What a difference 4,085 grams make.

[creekster]

Regarding bearings, I think that they can make a difference, but for most of us the benefit would be completely unnoticeable. I can't imagine that the benefit of having ceramic bearings would be worth near the cost of paying for them.

This is a better wya of stating it. Are ceramic bearigns better? Sure. But th ebig difference is the lower masas at rim and spoke.

Before believeing naythign I say on this topic, however, keep in mind that I most often ride a bike that is set up as a tourer and has more spokes than a DT factory on the rear wheel.

I love maple bars, too, BG, which means you are not allowed into the pick up. They are all mine. But I will keep a cold bottle of ovaltine ready for you.

[pellegrino]

Ok...I fell for a technology sales pitch. Made sense to me...not knowing the intricacies of the build...

Disregard anything I say....I'm a pushover for a good salesman...er...woman...HEY! No wonder I fell for it!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5j4i...eature=related

[PaloAltoCougar]

...Very nice, PAC. I was looking for a picture online and couldn't find one. Do you have one that you can post?

I intend to submit a picture of both of us with our new wheels but that'll happen Saturday. Which is just as well--although PAC in Spandex is considered art by some, it is thought to be pornographic by certain administrators at work, and I don't wish to see any of you get fired by viewing us from your offices. Still, here's a photo, along with a link to a full review of the bike. The review has more photos, including the frame color we ended up with. We got the black and white models, eschewing red, both because of principle and a lack of availability...



http://reviews.roadbikereview.com/bl...-bike-preview/

[PaloAltoCougar]

While I was working (sort of) here at home this morning, the wife took off with her cycling buddies on another 50-miler. She observed a huge difference with the new bike, and her pals were laughing at how much faster she was, leaving them in the dust a few times (and some of these women are very serious, including a spinning instructor). Unfortunately, when she was out in front of the pack near the crest of a short but steep climb, she goofed with her shifting and was suddenly in a very high gear and she "stalled." She didn't get out of her new road pedals fast enough and she took a tumble, receiving the usual chainring tattoo and some lacerations on her calf. Her saddle sustained a mild scuff but otherwise the bike wasn't damaged. After dusting herself off, she pedaled another 15 miles to lunch at the Wente Golf Club where she clean up the blood and applied a butterfly bandage to the open wound.

I did a bit more clean-up when she got home, and she says the only thing hurt is her pride, although it's kind of an ugly wound. I mentioned that I assumed this meant we wouldn't be doing the Calaveras climb tomorrow as we had planned, but she looked at me disgustedly for even thinking such a thing and said simply, "Please..." So off we'll go. Sometimes she really scares me.

[bluegoose]

Her saddle sustained a mild scuff

NOOOOOOOO! I'm so sorry PAC. That is terrible news.

A couple of years ago my buddy got his first carbon ride. He went all out to the tune of about $5K. The FIRST time he went to take it out for a ride, we were in his driveway getting ready to go when his bike slipped off the car that it was leaning against. It landed against the corner of the house that was all brick and left a couple of nice gashes on his top tube. You could tell that he was devastated, but he remained stoic throughout. He took it to a friends house and was able to make it look as good as new with some carefully mixed and applied nail polish.

[PaloAltoCougar]

NOOOOOOOO! I'm so sorry PAC. That is terrible news.

A couple of years ago my buddy got his first carbon ride. He went all out to the tune of about $5K. The FIRST time he went to take it out for a ride, we were in his driveway getting ready to go when his bike slipped off the car that it was leaning against. It landed against the corner of the house that was all brick and left a couple of nice gashes on his top tube. You could tell that he was devastated, but he remained stoic throughout. He took it to a friends house and was able to make it look as good as new with some carefully mixed and applied nail polish.

Thanks for the empathy. The seat doesn't look bad; I think it makes her look like the serious rider that she is. When we picked the bikes up, I reminded her of a famous Silicon Valley tragedy from the '80s: On the day Eagle Computer went public, its newly rich founder, Dennis Barnhart, picked up his new Ferrari and took it for a spin. He lost control near the Lexington Reservoir, flipped his new wheels, and was killed instantly. We've stepped up from the cycling equivalent of serviceable Fords to Ferraris. We'll be careful.

[Borg]

Ok..got my new wheel set rolling recently, and I know I got pummeled for falling for the sales pitch...but, today, on my ride to work, whatever the case may be...I noticed a substantial increase in speed going down a hill.

Normally, I would not have gone over 40mph, but today, (usually on this hill, I was usually near 36-38 range) I hit 41 miles per hour with the new wheels.

Not sure if it was due to the lighter mass (how much loss of mass would make "X" mph difference?)...or the fabeled bearings...but something made a difference, and in the positive direction, so I'm happy.

My steed: