Feature Articles | Pro Review | Product Review | Video

Selle SMP Carbon Saddle Pro Review

By gregg   March 26, 2012

Selle SMP is an Italian company that was founded in 1947 by Martino Schiavon, a young craftsman who started creating bicycle seats by hand in his attic. Martino was inspired by the racing efforts of fellow countrymen Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali in such races as the Giro d’ Italia and the Tour de France. 65 years later, Selle SMP is still a family business and their saddles are still hand crafted in Italy. They make one thing and one thing only, bicycle saddles. (Well, actually, they also make one model of bib shorts with a seamless bottom, but even that product is based off of their knowledge and expertise with saddles.)

The Selle SMP Carbon saddle is a bare bones (no padding!) performance race saddle with extremely light weight (165 grams). Hardcore gram counters might say that 165 grams isn’t all that light, so for the über weight-weenie, Selle SMP also makes the Full Carbon model that weighs in at a scant 115 grams. The large cutaway section in the center of the saddle relieves pressure on your gentle bits and provides better blood flow.

Selle SMP offers many different models of saddles besides the minimalist Carbon, non-padded models including the popular Composit line (nylon body with elastomers, leather covers, steel frame), the Stratos line (same as the Composit series but with more padding) and the more affordable (albeit slightly heavier) Glider line. For a mountain bikers review of the Selle SMP Stratos saddle, click here.

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Feature Articles | North American Handmade Bicycle Show | Pro Review

NAHBS Roadbikereview Videos and Photos and Awards.

By aquadog   March 16, 2012

Every year, there is a pilgrimage of some of the country’s best bike builders to a city selected by NAHBS to showcase the best hand made bikes. This year, the city was Sacramento and it attracted a ton of builders from around the country and around the world.  The halls were jam-packed each day with cycling enthusiasts eager to see the what the best builders had to offer.

The interesting thing about the Handmade bike show is it not only showcases traditional design and craftsmanship but it also exhibits some leading edge design. Builders are always looking for the best solutions to many of cycling’s needs and this show not only shows where cycling came from but also where it is headed.

Check the links below to view our coverage of some of the best builders at the show. And see our impressions below of what the biggest trends are in this year’s show.

2012 NAHBS Featured Builders
Alchemy Bicycle Co.
•Carbon Cyclocross Bike
•KVA Steel Road Bike
Alliance Bicycles
•Titanium 29er
•All Road Bike
Bamboosero
•Bamboosero – Enabling a Nation
Black Cat Bicycles
•Singlespeed 29er
•Carbon Fiber and Lugged Steel Road Bike
Black Sheep Bikes
•Ti Fat Bike “Two Face”
Boo Bicycles
•Bamboo Singlespeed 29er Race Bike
•Di2 Bamboo Road Bike
Caletti Cycles
•Adventure Road Bike
Calfee Design
•Carbon Tandem 29er Mountain Bike
Dean Ti
•Ti Marathon Softail Racer with Belt Drive
•Ti ExoGrid Road Bike
Don Walker Cycles
•Singlespeed
English Cycles
•18.5 lb Custom SS 29er
•Project Right
Festka Bicycles
•Racing Team Bike
•Royal Flush
Form Cycles
•Fatso” Ti Full Suspension Fat Bike
•Stainless Steel Full Suspension 29er
Funk Cycles
•La Ruta Ti 29er Full Suspension Racer
Guru Cycles
•Photon
Inglis Cycles
•Steel 29er
•Retrotec Steel Ultegra Di2 Road Bike
Mosaic Cycles
•Colorado Ti 29er
•Ti Road Bike
Moth Attack
•Track Bike
Panda Bicycles
•Lugged Bamboo Road Bike
Pereira Cycles
•JBR 29er Steel
Pitz Cycles
•Cyclocross Bike
Priority Cycles
•Hand Built Carbon Fiber DH Racer
Rex Cycles
•Fillet Brazed Steel 29er
Ritchey Design
•Tom Ritchey Breakaway Tandem
•Ritchey Road Logic
•Tom Ritchey Classic 40th Anniversary Frame
Ritte
•Stainless Steel Road Bike
Speedhound Bikes
•Only One
Steve Potts
•Buying & Building the 2012 Award Winning Ti Bike
SyCip Bicycles
•Unleaded Steel Hardtail (not a 29er)
•Jeremy SyCip’s Cyclocross Bike
Ti Cycles
•Rando
•Ultralight Compact Road Bike
True Fabrications
•Road Bike
Vendetta Cycles
•Best Finish of the Show Track Bike
•Lugged Commuter Bike
YiPsan Cycles
•Cafe Racer
•S and S Coupled Randonneur Bike

