On Mar 14, 2009, at 10:43 PM, David Estes wrote: > On Sat, Mar 14, 2009 at 8:31 PM, Tim McNamara > <[email protected]> wrote: > -snip- > > > I might very well ride the 23 pound country bike, reckoning its > greater robustness gives me a better chance to finish the race > without mechanical problems or punctures, which'll get you dropped > faster than anything and put you right out of contention. Of course, > my "country bike" weighs 21-22 lbs and my race bike weighs about 19 > 1/2 lbs, so there is really not much difference between them. Less > than a couple of water bottles, and nobody grouses about their water > bottles slowing them down. > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ > > > Tim, what is the difference in those two bikes?
The main difference is the weight of the frame and forks, probably some other places. The weights I gave were "back in the day." Most of the components are now the same (literally, because the Campy Chorus 9 sp that used to be on the race bike is now on the 'cross bike; brakes, seatpost, saddle, bars and stem are different). I haven't weighted the 'cross bike in its new configuration. The race bike is a custom-built-for-someone-else-about-my-size Ritchey (fillet brazed throughout) that I bought in 1998 or 1999 and built up with Campy Ergo. It is, without a doubt, the best handling bike I have ever ridden. I dunno what it is that Tom Ritchey did when he came up with his frame design, but's it is the perfect balance of nimbleness and stability. It is built up now for the kind of riding I do most of these days- fun rides! I haven't weighed in in the new configuration, either. (Don't really care any more- I don't measure my fun with a bike computer like I used to). The 'cross bike is a Gunnar Crosshairs (TIG'd) with a fork upgrade to the W-ford 'cross fork (lugged) (BTW it's one of three Waterford- built bikes in our house- my All-Rounder, my wife's Heron Road being the other two; none of them are actually Waterford branded). Back when I raced 'cross it was built up with Sun Tour Superbe Pro with an Ultegra 6500 read wheel. I used Avocet 700 x 32 Duros on the road and Ritchey 700 x 28 'cross tires for 'cross races; they were almost exactly the same size. The Gunnar is very stable and rides well on the pavement- maybe just a bit stodgy, actually, but it really comes alive off-road. I also used it for a tour in the Alps in 2002 and a brevet series and PBP attempt in 2003. http://www2.bitstream.net/~timmcn/alps2002-1.html http://www2.bitstream.net/~timmcn/brevets-2003.html I've never weighed the frames and forks of either bike, so I don't know what the weight difference might be between them. The Ritchey is built with what I recall is Tange Prestige quad butted tubing; the Gunnar is built with Reynolds 853- I suspect this is pretty conservatively spec'd given that it's intended for off-road racing. The bare Ritchey frame and fork are very light in hand, the Gunnar not particularly so. I can't imagine more than a pound's difference between them, though- if even that, maybe more like 6-8 ounces. The rest must have been in the components on the Gunnar- the heavier Ultegra rear wheel, longer seat post, Dia-Compe cantis, etc. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
