The Cycling Thread

[DEB JORDAN FAN]

Basically U Cant Win Anything Without A Little Help.

[Rick Danger]

Erik De Vlaeminck (born March 23, 1945 in Eeklo, Belgium) is a former Belgian cyclist. He is the older brother of fellow professional cyclist Roger De Vlaeminck. During his professional career (1966-1980) Erik is credited with 148 road and cyclo-cross victories, seven cyclo-cross world championships, and four Belgian national cyclo-cross championships.

The spelling "Eric" rather than "Erik" is the French version of his name. He prefers Erik.
He became cyclo-cross world-champion seven times (in 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973), a record. He missed 1967 only because his bike was damaged during the race. He also became Belgian champion four times (1967, 1969, 1971, 1972) at a time when there were so many good Belgian riders that the domestic champîonship was often harder than the world-championship.

He also performed creditably in road races, including the Tour de France. In 1969 he won the Tour of Belgium and a stage in the Tour de France.

De Vlaeminck never failed a drugs test in his racing career but was treated after it for amphetamine addiction. Many stories circulate about his supposed wild behaviour after races and after his career was over and when he returned to racing, the Belgian federation would offer him a licence for only a day at a time until it saw how his life would progress. De Vlaeminck refuses to speak of this period of his life.

His re-establishment was complete, however, because he became the national cyclo-cross coach and led Belgium to a dominating period of international success. He always complained, however, that while cyclo-cross brought Belgium its world championship medals, it was to road racing that the bulk of the funds were given.

In a tragedy, De Vlaeminck's son Geert died of a heart attack in a cyclo-cross race while his father was watching.

Achievements
World champion in cyclo-cross: 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973 (3rd: 1977)
Belgian Champion in cyclo-cross: 1967, 1969, 1971, 1972 (2nd: 1975, 1977)
Cyclo-cross Champion of Hainaut de : 1975
Cyclo-cross of Waasmunster: 1970 (provincial championship)
Flemish champion cyclo racing: 1969
Tour of Belgium: 1969
Paris-Luxembourg: 1970
Tour of East Flanders: 1969, 1970
Circuit of the Flemish Ardennes: 1969 (3rd: 1977)
Winner, Stage 2 of the 1968 Tour de France
2nd in the La Flèche Wallonne: 1969 (3rd: 1970)

[Rick Danger]

Santana Beyond Tandem



I was curious what a state-of-the-art tandem looked like today. It's been a number of years since I've seen one. My search lead me to Santana.

In development since 2002, the Beyond's IsoGrid frame is 15-40% lighter than previous tandem frames built from carbon, titanium or aluminum. It also establishes new standards for stiffness and comfort. The bike weighs in at 29 lbs., 9 oz. It features a double-butted carbon frame with co-molded titanium ends, carbon fork, Santana Carbon Octalink crankset with Carbon Pro crankarms, Perfect-10 shifting includes 11/34 cassette; Cane Creek sealed bearing tandem-diameter headset, Avid linear-pull brakes, Shimano Sweet-16 aero wheels with titanium skewers; Woodman Evolution forged captain’s stem, ergo-shaped carbon handlebar with padded CarbonGrip handlebar tape; Terry Fly/Butterfly men’s and women’s titanium-railed saddles with Tamer Carbon Pro matched seatposts; KMC extended-life chain.

The price of sexy ? Start at $11395

[Rick Danger]

Affordable performance: the Cannondale SuperSix 4 Rival



The frame is carbon, with Cannondale's proprietary SAVE chainstays. The bottom bracket is a SRAM BB30 with SRAM Force carbon crankarms and 53/39T rings (50/34 optional). Power is transmitted via a KMC DX10SC chain to SRAM PG-1070, 11-26T cogs. Derailleurs and shifters are SRAM Rival with SRAM dual pivot brakes and Rival levers. Headset is a SuperSix 1.5, with Cannondale C2 stem and C2 Compact handlebars. The fork is a SuperSix full carbon with alloy dropouts. Wheels are Mavic Aksium rims, hubs, and spokes with Schwalbe Durano S 700x23c folding tires. The saddle is a Prologo Scratch Pro T2.0 on a Cannondale C2 carbon post.

I was breathing on one at my local shop two weeks ago. the Jet Black Matte finish with outline decals actually doesn't photograph all that well. But up close, I find it absolutely beautiful.

At $2,649.00 USD, it is an obtainable champion. Or, for $2,149 you can go for the Supersix 5 105 with a Shimano 105 group.

[otiscleotus]

Originally Posted by Rick Danger

Santana Beyond Tandem



I was curious what a state-of-the-art tandem looked like today. It's been a number of years since I've seen one. My search lead me to Santana.

In development since 2002, the Beyond's IsoGrid frame is 15-40% lighter than previous tandem frames built from carbon, titanium or aluminum. It also establishes new standards for stiffness and comfort. The bike weighs in at 29 lbs., 9 oz. It features a double-butted carbon frame with co-molded titanium ends, carbon fork, Santana Carbon Octalink crankset with Carbon Pro crankarms, Perfect-10 shifting includes 11/34 cassette; Cane Creek sealed bearing tandem-diameter headset, Avid linear-pull brakes, Shimano Sweet-16 aero wheels with titanium skewers; Woodman Evolution forged captain’s stem, ergo-shaped carbon handlebar with padded CarbonGrip handlebar tape; Terry Fly/Butterfly men’s and women’s titanium-railed saddles with Tamer Carbon Pro matched seatposts; KMC extended-life chain.