Trends:

NAHBS is a great indicator of where the bike industry is going. For example, a few years ago most of the builders were showing 29er and commuter bikes while they were still an oddity with big manufacturers. But now, that is clearly the growth segment of the bike industry.  This year, we did see some common themes that we feel will have a bright future in cycling: Continue reading →



Feature Articles | Pro Review | Product Review

Fizik Antares 00 Wing Flex Braided Carbon Saddle Pro Review

By thien   January 10, 2012

Fizik Antares 00 Wing Flex Braided Carbon Saddle Pro Review

  • Shell: Carbon Foam Core Technology with Wing Flex Technology
  • Rail: Carbon Braided 7×9
  • Flat saddle shape
  • Full carbon fiber shell
  • Microtex cover
  • Foam Core Technology
  • Made in Italy
  • Weight: Actual Weight: 149 g
  • MSRP: $320

On the right saddle, you can expect to enjoy long lengthy rides while hardly noticing your seat at all. So when we go looking for a saddle, we look for saddles that will provide good sit bone support, some flex, and the perfect balance of padding and stiffness that will not give us hot spots or numbness on longer rides. After coming off other saddles that struggled to stand up to their claims, the Fizik Antares 00 was a welcome change.

Although it’s generally a personal preference, the Fizik Antares 00 fit us well. The saddle measures 274mm long and is 142mm at its widest point. The stiff carbon fiber shell of the 00 is made up of a thin layer of foam sandwiched between two layers of carbon fiber. Giving the 00 the flex that differs it from Fizik’s other Antares models, while providing great support. In our testing, we found the rear of the saddle provided the perfect support for our sit bones. This helped to keep the pressure off other sensitive tissue areas.

The padding on this saddle is more than triple that of the normal 3mm found on Fizik’s other saddles. This proved to be just the right thickness to support our sit bones without allowing us to sink too far into the saddle which would then cause more pressure in the wrong areas.

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Apparel | Feature Articles | Pro Review | Product Review

Sugoi RS and RSE Jersey and Bib Short Pro Review

By thien   December 17, 2011

Sugoi RS and RSE Jersey and Bib Short Pro Review – by Steve Cooper

As a cyclist, married to a cyclist, we have dinner conversations that can baffle our non-riding friends. Discussion about cleat and pedal choices, upgraded groups, different gearing, hill repeat schedules and endurance distance route planning for example… The honey-do list includes stuff like adjusting the seat further back on this bike, rewrapping that set of bars, fitting bigger panniers on the commuter. Yeah, it’s kinda dreamy, but not always; it can be expensive. If she gets new shoes, I want new shoes too. If I update to new brifters, she wonders why she’s left out. And then there’s the bike clothing. I have a lot of choices collected over decades. On the other hand, she’s been on the bike for under ten years, so her closet isn’t as stuffed as mine, but what she does have is a nicer. Do I sound jealous? I am.

So when Sugoi pitched the idea for an RBR Men’s and Women’s RSE kit review, I was happy that we were at the top of list. As writers of said review, I must say, we were ready to step up to the challenge. What cyclist wouldn’t relish the idea of trying out stylish new tech cycling wear? Plus, Sugoi has a great reputation for their clothing design, so getting to test the RSE line of bib shorts and jerseys would be a treat. The unpredictable benefit for both RBR and Sugoi of having a husband/wife review team is that far more time than is reasonable gets spent talking about not just the technical aspects, but the intrinsic qualities such as figure slimming and girly bit accents. So let’s share the synopses of our Sugoi RSE ride conversations.

Technical Overview
Sugoi (awesome! In Japanese) is a young company, founded in Vancouver BC in the late 80’s for the sole purpose of developing technical cycling clothing for endurance riders. Sugoi’s RSE (Race Series Elite) line is truly the high art of cycling wear.

Both the Women’s and Men’s RSE bib shorts are constructed using ten contoured panels of sheer, perspiration wicking, Ultra-Profi fabric with sturdy yet soft to the skin flat locked seams. The top of the Men’s shorts hits comfortably, midway between the navel and crotch, so it doesn’t restrictively girdle one’s torso. The top of the Women’s shorts rests just above the navel, which has its pluses, as we mention later. Fabric in the rear of the shorts transitions into the suspender mesh just below the small of the back, providing great ventilation. To keep the legs of the shorts from riding up, Sugoi uses a wide, textured fabric leg grip that doesn’t need uncomfortable blobs of sticky silicon to keep it in place. The leg grips on my XL shorts fit my 24” quads perfectly, but the S shorts felt a tad tight to Karen around her 17” thighs. Karen’s advice here? Girls, be sure to fit these shorts carefully, their sizing runs very slim. My observation echoes hers, these are great shorts for lean bodies, but don’t try and undersize.

