[dropcap] M [/ dropcap] ia just 1.5 years since I ride on Cipollini RB1000. I started my adventure with the road about 5 years ago and since then, on average, every year I change the equipment to a slightly higher shelf. I think I can objectively write 3 words about the impact of a bicycle change on ride comfort and the speed with which we travel and where there is a reasonable limit ... if at all.
First road - bike for ~ 2000
When I changed from a damped Cube to Giant SCR4 on Sór, one of the cheapest bolts
in those days, I was shocked. This bike itself rode, the gears were similar to the Shimano XT, which I had in several times more expensive MTB, and probably never saw the website. A website that I have visited more or less every 2-3. start in the mud Mazovia. One day I discovered that I do not remember when I was sitting on a highlander lately. The new bike gave me everything I needed. I did not go on bikefitting, the size was two numbers too small, and yet it was quite easy to make routes over 100km, which seemed to be quite a serious result in those days. The fact that the gears do not change as fast as they should, that the door handles are soft like a duck, and the weight is 3kg. too high, I saw only going back to this equipment after using the next ones. Here is the first important conclusion: while the change for the better is not always clearly felt, the recession in cycling equipment development is sometimes a shock.
The highway for ~ 4000 PLN and the first races
Why did I change my bike? Because the new one, spotted on allegro, was beautiful. For the first time in history, I also decided to use it. Blue Cannondale, thin like a shell, with a weight that even today is quite good, made an impression. The Slice Sl fork with its 311 grams is still in the forefront. The motif of the American eagle and the inscription "Handmade in USA" meant that for the first time the bike ceased to be just a soulless machine. Mavic Ksyrium SL wheels gave me the opportunity to feel what are the failures of "outhauled" equipment and make friends with many local shops in search of new spokes. In fact, if it was not that it was harder and harder to get parts for 9-row Dura Ace, I would go on it today ... Well, let's say, because it could have been influenced by finding instructions that clearly indicated that it is not suitable It is recommended to change the frame for long, intensive use and after two start-up seasons. As I did not know the past of the bike, the excuse to exchange was perfect. For tourism or even amateur competitions, this bike seemed to be perfect.
Bike for fagnaście thousands - because it's cool
At this point, we come to the point where, in my opinion, as an amate
ora, there is no logical justification for further purchases. Choosing a medium-class carbon or a good aluminum frame, decent Fulcrum 3 or 5 style wheels and equipment at level 105 / Chorus / Force we reach the optimum (* does not apply to electrical equipment and shields that I think are stable game changerem). I think that a new bike, in a similar configuration, will cost about 5000-8000 PLN, and used 3500-5000 PLN. You can, of course, make some budget cuts that will lower this price. So why buy more expensive? I do not know, I can not justify it. I know, however, that most of them, looking at us from the store shelf, say: "you must have me." Wilier Cento Uno at Super Record was just something like that. Is the equipment better than half the cheaper Chorus? I do not know, I do not see any difference. It's a bit lighter and has a different lettering. I think that by comparing the operation of these two groups, the regulatory skills of your website are actually compared. A change in electrician is just making a change. And most importantly: Chorus class cassette costs PLN 450, and SR, which, according to the Campagnolo website, is definitely less durable .... 1375 PLN :)
Sky is the limit
I was sure that I would go on Wilera until carbon stopped being cool. Especially considering the long-term warranty on the frame. It did not happen. My dream bike appeared on Allegro: Cipollini RB1000. Attachments similar to the previous one (in fact, there was no better in those days), only more arrived, because it was used. However, it did not prevent him from costing more. Here is the most important question of today's entry: What changes does the transition from a very expensive bicycle to a more expensive one (on the example of RB1000)?
1. The position is less convenient - professional bikes are tailored for professionals. The low head of the frame over time turns us into real yogis and human-erasers. (obstinate, of course, it does not bother to overcome routes over 600km )
2. The equipment from the top shelf means that we will probably visit the website more often and leave more money in it. It's not that more expensive = less emergency. In this case, more expensive = lighter
3. Cones on tubs. Because they look better, just like that. They also release a cool sound while driving. Instead of a spare inner tube and a pump, we carry a Vittoria Pit Stop seal that will either work ... or renew social relationships with people who have access to the car at the moment. I treat it as a plus, because otherwise many people probably would never have met in the summer. In addition, "who brakes does not win", so carbon rings instead of braking - they slow down ... unless it rains - then they limit themselves to the sound of braking.
