First you need to look at these wheels and you can see they are different, the strengthening round the spoke holes, the carbon and alloy mix of the rims, the smooth finish of the hubs and those red nipples, but lets take a close look at the technology first.

The Tech Speck
These wheels are said to be 1380 grams in weight (less Q/R), the label on the side of the rim says so, but the set we have came in at slightly less, so no complain there! The rims are made by a carbon and alloy laminating process, this keeps the weight down and maintains the braking performance without having to change brake blocks for special carbon pads as the brake surface is alloy, although these are mostly carbon rims.

The low weight is achieved with the reduced thickness of the alloy rim wall from 1.3 mm to 0.7 mm, then the carbon fiber is bonded to the alloy for the rigidity, weight saving and strength. The extra carbon reinforcing around the spoke holes strengthens the wheels so that there will be no worries about heavy riders or hard conditions.

Dura Ace Front Hub
The spokes are steel butted and bladed for aerodynamics, they are also straight pull so that there is no weakness at the bend of the spoke at the head as in a normal spoke. The front wheel has 16 radial laced spokes and the rear has 20, crossed twice, the spokes on the front wheel come straight out of the hub from a wide shell and the spoke heads are hidden by a cover so that the hub looks normal. The rear hub has a chunky flange system with blocks of alloy to anchor the spokes down, then for comfort the spokes are crossed two times for a little give, the flanges are set wide for more rigidity. Shimano have now fitted a cassette body that will take a 9 or 10 speed cassette.

Rear Hub
The hub bearings have labyrinth double contact seals that are low friction so that no water will enter the bearings and there is minimal friction. The bearings are treated with Borozon, giving a smooth finish for top bearing performance. The hub body itself is cold forged and machined aluminum hub shell with a 7075 oversized alloy axle.

The nicest touch and a criticism are the red nipples, they look very nice, but if you look at many wheels they have internal nipples, the spoke disappears in to the rim. These wheels have the old fashioned visible nipples; this could be for strength although the internal nipples look neater. Another nice but pointless touch is the etched Dura Ace on one side of the inside of the hub which no one will see, except when stationary.

What Do They Feel Like to Ride?
Well, they ride very well, we tested them fitted with Continental Grand Prix 4000s tires and we used them on a carbon Time bike and a Carbon Scott Addict on the same course that we tested other wheels which has a hard climb with steep sections, a fast descent and some fast flat roads and some bad surfaces, basically it has it all.

They feel fast and light and when hitting the climb there was no feeling of drag, they performed like a carbon wheel, not an alloy/carbon mix. On the descent the wheels go where you want them too, no fighting the steering, swooping through the bends they felt very lively.

Dura Ace Rim
The place they felt the best was on the rough roads, they seemed to take all the little bumps and uncomfortable vibrations from the ride, comfortable and positive. When sprinting with some wheels you can feel the rear wheel flex from side to side as you put the pressure on and when climbing out of the saddle and putting your weight on the front wheel you can feel some lateral give, but with the Shimano Dura Ace 7850′s there is no movement, but the wheels still have that built in comfort. The wheels felt the same in both bikes, so there were no complaints.

Other Dura Ace Wheels
Shimano also manufacture a 50 mm deep section carbon rimed Dura Ace wheelset for tubular tires and also a Dura Ace Scandium road wheelset for tubeless clincher tires. So there are a few different Shimano Dura Ace wheelsets to choose from.

Our Overall View
The Dura Ace wheels are very good and not too expensive, they look the part as the red nipples tie in with the red decals on the rim, the hubs are silver and that goes nicely with the silver brake surface and the very functional quick releases, so they are stylish, perform well, are light and not too expensive.
Our Vote: 9 out of 10, those nipples lose a point.

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Shimano Dura Ace Wh 7900 C24 CL Carbon Clincher Wheels New with Wheel Bags
	$999.99 End Date: Friday Feb-10-2012 7:31:33 PST Buy It Now for only: $999.99 Buy It Now

NEW SHIMANO Dura Ace WH 7900 C24 TL Carbon Tubeless Wheelset Wheels 700c FR
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Shimano Dura Ace Wh 7900 C24 CL Carbon Clincher Wheels New
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New Shimano Dura Ace Wh 7900 C24 CL Carbon Clincher Wheelset with Wheel Bags
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There aren’t many sports where the amateurs are allowed to use better kit than the professionals. However, riding Specialized’s new superlight Tarmac SL3 means you’re carrying nearly 2lb less in climbing weight than Team Saxo Bank can. That alone is impressive, but it’s only part of the story with this new flagship ride.

Ride & handling: Performance-oriented machine that loves to climb
We put the SL3 to the test while plummeting down the eight-mile canyon descent from the Snowbird launch venue in Utah and its precision was outstanding. Even riding at more than 50mph through sweeping bends and half-patched frost cracks, we found it stayed remarkably surefooted and pin sharp.

The steering is really well balanced and totally vice free, without a trace of shake even despite a less-than-perfect front tub fit that left a regular hop in the ride. As a result, we soon forgot our fear of the US-spec SL3’s left-hand front braking and started ripping up every descent at full tilt. The Tarmac loved it.

