Falco

As far as I can remember the Gatorskins are about 100g heavier than the GP's. They definitely have a much higher rolling resistance.

Gatorskins for training, GP4000S for racing Not forgetting the new GP4000S11, supposed to have a slightly lower rolling resistance than the old one. I use both, can't say I can feel the difference

Welcome. The spelling and grammar Nazi's are going to love you. :devil:

Just wondering, does anyone here balance their road wheels, and if so is there any noticeable difference between balanced and unbalanced? I've never worried much about it, but recently got some 50mm rims, so obviously a longer, heavier valve stem as well. When these wheels come to rest, it is always with the valve at the bottom. Putting the magnet on the opposite side doesn't make much difference ~ it is too light. Internet searches indicate most riders just ignore it. I can't help but think that at speeds over say 60kph, a balanced wheel will roll smoother than an unbalanced one. Anyone tried balancing? What was the outcome?

If I had to choose between the two, I would go with the Di2 ~ personal preference only. If, however, I had a third option, it would be Dura Ace 9000 mechanical ~ same price as Di2, lighter, no worries about electronic failure ~ I have been using it for a while, and it is absolutely fantastic. Only had limited testing time on the Ultegra Di2, but I can say with all honesty I prefer the DA 9000 mech.

It's simple. Ask questions, even dumb ones. Don't take things so personally. Learn the meaning of HTFU. Use paragraphs. Don't waffle. See? It's easy.

Reading all this makes me so glad I'm not a techno geek, to be honest I don't understand most of it and don't really want to. My Garmin tells me what I need to know, I couldn't care less if it's out by 10 metres, or 100 metres for that matter. I just go ride and enjoy myself, even if the trip is a km longer or shorter than NASA would calculate.

This too. it assumes that the rider is able to power the gear.

A compact (50):11 will be slower than a standard (53):11 on flats and downhills. The ratio would be 4.54 vs 4.81

Your current setup of compact and 27 is ok if you do a lot of climbing or are unfit. On the flats the 50:11 will put you at a slight disadvantage over a rider on a standard 53 crank. Imo it comes down to profile and fitness, nothing more. Most riders with 3+ years experience would easily be able to ride a standard 53:39 with a 25:11 for most conditions. One other thing you need to consider is whether you like to spin or grind. If spinning is your thing, stay on the compact and 27. If you like to grind, go to a standard with a 25 or even a 23

You guys are getting it all wrong. Deciding which bike to buy has got nothing to do with rider ability. We can all agree that Contador on a Makro bike will beat all of us on a Dogma. That goes without saying, and it is beside the point. Just as some people drive Merc's, and others drive Golf's, the same applies to bikes. They all have wheels, and will all get you from A to B, but the better specced expensive one is just soooooo much nicer to ride, to be seen with, and to look at. Buy the best and most expensive bike you can afford. If you don't, you will just end up yearning for it and eventually buy it anyway.

Testing midpack riders, oldies and funriders is just plain stupid. I fall in the midpack category, don't read the label of every product I consume, and don't intend to do so in the future. If any race official wants a piss test, he can have it, and I reckon there's a good chance I will test positive from time to time ~ not because I'm trying to cheat or move from finishing in place 300 to place 290, but because I am a normal (non pro) cyclist who eats and drinks whatever he likes.

The question is: will the KFC munchers understand that? Assuming of course that they get off their fat arses and go collect the bike from across the road. It may be too much like hard work.

I don't wave, nor do I get upset if someone doesn't wave at me. When I pass someone I might greet them, depends how fast I'm going. On the other hand, my daughter who rides with me waves at everyone, they all wave at her, and she talks to nearly everyone we pass. Sometimes I have to wait for her while she is jabbering away, which irritates me tremendously. It's a case of different strokes for different folks. Do whatever is right for your own personality, and don't be upset that others don't think the same way you do

Which goes to prove one thing: the Hub can be brutal at times, but more often than not it is fair and flushes out the bs. The OP should have accepted the very decent 50% offer.

A box bike is usually fully complete, a decent mechanic will put it together in minutes. If I was buying a box bike, I'd let the shop assemble it. That will eliminate any possible issues with warranties, damage etc. Building up from scratch ie frame and parts, well that's another story. Nothing like it.

My Giordana's lasted about 2 years before they became patchy in places, although I admit that they didn't get any special treatment in the wash. So quite a lot of use, no complaints about that. With my Assos ~ much better chamois imo ~ they do get washed in the bag etc, but one pair is showing signs of significant wear on the inside leg (I'm assuming from rubbing on the edge of the saddle). That pair is about 18 months old now. Either way, both excellent quality products, I will have no hesitation buying either again, but will pay a slight premium for Assos simply because my butt likes them. Nothing lasts forever.

There are more than a few people who believe that in a year or two, we will be hearing the exact same story about this fellow. I'm one of them.

Comparing Contador to Impey is like comparing a Lamborghini to a go-kart. They both move, and that's where the similarity ends. Impey will come back after a ban, and be a tainted domestique for the remainder of his career. Not much more for him than that imo. I do however agree that Contador is going to win the tour :clap:

So what this will all eventually come down to is that he is either guilty of doping (taking it willingly) or stupidity (taking it by accident). Either way, his career is in the toilet.

Jeez, I hope I'm not going to be considered "one of the arseholes" for this comment, but here goes. I was a member for a year, didn't enjoy it at all. Just couldn't find a group that I was happy with, but that is more than likely my own fault because I am used to training alone, and not at a predetermined pace. I still ride in the Cradle, and pass the Labrat groups from time to time, share a greeting or two with some of the guys I know, so no hard feelings either way. It just wasn't for me.

My kind of guy. Got rid of my mtb several years ago, and don't miss that dirty thing at all. There's nothing like the feeling of being on a decent road bike, especially when the speed kicks up. If only we could get rid of the careless arseholes in cars who are trying to kill us......

Fixed it. I've seen some mtb's start in A and B, but never seen any that finish "with the front guys"

Maybe the person drafting the advert was a graduate of the Cajees School of Marketing.

As soon as an insurance company pays a claimant for a total loss, the insured item becomes their property to dispose of as they please. They can sell it, auction it, donate it, offer it back to the claimant.....whatever they like.