Cannondale CAAD10 and SuperX for 2011
Written by drbob on July 4, 2010 – 4:15 pm -By James Huang, technical editor bikeradar.com Cannondale continue their touted aluminium legacy with all-new CAAD10 road models for 2011 Cannondale's long history of crafting cutting-edge aluminium road chassis will continue into 2011 with the introduction of an all-new CAAD10 that sheds 200g from the current CAAD9 for an impressive estimated bare frame weight of 1,050g (2.31lb). As expected, tube shaping is more advanced than on the CAAD9 for better stiffness in certain directions but more tuned flex in others. The giant hydroformed down tube flares vertically at the head tube, the broad top tube sports a new squared-off oval profile, the seat tube is flattened and ovalised below the front derailleur clamp, and the chain- and seatstays boast... more
Tags: cannondale, cannondale caad10, cannondale super x, Road Bikes
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Giant TCR Advanced T-Mobile Team Bike Review
Written by drbob on March 28, 2010 – 9:24 pm -By Jez Loftus, BikeRadar The TCR Advanced T-Mobile Team is Giant's no compromise road race machine and gets its mouthful of a name from being the choice ride for the German pro team. Built with nothing but all-out performance in mind the Advanced Team is light, stiff and fast. At £4150, it's almost identical to the bike the pros ride but unless you're paid to race do you really need one? Will it make you a faster rider, or simply make you look like an all-the-gear-no-idea poseur? The fact that the TCR Advanced isn't your average versatile, performance road bike makes it even more appealing. The T-Mobile colours, only minutely adjustable (2cm), one cut, one fit seatmast and compact, stiff frame make it a unique bike. The ride is hard to describe... more
Tags: giant, Giant TCR, road bike, Road Bikes
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Jamis Xenith SL Review and Video
Written by drbob on March 7, 2010 – 2:34 pm -Steven Fairchild of Jamis Bikes gives us a very detailed look into the 2009 Jamis Xenith SL. The very same bike that Team Colavita races on, you can pick up at your local LBS. 2009 Jamis Xenith SL Upgrades from 2008 • Lighter frame with increased stiffness in the BB and HT area • BB 30 Bottom Bracket system • New fork design utilizing 1.5” crown race • Ritchey Logic WCS Carbon Drop-In integrated headset • 3T Rotundo LTD handlebar, ARX Team stem and Doric LTD seatpost • Fizik Arione CX saddle with Carbon Braided rails All the technology in the world, the fancy ads, the awards—they don’t mean squat once the gun goes off. Being first across the line—that’s all that matters. That’s what these Xeniths are all about. Colavita’s... more
Tags: jamis, Jamis Xenith SL, Road Bikes
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Giant TCR Advanced SL 2 Review
Written by drbob on February 7, 2010 – 5:22 pm -Giant TCR Advanced SL 2 Frame Technology Experience the one-of-a-kind ride quality of Giant’s unique Alliance technology, which blends the best characteristics of both composite and aluminum. You get amazing power transfer for the sprints and a supple ride for long days in the saddle. Features - Complete 10-speed SRAM RIVAL (black) groupset - Lightweight Giant Connect SL handlebar and stem - Fi’zi:k Pave CX saddle - Lighter Mavic CXP22 wheelset Review We have to break out the superlatives for this out-of-the-box racer. It's the lightest and stiffest frame that Giant has ever produced—the same one (albeit without the integrated seat mast) that was ridden to more pro wins last year than any other bike. Granted, the SL 2 is hung with a... more
Tags: giant, road bike, Road Bikes
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How To Align A Bicycle Wheel
Written by drbob on January 22, 2010 – 6:03 pm -Truing a bike wheel is one of those things you may never have to do, or never want to do, in that case take your wheels to you local bike shop and have a trained experienced mechanic true your wheels. Aligning bicycle wheels, step by step Building and truing wheels is a very difficult thing to do, it can take years to learn, but your wheels may only be a little out, or your no where near a bike shop and you need to straighten a wheel, its good to know what to do in those circumstances. How to Start To build and true wheels properly you need a lot of expensive tools, such as: 1. Spoke key 2. Truing jig 3. Dishing tool but if you only need to do a little straightening all you’ll need is the spoke key and you can do the work in the bike frame,... more
Tags: Bike Maintenance
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Scott CR1 SL Review
