Road bike recommendations

My CAAD9 is a 2009 version, standard English BB, full 105 5600 group. Noice. I'd rather have standard English on it to be honest. If it was BB30 I'd upgrade it to Force, but I'm leaning towards 5700 and putting the spare cash into wheels.

The 5700 on my CAADX is spot on - really nice feel to the shifters, spot on shifting and the trimming on the LHS works really well unlike 5600 where it was hit and miss to say the least.

Speaking of hoops. Saw these while ordering some cork pads, and a torque key thingy.

£280

http://superstar.tibolts.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=65&products_id=520
Custom SP radial front hub - 20 hole
Custom 8:16 SP rear hub - 24 hole
SAPIM Straight pull Race spokes - Double butted black
SAPIM Alloy nipples
Stans Ultralight Alpha340 clincher rims - Crazy light new technology from Stans.
Shimano as standard but freehub can be swapped to Campag with upgrade kit
Weight 590g front 760g Rear

Tempted to get some for the BMC (after the fatbike's finished). I cant keep using my carbon ones for everyday training.

That's crazy cheap for crazy light wheels. Tempted.

They do look good- thought training wheels should be heavy though?

Exceedingly smooth, extraordinarily fast and unquestionably the next step forward in performance. The Alpha 340 represents the first implementation of Bead Socket Technology (BST) for the road and cyclocross market. The short sidewalls and wide inside rim cavity allow for lower tire pressure while maintaining a firm tire feel with decreased rolling resistance and a more compliant ride quality. The low weight and semi-aero profile of the Alpha 340 makes for a fast accelerating, stiff and strong wheel built to meet the needs of every rider.

Super-wide 17mm inside cavity
Make clincher tires out perform tubulars
Can be used tubed or tubeless
Recommended for both road & cyclocross use

^ blurb from stans.

Claimed rim weight is 340gsm !!!

If hippy rode these >>> /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

It's a hell of a price to bling weight ratio

I know a few people who use Superstar built wheels (with their MTB hubs). They rate them.

A friend is looking for a road bike, any ideas of what's available for about £600. I think the 105 caad 8 is too much of a stretch at £750 unfortunately.

Must be new?

Claimed rim weight is 350g !!!

Much of the difference compared with other rims comes from cutting the side wall height. You have to ask whether you'd trust the tyre to stay on. Maybe Stan really does know better than the ETRTO, who have only been in the road vehicle pneumatic tyre standards business for 47 years

You also have to ask whether you trust a company which deliberately uses model names a bit less than their own claimed weight, looks like a deliberate effort to make people think they must weigh 340g.

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Much of the difference compared with other rims comes from cutting the side wall height. You have to ask whether you'd trust the tyre to stay on. Maybe Stan really does know better than the ETRTO, who have only been in the road vehicle pneumatic tyre standards business for 47 years

You also have to ask whether you trust a company which deliberately uses model names a bit less than their own claimed weight, looks like a deliberate effort to make people think they must weigh 340g.

I'm skeptical of various Stans weight weenie products (tin foil brake discs etc.). But I do trust their bead lock system. I'd want to check the width though, I went with velocity rims over stans on the 29er. Because I felt the Stans rims were just too narrow. A few extra mm on a road rim would be worth the extra weight too IMHO.

They've cut corners buy doing stuff like using alu nipples. But feck, I'd do that anyway. In fact if it were me, I'd have revolution spokes NDS and up front, plus veloplugs. To really push the weight down. In fact, I think I've just convinced myself, to look into building my own, based on the stans rims.

They do look good- thought training wheels should be heavy though?

you wash your mouth typing fingers out!

I'm currently training on carbon clinchers, and the slightly improved speed/effort ratio, just makes me push harder. I guess if I was racing, it might be nice to feel a little faster on race day.

Hey- just mentioning it- I've been doing all my Sunday rides on 50mm carbon tubs.

My thinking being the weather will get shitty soon, and I've hardly ridden the bike since I finished it, so I'll make hay whilst the sun shines basically.

390km since it was "finished" now.

So, yes, training miles on a 6.7kg bike running on tubs.

#doingitwrong

I think the Stans rims could build into a great set of 'nice' wheels for me. The low depth and high volume should mean they're very comfortable and lighter than the Kinlin 240 things.

I want a wheelset that is great for 100 mile+ group rides (so aero not a priority) and I weigh 60kg.

Dammit, do you realise 'training rides' doesn't mean: coming back on the train?

:)

I've caught fish that weigh more than you.

#eatmorepie

"I weigh 60kg."

have you heard of this thing called food?

Dammit, do you realise 'training rides' doesn't mean: coming back on the train?

:)

So far so good- I've made it back under my own power.

I take a spare pre-stretched tub, tub tape, a can of Vittoria Pit-Stop, pump, tyre levers and some alan keys with me.

So, basically, I have a very light bike and a kilo of tyres/tools in my jersey pocket.

#doingitwrong

I do have the infamous OpenPro/DA 7800 wheelset which is my actual training pair- I just like riding the crabon fribe too much to put the sensible clinchers on at the moment.

When it starts raining I'll probably just ride the cross bike (25c Gatorskins)

I've caught fish that weigh more than you.

#eatmorepie

"I weigh 60kg."

have you heard of this thing called food?

I ate a (pork) pie during last Saturday's ride (no fish though).

I also ate;

An apple
A bag of choco raisins
A bag of peanuts
A large sorean fruit loaf
A chicken & pesto roll
A cheese roll
2 bananas

^ all of this was eaten ON the bike whilst riding.

At cafes I consumed;

3 scones with jam
1 slice of pecan pie
Lots of coffee

Prior to the ride I had porridge with apricots for breakfast.

Crit my nutrition bitches.

Crit my nutrition bitches.

Not enough KFC, obviously ;)

"List of food"

Crit my nutrition bitches.

Where is the bacon, sausage, black pudding?

When it starts raining I'll probably just ride the cross bike (25c Gatorskins)

Gators? You'd be better off riding the tubs - lower chance of repeat punctures, followed by half an hour or swearing and blood as you try to get them off the rim

I've only ever skidded through Gators- not yet had a p_nctr.

you must be the chosen one