The price of sexy ? Start at $11395

I just saw one of those fine japanese videos where they put various "devices" in the seats and then have the model ride around in public, but even I was surprised when they did it with a tandem.

[vinceprince]

As Lance said it's not about the bike.
Gemma Atkinson fan of the cycling thread.
No matter how fast my bike was I'd stay behind her.



Credit to Cueking

[Mister Emporia]

Originally Posted by Rick Danger

Affordable performance: the Cannondale SuperSix 4 Rival

The frame is carbon, with Cannondale's proprietary SAVE chainstays. The bottom bracket is a SRAM BB30 with SRAM Force carbon crankarms and 53/39T rings (50/34 optional). Power is transmitted via a KMC DX10SC chain to SRAM PG-1070, 11-26T cogs. Derailleurs and shifters are SRAM Rival with SRAM dual pivot brakes and Rival levers.

When did Cannondale switch away from Shimano to SRAM? I've owned two Cannondale road bikes in my time - one with Ultegra and one with DuraAce and was really happy with the quality of both. Anyone have any thoughts on preference of SRAM vs. Shimano?

[Mister Emporia]

And since it appears we are now adding a smattering of "girls" to our new cycling thread - I thought I would throw this in for shits and grins

[Rick Danger]

Originally Posted by cyclodog

When did Cannondale switch away from Shimano to SRAM? I've owned two Cannondale road bikes in my time - one with Ultegra and one with DuraAce and was really happy with the quality of both.

Actually, it's not a switch. A quick check of the 2011 Cannondale line shows that with the exception of their SuperX cyclocross bike models (SRAM), their CAAD8 road bikes (Shimano), their Flash 29er Carbon MTBs (SRAM), and the Trail SL MTBs (Shimano), Cannondale does a nice job of giving the consumer a choice of gruppos to choose from, including the Shimano Di2 electric gruppo and even a Campy Super Record equipped machine.

Here's the 2011 road line up:

CAAD8 - Shimano 105, Tiagra, Sora
CAAD10 - Shimano Dura-Ace, Ultegra, SRAM Rival, Shimano 105
Synapse Hi-MOD 1 - Shimano Dura-Ace
Synapse Hi-MOD 2 - SRAM RED
Synapse Carbon 3 - Shimano Ultegra
Synapse Carbon 4 - SRAM Rival
Synapse Carbon 5 - Shimano 105
Synapse Carbon 6 - SRAM Apex
Synapse Alloy 5 - Shimano 105
Synapse Alloy 6 - Shimano Tiagra
Synapse Alloy 7 - Shimano Sora
SuperSix Hi-Mod Team - Campagnolo Super Record
SuperSix Hi-Mod Di2- Shimano Di2, Dura-Ace
SuperSix Hi-Mod 1 - Shimano Dura-Ace
SuperSix Hi-Mod 2 - SRAM RED
SuperSix 1 - Shimano Dura-Ace
SuperSix 3- Shimano Ultegra
SuperSix 4 - SRAM Rival
SuperSix 5 - Shimano 105

I also noticed that with their MTBs in some cases they mix SRAM and Shimano components. I don't know if this is based on maintaining a certain price point, their assessment as to an optimal mix of components, parts availability, or a bit of all three. The proof would be in the riding !

Anyone have any thoughts on preference of SRAM vs. Shimano?

Since I haven't ridden a SRAM equipped bike, I cannot comment. I have ridden my Ultegra equipped roadie for many years and the group has never let me down. I think that speaks loudly as to the quality of the components. Ditto my Deore XT equipped MTB. I had a TT bike with Shimano 105 years ago. It was OK, but the shifts were a little clunky. Hopefully that has improved over time. It's obvious that SRAM has come on strong in professional circles and now rivals Shimano, and may have taken some business away from venerable Campy. I have dreams about my next road bike being Campy equipped. Maybe a little snobbery on my part ? But I don't think I'd cry if that bike was SRAM equipped. Also SRAM seems to be coming on strong in the MTB racing world as well. Time will tell.

I frankly like it when the consumer has the power of choice. Sure, if you buy a frame you can usually have it built out however you like. But Cannondale appears to be one of the few full-line, ready-to-ride manufacturers that's going out of their way to give you that power.



http://www.cannondale.com/usa/usaeng/Products/Bikes/

[dill99]

Originally Posted by cyclodog

When did Cannondale switch away from Shimano to SRAM? I've owned two Cannondale road bikes in my time - one with Ultegra and one with DuraAce and was really happy with the quality of both. Anyone have any thoughts on preference of SRAM vs. Shimano?

My FUJI is fitted with SRAM shifters and D Rails. The gear transitions are noticeably smoother, and the SRAM's are much more rugged and durable, which is very important, especially when you're flying down Market st. into the Powell st transition. No time for gearing probs in this situation.