Please sir, may I have another?
Posted in Blog on 19. Jun, 2008
I have affixed a bib and drool cup. I have raided the kids college fund. I pawned my wedding ring. I WANT. I LIKE. Ok, deep breaths… remain calm. It’s not available to us mere mortals until next year anyway.
I’m two cogs behind the zeitgeist. My question: How many till I officialy become ‘retro-cool’?
hey johns – there was a great quote on today’s bikesnobnyc blog, which you guys have mentioned, that made me think of you:
“The fixter looks stupid to the roadie; the roadie looks stupid to the mountain biker; the mountain biker looks stupid to the recumbent rider; and the recumbent rider looks stupid to everyone.”
Looking forward to the next episode,
WK
That is some nice looking stuff… it looks like they finally addressed the one goofy thing about the lever body design that has been there since day one and that is the hard curve the housing had to make as it exited the lever body. Now it appears to be a slippy nylon cable guide similar to the underside of a BB. Yea!
JK in NC
Oh, just great. An 11 tooth. Just what I need. It no doubt won’t work with the current 10t set ups and the bike manufacturers will require all new gruppos (sp?). I can only imagine the cost. Road bikes will be up 10-15% already due to increased shipping and handling costs thanks to our esteemed President! Oops!! No politics…sorry to bad mouth the half-wit in the White House. It’s really not his fault…we should be complaining about Puppet Master Cheney. Oops again!! No politics. Well atleast the oil companies are doing well. We really should start drilling for more oil. That will help the supply/demand…in 2015.
Cyclingnews is reporting that the new 11 speed Super Record will come at a 17% premium to the current Record group, while the 11 speed Record will be 2% less than it currently is. Which I think, will put the Super Record price point well above SRAM Red. I don’t know if that’s a good move on Campy’s part.
now I can run a corncob rear and anyone who doesn’t notice the compact crank will think I’m a real badass
Campy is about the brand. It’s smart (on their part) to price Super Record above SRAM Red. More expensive typically = better = Campy. You get what you pay for.
Chains keep getting narrower. The manufacturers say the are stronger, but I’ve broken more chains in my last 5 years of riding then I did my first 15 years.
Brett I totally agree with you and maybe my comment missed the point. When looking at the Super Record 11, I see no real innovation. Yes they re-sculpted the levers, added ceramic bearings, an extra cog, and made it look real sexy. I just think that the SRAM Power Dome freewheel is an innovation that the “players” need to look at and the fact that the most expensive bike might be cool, but the lightest bike will always be cooler.
JG and I were joking about the thinner chain being somehow stronger now… The power dome is an innovation rather than a refinement that seems like its time has come. It is not like you switch out individual cogs anymore- and why would you with an 11spd straight block anyway? Unless your chain wears out faster…
That being said I would still take a heavier campy group over SRAM (this is subjective) it seems to run a little more smoothly (shifting, chain/gear meshing) than the SRAM stuff. There is also something about the SRAM rear mech that is finicky when quickly chaining wheels. It requires more attention than its counterparts. Last but not least I love the serviceability of the campy ergo levers.
JK in NC
I noticed my SRAM was a little finicky when changing wheels….I thought it was just me. The Power Dome is pretty cool though…and that red and white stripe on the shift lever is awesome. Other than that, I guess Campy is O.K. too.
“There is also something about the SRAM rear mech that is finicky when quickly chaining wheels. It requires more attention than its counterparts.”
Could that be the reason that a lot of ProTour teams were using the Force derailleur instead of the Red for races like Paris-Roubaix (more chance of puncture and wheel change?)
Good point Cycling Soldier, you may be on to something there. And yes, my Red group can be a bit “tempermental.”
JK / JG: did you ever get to the bottom of Campy Record being named for Merckx’s hour exploits?
I don’t think it is Merckx’s it was named after, since record first appeared in the 50’s as a couple parts (not complete groupo). I did some ‘research’ (googling) & couldn’t find anything linking record to the hour record. I can’t remember where I had read it before, but it must not have been online. If anyone can either corroborate this story or provide record’s namesake, it would be welcomed.
JK in NC
Posted from my 10 speed iPhone, which I will not upgrade to the 11 speed iPhone for a long time.
Yes, I concur with JK, the name ‘Record’ is not likely to be related to Merckx, as it first appeared around ‘56 and I believe as a gruppo in the late ’50s. No clue as to the who/what/where of the the name. Certainly could be the hour record as the mid-50’s were one of those times, not unlike the early-mid ’90s, when everyone was taking a crack at it. Up to that point, I think Coppi had it for years and no one seemed interested (maybe an homage to Coppi’s longevity then??). Speak of which, not that I want to see Ondrej lose it, but why is the interest in the hour record so feast or famine? They can’t all be scared of Ondrej, who’s planning on an attempt to best his own record, can they? I can think of any number of worthy challengers these days. Unfortunately my theories as to why there are no takers don’t speak to well to the state of pro cycling these days….
Honest Marc
As posted from my 8spd Suntour Superbe Pro Dell…. Viva le Maxi Sports
I dont like the 11 speed camag the levers look much better in the 10 speed version. Shimano also are starting to look much more like campag and have finally got ride of the washing line.
Not to nit pick, but it was I (John G.) who was skeptical that the Record gruppo was named in Merckx’s record.
John K. and I are maxed out with holidays, racing, moving households, etc. Thus, no podcast and no podcast planned this week.
I won the Bloomington, Indiana Gran Prix (masters grade) yesterday! It was a sweet solo victory. Doing an ABR road race in Spencer, Indiana today.
Congrats John G! Keep hammering!! Nationals in less than 2 weeks. Wish I could be there. Instead I’m off the bike for a week and drinking lots of beer in the Northwest…Great microbrews, mmmmmm good. Portland this weekend (cyclist heaven…bikes everywhere), San Juan Islands mid week then Vancouver, BC end of the week.
where the hell am i
Desert Dog – what brings you to Portland? I’m an old friend of John G and Jeri and would love to direct you around the city or buy you one of those good beers.
Hey JG in PDX
I just got John G’s email that he sent to you. We were in PDX for the past 2 days enjoying the scenery. Sorry I didn’t get you my info before today. My brother lives in SE part of town and we wanted to get out of the desert heat. So we headed up to the NW for a week of vacation. I left my bike at home. Self-imposed time off. We are now in the San Juan Islands. See above.
I think we should talk JG and Jeri into bringing the kids out for a week of riding and exploring. I would love to take a week with the bike and do a giant loop of sightseeing and riding…Mt Hood, down to Bend, Crater lake then out to Coos Bay, back up the coast and then in to PDX. I’m sure there are some epic rides, majestic scenery and great beer along that loop.
Sorry I missed ya. Catch you next time. If your ever down in the Phoenix area, drop me a line.
Next time, for sure.
I agree on the JG/Jeri family outing. I sometimes forget how good the riding is around here. Your proposed route sounds terrific. Mountains, ocean, old growth forest, high desert – all great places to ride, hike, explore – with great options for scenery, food, and drink. Good beer and coffee throughout – definitely no need to pick up a case of bud or a sbux out here!!
Hope you enjoyed your stay and that we can hook up next time you’re in town. I live across the river from your brother in an area of town called Johns Landing.