So CBR has a new course, prevents boredom. Daylight savings meant that the Fives started at the crack of dawn. Foggy too. The new course is across Wilmington from the old one. Four corners, 0.9 miles with a little climb between turns three and four. The finish is a little downhill, but the climb sorts things out pretty well so not everyone is zooming around the final turn at the same time.
It was still somewhat foggy at the start of the 55/60+, with a field of about 50 total. It was sufficiently foggy that a guy was away on a solo break and I didn't know it. Not important except that I ended up sprinting for a prime which was already spoken for. This course is a little more tiring than the other, probably because of the little uphill. Turn three is a little nasty because it comes after a gradual downhill and the course narrows a little to accommodate traffic.
Long story short, I managed seventh in spite of some timidity on the final uphill. Advice here is that an uphill run prior to a field sprint calls for an attack. Don't wait - go.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Friday, April 1, 2011
Neuvation FC100 SRAM Force Review
The short answer is: yes, it's worth the money and more. With bike gear it's always been "cheap, light, quality, pick two" and this frame is a bit porky for carbon. At over a kilogram and without the gigantic head tube and BB shell it looks somewhat dated. Maybe it is, but when you can get the package below $2000 with SRAM force and fairly light wheels it's definitely the bike for me. I found I had cash left over for a Giro ProLight, Shimano S240 shoes, a 225 gram saddle and a carbon bottle cage. Whatever I gave up in frame weight, I got back elsewhere. At a little over 16lbs for the 51cm (when I put on the Neuvation C50s I already owned) this bike is about the same weight and exactly the same color as my cat!
The only caveat is that I should have gone with the heavier version of the wheels (ie "M" rather than "R"). At peak fitness I weigh in at about 162 lbs, but found I'd beat the wheels up in the off-season when I floated up above 170. On the front I broke two spokes and pulled one out and the rear has required occasional truing. I will say that when I broke a spoke up front I'd just loosen the brakes and keep riding. The rims are incredibly strong and the hubs about the slickest non-ceramics I've seen. A local wheelbuilder owed me a favor and re-strung the front with somewhat thicker spokes and no problems since. Looking at online reviews, these issues are by no means universal. Some variability is inevitable at this price point. Also, I'm somewhat brutal on wheels, I don't know anyone else who has needed to have Ksyrium Elites trued up.
From the above you can conclude I've been on this bike a while and raced all of last season. Also rode a century as well as several other long rides. I've raced mostly criteriums, but a few road races as well. The frame is astounding in that it works flawlessly in all of these. The 73 degree parallel geometry might seem a bit slack, but there's none of that. Twisty mountain roads, elbow-to-elbow crits or all-day comfort - you've got it here. I race 40-45 events a year and frankly don't want to worry about a frame with a replacement cost north of two grand. Last I looked, John sells replacement frames at about eight bills (can't find this link on the site anymore, you'd have to contact him).
Regarding SRAM Force, it's hard to say anything new about the group-set which hasn't already been articulated by people with more experience than I. The only comment is I'd say SRAM is better to use and worse to maintain. I frankly didn't like the chain (1070) which wore out quickly I thought. The Double Tap system is just plain better, but many people prefer the Shimano ergonomics, up to you I guess. Replacing the derailleur cable is much more fiddly than on Shimano (haven't used Campy in 20+ years, so no comment there). After a year and a half things seem plenty tight and work fine.
Unfortunately I see there's been a price increase since I got my FC100 and C50s, but it's still hundreds less than competitors. You could say the frame is "generic", but when you go with Neuvation you get their expertise along with the bike. All my questions were answered promptly via email and the bike came out perfectly according to the measurements I sent. Good luck with discount competitors where you don't even get to choose stem or crank length! Another plus is the fact that he'll put in an Enduro ceramic BB for a slight upcharge so you can avoid another ding in the pocketbook there.
Last note: I was chugging up Bear Divide from Santa Clarita and passed a couple of kids taking their BMX bikes up to play on the trails. One of them looked over and summed up the aesthetics succinctly: "Sick bike!" I'll post a pic later, I've been putting this review off too long already, so I'm going to publish it now. See you on the road. -pat
The only caveat is that I should have gone with the heavier version of the wheels (ie "M" rather than "R"). At peak fitness I weigh in at about 162 lbs, but found I'd beat the wheels up in the off-season when I floated up above 170. On the front I broke two spokes and pulled one out and the rear has required occasional truing. I will say that when I broke a spoke up front I'd just loosen the brakes and keep riding. The rims are incredibly strong and the hubs about the slickest non-ceramics I've seen. A local wheelbuilder owed me a favor and re-strung the front with somewhat thicker spokes and no problems since. Looking at online reviews, these issues are by no means universal. Some variability is inevitable at this price point. Also, I'm somewhat brutal on wheels, I don't know anyone else who has needed to have Ksyrium Elites trued up.
From the above you can conclude I've been on this bike a while and raced all of last season. Also rode a century as well as several other long rides. I've raced mostly criteriums, but a few road races as well. The frame is astounding in that it works flawlessly in all of these. The 73 degree parallel geometry might seem a bit slack, but there's none of that. Twisty mountain roads, elbow-to-elbow crits or all-day comfort - you've got it here. I race 40-45 events a year and frankly don't want to worry about a frame with a replacement cost north of two grand. Last I looked, John sells replacement frames at about eight bills (can't find this link on the site anymore, you'd have to contact him).
Regarding SRAM Force, it's hard to say anything new about the group-set which hasn't already been articulated by people with more experience than I. The only comment is I'd say SRAM is better to use and worse to maintain. I frankly didn't like the chain (1070) which wore out quickly I thought. The Double Tap system is just plain better, but many people prefer the Shimano ergonomics, up to you I guess. Replacing the derailleur cable is much more fiddly than on Shimano (haven't used Campy in 20+ years, so no comment there). After a year and a half things seem plenty tight and work fine.
Unfortunately I see there's been a price increase since I got my FC100 and C50s, but it's still hundreds less than competitors. You could say the frame is "generic", but when you go with Neuvation you get their expertise along with the bike. All my questions were answered promptly via email and the bike came out perfectly according to the measurements I sent. Good luck with discount competitors where you don't even get to choose stem or crank length! Another plus is the fact that he'll put in an Enduro ceramic BB for a slight upcharge so you can avoid another ding in the pocketbook there.
Last note: I was chugging up Bear Divide from Santa Clarita and passed a couple of kids taking their BMX bikes up to play on the trails. One of them looked over and summed up the aesthetics succinctly: "Sick bike!" I'll post a pic later, I've been putting this review off too long already, so I'm going to publish it now. See you on the road. -pat
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