Landrew

iTrader: (2)

Can you track stand? I do it at lights on my MTB but the road bike is harder. you'll need that for when you pull a F1 style standing start.

Never pedal as fast as you possibly can and then forget that you cannot coast. That can cause problems I found out.

emilio700

iTrader: (3)

I never have but had friends and cycling team mates that had. Only thing I remember was to be cautious of the transition at speed. But I'm sure the class will run through all the basic do's and dont's. It's hairy for sure. Having ridden with you briefly, I'd say you might make a good Madison/points rider. Not big enough for a sprinter or kilo, not built like a pursuiter. You have a good jump but you're small. That's a points race. Lotsa tactics, require great recovery and a decent jump. Top end not so critical.

emilio700

iTrader: (3)

Sonny's new bike

$899
52cm 2013 Motobecane Super Strada, red
Ultegra 6800 22 spd
7005 dbl butted AL frame, semi compact design

Really good deal I think. just the Ultegra 6800 bits are worth $600. Some nice parts. No 1.5-1.125 steerer, just straight 1.125 but that's certainly not a deal breaker. Nice wheels but probably 2000g which is typical at this price point.

I have a set of spare Roval SL45 carbon clinchers we'll put on it. Just ordered an 11s Roval freehub for the wheel set from the LBS. Bike has a 11-32 cassette! With a 50/34 compact crank that is some serious climbing gearing. He has been riding a borrowed 56cm Litespeed from like '94 with Campy 8 speed Chorus. Besides being a tank, it's two sizes too big. Should be a huge upgrade for thai spice.

Save up to 60% of new Shimano Ultegra 6800 22 Speed Road Bikes | 2012 Motobecane Super Strada Road Bikes Sale | Save up to 60% off your next new Road Bike
This pic from the website. I'll post a pic after it arrives and we get the shmooky carbon wheel on.

Giant pic of white version http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...wht-xiv-21.jpg

timk

I'm doing 650km over 4 days for a charity:
Tim's Grand Tour of Hope fundraiser

It's for a great cause and it gives me a guilt free 4 day leave pass to go riding!

hustler

iTrader: (6)

6800 is more like $1k.

doward

Minus the crank and brake calipers.

hustler

iTrader: (6)

Do I want:
1. $620: DT-350 disc hubs, black SL-23 Pacenti rim, DT double-butt spokes, brass nipples (tubeless ready) (19mm wide)
2. $700-ish Stan's Grail wheels that are 21mm wide and start shipping in August?

These will be used for extreme gravel duty, CX, 28mm road rubber for shitty weather and "Baby Roubaix".

DNMakinson

iTrader: (3)

The second one looks to be exactly what you are looking for.

emilio700

iTrader: (3)

This. I came up with a street value of $600 for the genuine Ultegra 6800 bits on the SuperStrada. $300 street price for crank and BB. That's a break even right there. The frame, fork, bars, seat, wheels, brakes, pedals, headset, stem, post are all bonuses.

The other bikes we looked at were a 2013 Diamondback Podium 4 (nicer aluminum frame than Motobecane, Ultegra 20) on close out for $900 and both a Fuji and Motobecane 105 bikes that were full carbon for $1200. In the end we decided the extra gear on the Super Strada was worth the more mundane frame design.

Savington

iTrader: (31)

Part of me regrets not shelling out for 6800 on the CAAD when I bought it (+$300), and part of me is thankful I went with 105 so I can "justify" switching to Campy in 6 months.

Savington

iTrader: (31)

I have not yet mastered the trackstand, although E showed me how to do it at Sonoma. My balance is atrocious in general, so it will take me a while to figure that out. I've put ~250 miles on my fixed gear over the last couple of months, so thankfully I'll get to focus on learning track-specific stuff instead of of focusing entirely on not getting pitched off the bike

DNMakinson

iTrader: (3)

Chorus or better FTW.

hustler

iTrader: (6)

wood.

hustler

iTrader: (6)

It's going to look like this until Stan's Grail wheels mail:

Those tires were so expensive, it hurt a little.

3rdCarMX5

iTrader: (1)

Hellyer is great. People are very friendly, not too much hipster vibe to bring it down. Saturday is well run and fun. It's $6 to park, bring food and water, and sunscreen. I think it runs about 3hrs. I don't know what handlebar setup you have but don't run bullhorns or leave the brake levers on. You will learn to bump into other riders and not crash, and to ride in the lane.

You don't need to track stand to track race. Most of that comes in the sprint events, not mass start.

I am out there almost every Wed night.

kotomile

iTrader: (24)

lol @ fatness

hustler

iTrader: (6)

You'll be a climber soon enough.

Savington

iTrader: (31)

Awesome, thanks. I have standard road bars and levers on the bike now. I know I'll need to drop the caliper but it sounds like they don't even want to see the levers? I have another set of bars I could swap on and off if need be.

3rdCarMX5

iTrader: (1)

I know you can't have them for racing, but maybe Saturday is different. They can get hooked more easily, so they aren't the best idea.

If you have another bar, just swap it out, that way you can leave the brake attached to the cable.

kotomile

iTrader: (24)

I'll never have a climber's body. Sprinter is in the cards for me.