Any question answered...

What the tester said. Weight weenies, roadbikereview etc. is full of examples of this. If its only levers and derailiers, might as well be force.

Lightness is nothing without stiffness.

(plain black, so looks better too).

Ok, so taking it from the top:

Cannondale SystemSix 58cm frame
Control Tech SystemSix stem
FSA Gossamer bars
FSA SLK Carbon seat post
Fizik Arione
Cannondale/FSA Carbon cranks BB30
Speedplay Zero pedals
Easton EA90 SLX Ceramic wheels
Tune Skewers
Vittoria Open Corsa Evo tyres
Sram Force mechs and shifters
Zero Gravity brakes
Nokon cables
Cinelli tape

Is there anything on that list that would yield an easy weight saving, or would benefit from being replaced?

8mm drill bit.

Somethings aren't worth saving weight on, brakes being the main one, especially when one is planning on riding in the high mountains.

Stick with a stock pair of dual pivots, don't waste money and risk your neck on a pair of Zero Gravity brakes.

(Cancels eBay bid), what's the reco Andy- or are they much of a muchness?

My current Ultegra's seem to do the job but I'd like more initial bite on the front.

Easy option I suppose is to go for Force brakes to match the rest- good idea/bad idea?

I rode a friend's bike equipped with a pair of Zero Gravitys and the lack of power and modulation was, frankly, frightening. I'd not trust them on a long mountain descent.

Have you upgraded the pads on your Ulltegra brakes? A pair of Swiss Stop green pads is a noticeable performance improvement, especially in the wet.

I always remember the Robert Millar observation too; it's a lot easier to lose a pound off you than it is off the bike.

I have a plan for that side of things- I cannot make Em's bike heavier, so I'm going to send him a large box of vegan doughnuts every morning from mid Feb onwards.

Currently I think I must have around 20kg on him, so I need to provide 30 kg of doughnuts before May.

And no, still on the stock pads.

I always remember the Robert Millar observation too; it's a lot easier to lose a pound off you than it is off the bike.

This^^

How funny is it when you see a fat bloke who's got more money than sense riding around on a 3k bike.

Are you calling me fat?

Coffee - makes mouth smell of socks
Coca-cola - Makes insides into liquid
Red Bull/V/Mother - Must be fucking horrible for you... also keeps me up all night.

Anyone got an alternative? Im having the 2:00pm slump in a big way...

Preferably, this will be a natural remedy derived from a chinese root and brewed into tea or something.

Maybe something Guarana based? Health food shops love that shit.

And no, still on the stock pads.

I'd recommend trying some Swiss Stop pads first then. A £20 upgrade with real benefits, as opposed to the Zero Gravity option which is likely to be 10x that with the real possibility of it being a backwards step.

I shall order some now. I take it that Shimano brakes will work fine with Sram levers?

Maybe something Guarana based? Health food shops love that shit.

Isnt that whats in red bull?

Nah, that's taurine you're thinking of.

I take it that Shimano brakes will work fine with Sram levers?

Yes, up to 7800/6600/5600. They changed the cable pull ratio slightly for 7900/6700/5700, i.e. the groupsets with double concealed cables, although people have been mixing old and new without serious ill effects.

I'd recommend trying some Swiss Stop pads first then. A £20 upgrade with real benefits, as opposed to the Zero Gravity option which is likely to be 10x that with the real possibility of it being a backwards step.

+1 Switched to Kool Stop after meeting them at the cycle show a couple of years ago. My brakes on my ss were never as good as the geared especially in the wet. I put the salmon on and bloody hell you could feel an immense difference. Wouldn't use anything else now (unless someone is better but I doubt it).

Fawkes Cycles, good or bad?

Shimano pads always seem to be pants. Even the cheapie Clarks etc ones stop better.

Superlight brake calipers and lots of mountains = bad combo.

Riddle me this: what office-based object can I use as an effective mudguard replacement?

I couldn't deal with fiddling with my Kruds this morning and went without. I don't want a soggy bum...

a 1 litre plastic water bottle, cut length ways and jammed in the seat stays

shove a water bottle in the gap between your seat tube and the rear bridge

if you dont have any bottles, use a bin bag as a mini skirt over your trousers, no pretty but effective

both equally good suggestions but i'm going to go with the water bottle... danke

if you dont have any bottles, use a bin bag as a mini skirt over your trousers, no pretty but effective

That sounds both pretty and effective!