* I think here I made a slight distortion for the purpose of the entry, because you can also buy a very expensive wheel for the tire.
4. It is an amazing feeling that when we enter the pavement or hit the hole, hundreds of coins fall out of our pockets.
5. Foreign language learning: When I for the first time broke off SR's klamkomanet the race in Rybnik there were two options. Order for PLN 300 from Wertykala and wait a minimum of one month or buy one half of the Belgian stores directly in the next day. When I accidentally broke off the second in a way unexplained to this day, the new handle came immediately from Belgium :)
6. You are contributing to a local service. Some elements were built in such a way that, as a mechanical invalid, I will not repair it for myself. In addition, you do not always want to play with yourself in finding parts. Thanks to this, there is a pretext to visit the store once a week with the question: "Hello, are my spokes to Bora or a week ... and two ... and three?"
7. Determining that the bike is stiff would be out of place. Driving through the holes I feel like Asia Tuhajbejowicz in the last minutes of my life. It is like the Stiff Pal of Asia in the years of its glory. The situation saves only a quarter-kilo seat, thanks to which the bike looks like Mini belonging to Jasia Bean with a chair on the roof.
8. I often hear my favorite phrase: "You, look, dude has Cipollini, and rides like an ass. Why does not he win it anyway? ;-)
9. I would say that uniqueness, but already on the second ride around Warsaw, I met the second loop RB1000 on the famous loop under Gasses. Bad luck and happiness at the same time.
And so-called me came out "Entry without a punch". I can not write why to buy a road bike. I suspect that on a carbon ROSE with a Tiagra mix and 105 I would drive slightly slower, and the race would not win the same as now. All this searching for logic and justifications, however, loses meaning whenever I enter a room with bicycles or shoot pictures of myself. Beautiful bicycles are beautiful and unique.
In the end, the most important thing is so as not to buy bikes that we can not afford. Even the best bike will go like the old, yellow-red death of MZK, if we run out of funds for its service. There is nothing sadder than to hear: "I would go with you, but I am sorry for the bike".
Hello,
If it weren't for this article I wouldn't know that there is such a brand of bikes as CIPOLLINI. On the other hand, the author must certainly have a deep wallet ;) Best regards and safe driving,
Well, not everyone has to be a fan of cycling. Some are fans of soap operas, e.g. M jak miłość…
When I switched to a Subaru Impreza I had the same feelings. But during more dynamic riding and on the track I wouldn't swap it for another model. The Cipolini is beautiful and arouses emotions even when it's standing still. Such a bike poses a challenge to the user who is into sports riding and taking part in races. I think that you should buy ambitious equipment, because it provokes development and riding it is part of our lifestyle. I have a Storck aernario platinum bike on Campagniollo and Bora wheels. But I'm not excited about objects, but about the emotions they provide, and these make you want to achieve success not only in sports but also in life. CONGRATULATIONS on the beautiful bike and I invite you to IC training in Krakow every Wednesday. Antoni.
A very interesting article, I will try to comment on it by sharing my experiences.
My adventure with cycling began very late, at the age of 51 (I am currently 56).
I started by buying a cross bike from the German company Dynamics Sonic Sl. The bike is very nice, I ride it to this day.
A nice 3x9 Shimano drive allows you to ride at a considerable speed if of course your leg gives way. The beginnings were difficult, not great distances and rather riding on the road. After a year of riding in 2012 I started with it in the Olek Czapnik Ultramarathon on Wolin Island over a distance of Mega 170km and took 3rd place in the M5i category and I was hooked.
