crankbrothers.com/eggbeater_sl.php ) and the saddle (Selle SMP Glider: http://www.sellesmp.com/en/glider.htm ).
How will it do for Ride the Rockies?
I think it will do well. It has a good stiff bottom bracket, it's very responsive and the energy you put into pedaling feels like it's all going directly to the tires and the road. Riding this bike feels like there is no energy wasted - it's all used to move you forward. It's a unique feeling. My only slight concern is the gearing - I'm on a 34 (front) - 25 (rear) - so I'll really need to work on my climbing - but it's a compact crankset, so that makes a difference.
Training is a blast - looking forward to warmer weather and longer rides.
No comments:
Post a Comment