As the inevitable jousting increased in intensity, a back end and oversized crank designed to cope with the torque of Boonen and Cancellara showed no signs of flinching under our chicken drumstick drive either.
In fact the whole bike is a remarkably practical machine, from its solid bars to conventional, adjustable 27.2mm seatpost, which comes in place of a resale-limiting seatmast. It’s something we don’t often find on bikes designed to offend gravity as badly as this one.

As the miles wore on, both the stiffness and performance orientation became increasingly obvious. Despite the curved top tube and rubber bung buzz reducers in the seatpost, the decreased hand sensation and sharp stings from the potholes we couldn’t dodge confirmed we definitely weren’t riding a Roubaix. The aggressive posture and corner-carving geometry certainly aren’t in the orthopaedic Sportive mould either.
Unsurprisingly though, the occasional ‘grin and grind it’ sufferance pays back big time on any road that ends higher than it starts. To be honest, 40-degree heat and 5,000-8,000ft elevation aren’t ever going to flatter your fitness, but the SL3 works wonders with whatever wattage you can wring out.

Even when our cadence was a quarter of our heart rate, it still squirted forward with every footfall. If you’re on tempo and spinning smoothly, you’ll find it surmounts serious climbs with an almost eerie lack of effort.

We rode the SRAM Red equipped SL3, but this Dura-Ace Di2 model is available too
Frame: Latest chassis is both lighter and stiffer than predecessor

While it looks similar to the SL2, the SL3 uses a totally different four-piece (head/down/top tube, bottom bracket/chainstays, seat tube and seatstays) construction.

Add to that a press-fit bottom bracket, hollow alloy dropouts and carbon headset cups, and the SL3 ‘module’ – which is comprised of frame, forks, seatpost, headset and cranks – weighs 150g less than its predecessor.
But Specialized are quick to point out that the SL3 isn’t just about minimal mass. The stays are reshaped and increased in size, there are reinforcing ribs in the head tube and bottom bracket, and the bike’s designers have also changed the carbon layup and fibre spec in key areas.

The result is a claimed 18 percent increase in rear end stiffness and reduced front end twist, which is a huge leap forward for a bike that’s also lost weight.

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2011 Specialized Tarmac SL3 Expert Double Full Carbon Road Bike
	$2,125.00 (7 Bids) End Date: Wednesday Feb-8-2012 4:30:55 PST Buy It Now for only: $2,550.00 Buy It Now | Bid now

SPECIALIZED TARMAC PRO SL3 DA CARBON ROAD BIKE SHIMANO DURA ACE 7900 TUBELESS
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They don’t come better than this. The Bianchi Pista Steel frame is finished in retro polished chrome with white decal “king of the world” Olympic coloured bands. Accessorized with aluminum finished components and white bar tape to the Kerin style drop bars. Its no secret that the yearly quota of bikes produced sells out fast.

The frame
Classic 700C track geometry with a short wheelbase means input through the bottom bracket is directly converted to output producing a very responsive and snappy ride. A high ‘Manchester’ style bottom bracket allows for more aggressive cornering. Bianchi use heavy gauge steel tubing with TIG welded joints. TIG welding is perceived to be stronger than butted joints making for a stiffer ride through corners especially important on the velodrome. Off the shelf the bike comes without a rear brake and the rear stay is not drilled, it’s a simple action to rectify. Available in a number of sizes 49,52,54,56,58,61.

Components
Considering the price the Bianchi Pista Steel has a number of quality components from top rate manufactures.
Including a Velo saddle, Deda steel keirin handlebars, Bianchi aluminium stem, Truvativ Touro Track 1.1 cranks & 48 T chainring and Shimano 16 tooth fixed gear sprocket.

The Ride
The simplicity of the track frame means the Bianchi is pretty light. The combination of the 48 tooth Forged Alloy chainset supported by a rear Shimano 16 tooth sprocket on a ALX Track Wheelset Solo Alloy Track hub makes the gear ratio slightly high for the perfect city commute. This is a simple change out of the chainring or stick with it and build up your leg muscles. The Deda drop bars are surprisingly comfortable for commutes along with the general set up of classic 700C geometry.

The Wheelset consists of ALX Track Wheelset Solo hubs, laced to ALX Track Wheelset Solo Rims coated in Vittoria Zaffiro 700x23c tyres. 25c tyres could be considered for a more comfortable ride. A durable and reliable wheelset that should resist any best efforts from sizeable potholes to untrue on regular commutes.

The Bianchi Pista Steel is an excellent ride, stiff and extremely responsive it will take just about anything you can throw at it, carving up through traffic on repetitive rides. Solid and dependable with great components the Pista Steel is a fantastic buy and deserves the place it has earned in the market of single speeds.