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Feature Articles | Pro Review | Product Review

Look Keo Blade Carbon Pedals Pro Review

By thien   December 15, 2011

Look Keo Blade Carbon Pedals Pro Review – By Twain Mein

  • MSRP: $399.95
  • Weight: 190 grams (claimed), 187 grams (actual)
  • Larger surface area
  • Innovative “leaf spring” retention system

Look revolutionized cycling in 1984 with the creation of the clipless pedal. It is incredible to think that Fignon and Hinault and all of their predecessors used toe clips and straps prior to this invention! I finally made the switch from to Looks in 1990 — my friend helped me drill holes into the plastic insole of the classic Detto perforated and laced leather shoes to mount those babies up. I later switched to early Sampson Ti pedals but, though light weight, the cleats would catastrophically break. In the mid-nineties, I switched to Speedplay X2′s (198 grams) and enjoyed their massive float, ease of entry, and incredible durability. But they were prone to “hot spots” and walking in the cleats is flat out dangerous.

Fast forward to 2004, and I went back to Look with the Keo Carbon Ti pedals. At 196 grams, they were fractionally lighter than the Speedplays and offered a larger shoe-pedal surface area. For the most part, I was pleased with the new Keo’s though I had a few complaints. When climbing, the cleats sometimes “shifted” or seemed to slide back. Compared to the Speedplays, they also require a bit more finesse to snap into from a stoplight. And the cleats wear very quickly, requiring annual replacement. For commuting, however, they are reasonably safe to walk in. Seven years later, they have become a bit creaky, and I was interested in Look’s latest offering, the Keo Blade.

It is remarkable that the Keo Carbon Ti reigned supreme for Look for many years. But the engineers and designers went back to the drawing board to create a new way to skin the cat. Introduced last year, instead of compressed metal springs to retain the cleat, the Blade features a long carbon fiber leaf spring. Leaf springs were commonly used in trucks and cars during the ’60′s and ’70′s; leaf springs provide good load handling but aren’t so great for lateral movements. In the bike pedal application, though, the spring isn’t really needed for anything but retention. Kudos to Look for looking at this challenge from a whole new perspective. Look also offers spacers to increase Q-Factor (distance of cleat from crank arm) from 53 to 55mm.

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Pro Review | Product Review

American Classic Carbon 85 Tubular Wheels

By francois   November 17, 2011

Ellen Kast of American Classic invited us to try their carbon wheels and we immediately went for the big boys – 85 mm Tubular Carbon Wheels. 85 mm is deep and is ideal for triathlon use or road use by big, powerful riders that can fight off the influence of crosswinds.  The theory with aero carbon wheels is the deeper the better for reducing aerodynamic drag. But the enemy is wind as deeper wheels will create a bigger sail for steering the bike off the intended path of the cyclist. This influence is bigger with the front wheel so often you will see a shallower wheel in the front and a deeper wheel on the rear.

But we wanted  the whole experience so we went for 85 mm front and rear for our 150 lb. test rider. We’ve often heard of aero wheels’ advantage on average speed so we wanted to leave no doubt to see if we could raise our average speed.  Crosswinds be damned. We were going for it!

American Classic only makes these wheels in tubular since Bill Shook does not feel that full carbon wheels are safe for clincher  use.  Clinchers (pictured on the right of the photo) are the traditional wheels 95% of cyclists use as the tire is held in by the sidewalls of the rim and a tube is used to hold air.  Tubulars use a tire that is fully enclosed like a donut and it is glued on to the rim. Bill feels that clincher tires put so much outward force on the sidewalls and failures are common when the brakes heat up the carbon and break down the glue that holds together carbon fiber.  Aside from that, clincher wheels are much heavier since so much  more material has to be used on the sidewalls of the rim.

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Feature Articles | Pro Review | Product Review

Chrome Dresden Suede Shoe Review

By thien   February 20, 2011

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Chrome Dresden Suede Shoe Review – By Thien

  • Suede upper
  • 100% vulcanized construction
  • Low profile design for easy toe cage integration
  • Re-enforced nylon/glass fiber shank for midsole support
  • Board lasted sole to eliminate pedal hot spot
  • Skid resistant contact rubber on the sole
  • Polyurethane contoured crash pad insole
  • Durable rubber heel cup with reflective safety hit
  • Lace garage so laces don’t get caught in your chainring
  • Steel aglets to prevent lace fray
  • MSRP – $80

It’s easy to miss the details of Chrome’s Dresden Suede Shoes at first glance, but they’re there. In a casual low profile shoe that works on the bike, in the office, and even after hours. The Dresden is a commuter shoe in disguise, simply designed swanky suede, but packed with plenty of biking friendly details. It offers a skid resistant rubber sole, vulcanized construction, a “lace cage” (for the metal capped laces), and a low profile – that makes slipping in and out of toe clips easy.