In 2013 I bought a brand new Spezialized Roubaix SL2 on a new Sora 9 from a friend who bought it in Sweden but didn't like it so he sold it to me. I didn't know the real world and never rode a road bike so I didn't pay attention to very important details such as the frame size 56 (too big for me (I'm 174cm) because the bike seemed small compared to my cross bike. The weight with a carbon frame was well over 9kg. I learned to ride it for the first thousand km and it went quite well. It wasn't until 2015 that a friend pointed out to me that I was tired riding it because it was too big for me. That's when I started thinking about changing my equipment. I looked at various offers, read opinions and in January this year I came across an offer with a very rarely used Spezialized S-Works Tarmac SL4 bike. After negotiations price I bought this wonder. Only that the bike was tailored to the previous user who had a terribly strong leg (unfortunately he died in a car accident, I bought the bike from his wife) The drive is Sram Red 10 cassette 11-25T S-Works cranks 53/39 !!! The bike has Reynolds wheels on a tire, frame size 54 weight with pedals 6.5 kg .... Everything is cool, but how to drive it with these gears !!!!
The bike's mileage according to the assessment of independent Spezialized service technicians is approximately 2,000 km.
And my first ride on this Spez-Maskra!!! Completely different operation of the Sram drive than Shimano, the position on the bike (compared to the Spez Roubaix) is like sitting behind the wheel of a supposedly sports BMW M3 or a Ferrari 458. Torture, hard work and getting used to new equipment.
After 2 weeks a spoke in the front wheel (double butted) broke and the wheel was sent to the only Reynolds service in Poland in Lublin.
There the wheel was repaired very professionally (good price, quick turnaround time), my unprofessionalism caused me not to send the rear wheel together, in which a spoke broke after another week and another shipment, and this time over 2 weeks of waiting, because there were a few spokes to replace that had to be sent from Switzerland.
I live by the sea where there aren't many hills, but there are a few climbs that I could easily overcome with my previous bike. One day, at the beginning of a ride on the S-Works up one of these hills, I simply ran out of gear and thought I would have to carry the bike.
It was March, my leg was still weak and the gears were very hard.
Today after riding about 3 thousand km I'm doing better and better I've learned to ride this bike and I dare say that riding the S-Works is pure pleasure, its lightness, dynamics, speed are worth its price and there is absolutely no comparison with the Spez Roubaix.
Last year, I managed to reach an average speed of 30 km/h only a few times, and even then over a relatively short distance; today, over distances of 100 km and longer, I sometimes reach 33 and even 34 km/h, which, for a 56-year-old amateur, I consider a good result.
Kind regards
Rico
P.S. - equipment matters and unfortunately quality has its price :)
My first ride
Great article, because everyone seems to know this and yet they still strive for changes in equipment. I put together my first bike on an aluminum frame and Sora myself and it also seemed to me, as someone who had only ridden MTB so far, that it was a real Ferrari. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, a friend let me ride a time trial bike for tens of thousands belonging to a cycling team and then I understood that reaching 40 km/h on a flat surface and maintaining this speed for 30 km is more than simpler even for an ambitious amateur, with all the disadvantages such as mega stiffness, fetal position and stress about what will happen to the equipment when I sleep. Nevertheless, like the author of the article, I strived for change, but without exaggeration. I bought a new Ridley Noah on full Ultegra 6800, changed the handlebar to Cinelli 10×40 Ram 2 and only the aluminum Fulcrum Racing Quattro wheels on a tire will I change to carbon on a tubular. I do not intend to invest any more, because the bike meets all my requirements and you can race on it brilliantly. So it is worth spending money, but look for logic somewhere, because from a bike bought for a dozen thousand in a "second", if funds allow, you can make a bike worth a mid-class car. But why? Greetings to all, Paweł
Hey. My friend probably forgot that there is no such thing as you pay more for quality, now there is you pay more for comfort and gadgets. The policy of all factories that produce something has changed a bit. The old days are gone, I know this from personal experience because I had the opportunity to work in several factories, I know what the quality policy is. Why do you buy more and more expensive, I know the answer because you like it, period.
Eee, you have a Cipollini to ride. Faster or slower, it doesn't matter :) the important thing is that you ride! I know a guy who has one, just to have it and to shine in the city once a month :)