Bianchi Pista Steel 2010 Road Bike Specification
Frame: Pista CroMo (Steel)
Fork: Cromo (Steel)
Chainset: Truvativ Touro Track 1.1
Chainrings: 48 tooth Chainring
Cassette: Shimano SS-7600 16 tooth
Chain: KMC Z610H
Pedals: Wellgo LU-895
Front Brake: RC-466E
Brake Levers: Leechi BL-250
Handlebars: Steel
Stem: Forged Alloy
Headset: VP-A34C
Grips: Velo VLT-004
Rims: ALX Track Wheelset Solo
Front Hub: ALX Track Wheelset Solo

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track framefork Bianchi Super Pista Celeste Green 55cm
	$799.00 End Date: Thursday Feb-16-2012 14:08:42 PST Buy It Now for only: $799.00 Buy It Now

Brand new pearl white Bianchi Super Pista 53cm frameset
	$460.00 (4 Bids) End Date: Saturday Feb-11-2012 18:12:31 PST Bid now

2009 Bianchi Pista Blue Fixed Gear Track BIKE 61cm Free Shipping
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The Trek 1.2 offers a comfortable and stable ride for beginners, but new riders with lofty race ambitions may prefer the racy and sporty Felt F95 Team Issue. The aluminum-framed Felt road bike offers a more race-oriented positioning than the Trek 1.2, and it has a compact crank set instead of a triple chainring. Outside magazine picks the Felt 95 Team Issue as one of the best road bikes of the year, saying it's a "ton of bike for the money." Reviewers say it has great acceleration while sprinting, but they also say the bike is better suited to flat, low-mileage rides than long hauls.
The Felt F95 Team Issue is built as a bike for beginners, but reviewers say it doesn't sacrifice performance. Unlike the Trek 1.2 or the Giant Defy 3, the Felt F95 Team Issue has sportier positioning that reviewers say is great for fast, low-mileage riding. It also has a compact -- instead of a triple -- crank set and an eight-speed cassette, meaning you'll have fewer gearing options than on other entry-level bikes in this category. The Felt F95 Team Issue has an aluminum frame, carbon fork, Shimano 2200 STI shifters and a Shimano Tiagra rear derailleur. Several reviewers pick this road bike as one of the best options for beginners. Testers say it has good sprinting power but say it may be limited to flat roads rather than hilly long rides. The Felt F95 Team Issue also earns praise for a wide range of sizes -- eight in all -- and the attractive (to some) Team Garmin color scheme. If you want a bike for high mileage, reviewers say the comfortable, upright positioning on the Trek 1.2 (MSRP: $880) may be better fit.
The best reviews of the Felt F95 Team Issue come from Bicycling and Outside magazines. Both publications conduct extensive testing for their road bike reviews, and they present balanced and thorough overviews. There are two reviews from Bicycling magazine, and one includes tester comments. There is also a brief mention of the Felt F95 Team Issue in a Buyer's Guide from RoadCyclingUK.com.

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2011 Felt F95 size 61cm
	$350.00 (1 Bid) End Date: Saturday Feb-11-2012 9:26:20 PST Bid now

Best Budget road bike
Trek 1.2
ConsumerSearch.com has synthesized multiple reviews of road bike and concluded the Trek 1.2 is the best budget road bike. A great first road bike. Below is what they concluded.

For beginning cyclists, reviewers say it's hard to beat the Trek 1.2. This road bike is comfortable, has a wide range of gears and provides stable handling at a great price. Like most road bikes under $1,000, the Trek 1.2has an aluminum frame and uses less expensive components like Shimano Sora shifters and derailleurs. As a result, owners say the shifting is not as fluid as it could be, and the brakes take a few hits for lacking power. Still, the Trek 1.2 is widely recognized as a good choice for those new to road biking, and Bicycling magazine picks it as one of the best road bikes under $1,000. Trek doesn't neglect female riders -- they offer a women-specific design, the Trek 1.2 WSD, for the same price.

The Trek 1.2 is widely hailed as a great road bike for beginners. Thanks to comfortable, upright positioning and stable handling, reviewers say this bike performs well for its intended audience -- new riders. Like most road bikes in this price range, the Trek 1.2 has an aluminum frame and uses components from Shimano's lower-end Sora group, including shifters and derailleurs. It has a triple chainring, which reviewers say is a good choice for beginners, because it gives a wider range of gears and to help with hills. Testers say the Trek 1.2 provides a comfortable ride with good acceleration, but they also note that the brakes are somewhat weak. The most common complaint involves the bike's shifting; multiple reviewers mention that the shifter can hesitate on hills and isn't the smoothest. For women, Trek makes a women-specific model, the Trek 1.2 WSD, for the same price. Beginners seeking a racier road bike may want to take a look at the Felt F95 Team Issue (MSRP: $850). It's priced similarly to the Trek 1.2, but it offers a sportier ride and Team Garmin colors.

We found the best reviews of the Trek 1.2 at Bicycling magazine and the Los Angeles Times. Both publications test the road bike and present balanced reviews that note pros and cons. The Trek 1.2 also gets brief reviews in The Boston Globe and in Fitness magazine, but it appears that these sources haven't actually tested the bike. There are a number of owner-written reviews on sites like Buzzillions.com, but the reviews are somewhat dated. But if you are considering buying a used Trek 1.2, this can be a great resource because the reviews go back several years.

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