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Feature Articles | Pro Review | Product Review

LeMond Fitness Revolution Indoor Bike Trainer Review

By thien   January 12, 2011

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Lemond Revolution Indoor Bike Trainer Review

  • Price is $499.  $549 with cogset
  • Weight: 32 lbs
  • direct drive eliminates the wheel and tire interface from the trainer
  • Resistance is fan based.

Inspired by the original wind resistance trainer that Greg LeMond used to prepare with, LeMond Fitness introduced the all-new Revolution bike trainer earlier this year. It promises to deliver the inustry’s most real-to life road feel and performance output to ensure cyclists of all levels stay in peak physical condition regardless of the weather outside.

Featuring what Lemond coins as HIT, High Inertia Technology, it’s designed with a large, weighted flywheel that emulates the inertia of a rolling bicycle. It spins freely when the pedals aren’t engaged and delivers progressive wind resistance to simulate real-world conditions. The design is said to create a smooth, natural feel while pedaling with no lag when the rider slows down or changes gears, lets see if their claims are true…

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Feature Articles | Pro Review | Product Review

Mad Fiber Carbon Road Wheels Review

By thien   December 13, 2010

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Mad Fiber Carbon Road Wheels Review by Twain Mein

  • $2599 MSRP, 4 year warranty
  • 12 spoke front, 18 spoke rear full carbon tubular wheels
  • 60mm front, 66mm rear rim height
  • 1085 grams/pair. 430 grams front, 655 rear.
  • 1980 grams/pair with tires and 13-29 cassette (1280 rear/ 700 front)
  • White Industries rear hub
  • QR levers 44 grams/pair. 21 front, 23 rear.

fronthubRic Hjertberg (pronounced “yurt-berg”) is something of a legend in cycling circles. Those who live in the SF Bay Area may remember his famous Wheelsmith store located in Palo Alto, established in 1975. The shop was as much a museum as a place to buy and service your bikes and parts. Ric distinguished himself as a master wheelbuilder and continued this pursuit later on, bringing back wooden-rimmed wheels. Recently, Ric has also been working as Technology Manager for component maker FSA. But he came upon a new idea to truly “reinvent the wheel” with the creation of “Mad Fiber” carbon wheels. They are unique in that they use carbon fiber spokes bonded to two rim pieces. Ric claims that carbon fiber “likes” to be placed under tension-loads. The pieces lay flat prior to gluing and then are stretched out, origami style to fit over the hub; he claims “It is the first wheel designed for carbon fiber”. Despite their diminutive weight, Ric claims they can handle a static load of 700 pounds each, and there is no rider weight limit. Yet the weigh in at a breath-taking 1085 grams complete; weight weenies rejoice!

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Speaking of weight, the Mad Fibers compare to the Reynolds RZR 46 that weigh 910 grams and retail for $6000 for the set and the Lightweight Obermeyer that weigh 960 grams and retail for $6495. At nearly a third of the price and only 100 grams more, the Mad Fibers are a value leader in the ultra-high end wheel category.

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Feature Articles | Pro Review | Product Review

Diamond DM-1 Pro Race Review

By thien   October 26, 2010

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Diamond DM-1 Pro Race Review – Twain Mein

  • Toray T700 Carbon fiber frameset
  • 73 degree head tube, 73.5 degree seat tube
  • Claimed weights: Frame: 1030 grams, Fork: 380 grams. Actual total w/o pedals: 7460 grams (16lbs 7 oz)
  • Price: $2295
  • Oversize and tapered 1.25/1.5″ fork
  • Full Shimano Ultegra 6700 gruppo with 53/39 x 11/25 gearing and 172.5 cranks
  • 57CM size tested
  • Light weight components including Edge Design stem (95 grams), Vittoria superlight tubes, carbon bottle cages (22 grams), and 1490 gram wheelset.

Michael and David Diamond are the brains behind the new Diamond Bicycles DM-1 Pro. They’ve put together a great value with top-notch components and an impressive frame. Speaking of value, this Ultegra-equipped bike sells for $2295; compare this to a Trek Madone 6.2, which retails for nearly $4200 (and has a lower quality Shimano 105 cassette), and you can see this is a good value for the money.

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