Written by drbob on January 17, 2010 – 12:57 pm -By James Huang, technical editor, BikeRadar Scott's CR1 has been revamped for 2010, with trick new tube shaping that's designed to take the edge off the bumps without overly diluting the bike's racy feel. This shaping actually works, and quite well – though not entirely the way we expected it to. Ride & handling: Light and stiff enough to race, but with a bit of give over bigger bumps On smoother roads the so-called SDS (Shock Damping System) – basically, the stays have been flattened in key areas so they flex under big impacts – is essentially inactive and the CR1 rides similarly to the company's Addict flagship, leaving us wondering what all the fuss was about. It's notably firm with excellent road feedback and, as is typical for... more
Tags: road bike, Road Bikes, scott, Scott CR1 SL
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Cannondale System Six Carbon Superlight Road Bike Review
Written by drbob on January 3, 2010 – 7:36 pm -By BikeRadar "With its short head tube, direct steering response and exceptional willingness to respond to all-out efforts on steep gradients, the new SystemSix is sharper and more refined for speed than Cannondale's previous models, and closer to its competitors in terms of performance. " The heady days of the Saeco team's supremacy in the sprint may be over for Cannondale - certainly since Mario Cipollini bowed out - but the company is still very much at the cutting edge of bike technology. With benchmark setters like the R900 and the sublimely smooth Six-13 Team - used by the up-and-coming Barloworld squad - innovation and success is still a massive priority for the Cannondale crew. Not content with resting on their laurels, the people from... more
Tags: cannondale, cannondale system six, road bike, Road Bikes
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Specialized Tarmac Expert: Best High-end road-racing bike
Written by drbob on December 14, 2009 – 4:04 pm -Best High-end road-racing bike Specialized Tarmac Expert *Est. $3,700 ConsumerSearch.com synthesized multiple reviews of road bike and concluded the Specialized Tarmac Expert is the top of the line for serious road racers. A great bike for experienced cyclists who want to move to the upper echelons of racing. Below is what they concluded. For serious racers, reviews indicate that it's hard to beat the Specialized Tarmac Expert in this price range. It sports a lightweight carbon frame that is based on the top-end S-Works Tarmac SL2 (MSRP: $8,500) --although not as light -- and it offers crisp shifting thanks to Shimano Ultegra SL components. The steering gets rave reviews, with multiple experts calling it "stable" and "precise." Overall, reviewers... more
Tags: best road bike, specialized, specialized tarmac expert
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Raleigh Supercourse: Best Mid-priced racing bike
Written by drbob on December 14, 2009 – 3:59 pm -Best Mid-priced racing bike Raleigh Supercourse MSRP: $1,740 ConsumerSearch.com synthesized multiple reviews of road bike and concluded the Raleigh Supercourse is the best mid-priced road bike. A great bike for cyclists with some experience who want to move to the next level. Below is what they concluded. For cyclists who have some miles under their belt and want to move into racing, reviewers say the Raleigh Supercourse offers great performance without a jaw-dropping price tag. The Raleigh Supercourse has a full-carbon frame, which is tough to find in this price range, and experts agree on one thing -- this bike is fast. Testers for multiple publications are impressed with the quick acceleration and speedy performance, but they think the... more
Tags: raleigh, Raleigh Supercourse, Road Bikes
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Kestrel RT700 Review
Written by drbob on November 16, 2009 – 11:47 pm -by John Bradley Twenty-one years after introducing the world's first all-carbon production frame, Kestrel continues to put a premium on stiffness and aerodynamics. But unlike true aero bikes, the RT700 loves to climb and descend; plus it's comfy enough for long-haul speed. And, damn, doesn't it look good on the rack? Because Kestrel engineers designed the RT700's fork in-house—instead of outsourcing it, as many companies do—they were able to take into account the rest of the bike's specific geometry and handling characteristics. You can tell. The RT700 was the most agile and responsive bike we tested this year. The RT700 isn't as aerodynamic as Kestrel's tri-specific bikes, but its shaped tubes and airfoil-like seat tube still slice through... more
Tags: kestrel, Road Bikes
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