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Comments - The Extensive Moisturizing Regimen of Linus
March 22, 2010
Brick and Mortar shops will always be valuable for service, advice and the intangibles. However, I think almost all of the carbon bikes and components we buy are stamped out of a few factories in the far East. We pay a big premiuim for the name badge and the privilege of buying from a store.
- steve, miami
March 22, 2010
I have 2 pairs of Reynolds, an old set of Cirrus clinchers set up with a Power Tap, and a pair of KOMs. Never had even the least bit of trouble with either of them! 2 pairs, 4 years, thousands of training/racing miles. I did, however break a pair of Zipp 404s.
- steve, miami
March 22, 2010
@ Reg- I had two Vitus bikes that I raced in HS and College. Both were bought from Colorado Cyclist( my favorite catalog company at the time) . My 979 had issues and was indeed sent to HH at my cost- this would have been spring '92 I believe. It was a nice bike- light by the days standard, and a nice riding bike- albeit somewhat noodly: My 135 pound frame could ghost shift the bike. The 2nd Vitus I had was the follow up model with the integrated headset- the model alludes me. Another good bike and stiffer than the 979 but after buying a 2nd hand Cannondale 2.8 I saw the light- 979 was great for training and riding but not the east coast crit bike I wanted. Cannondale 2.8 I could still race today- the Vitus does not hold up as well as a race bike.
The true testament as to how good a bike company is whether or not that company is still in business-No offense, but other than a vintage Vitus I see every once in a blue moon that bike has disapeared with good reason...it could not keep pace with the market. Vitus' historical mark was they were the first foray into light weight with some compromises. Not bad- but not great bikes.
Finally, Iam sure Kelly would have won regardless of the bike- he was that good.
- fat chance, NYC
March 17, 2010
'FMB - ils sont la vraie merde', as we say over here in euroland.
Those tires in the Sky-piccie are are some Dugasts though - non?
- andy, Dept 61
March 16, 2010
Reynolds will only sell online here, cuz they're shite. We've had so many of them fail from regular riding/racing stresses. Unlike an online retailer, us brick and mortar shops stand behind not just our products, but or advice to our clients as well.
- Lincoln, Lawrence
March 16, 2010
@fat chance Just so happens I was the Vitus agent in the US from 1985 to 1990. At peak we were selling 5,000+ frames in the US PER YEAR. I was well aware of what was coming back for warranty in the US and aware of HH's repairs. The numbers were small. Your perception of Vitus was what most competing steel frame builders thought. A lot of races were won on those bicycles. With my connection to Vitus and Mavic I was well aware of what the frame turnover on pro-teams was, and it wasn't just a one race frame. Obviously they weren't too wimpy for the "King of the Classics" to win most of his races eh? Kelly chose the aluminum 979 for the Belgian classics because they were super comfortable. Maybe why he was less fatigued after 150 miles.
- REG, San Francisco
March 16, 2010
Vitus frames were too wimpy not just here in the US but in Europe too- that is why Havnoonian bikes in Philly had a good business GLUING THEM BACK TOGETHER!!! Many of the re-branded Vitus bikes were called by many in France "Les velos de papier de toilette" (there was a another more crass version as well..): like toilet paper, you would use it once and then throw it out. Pros back then did not bitch about equipment as much as they do today- better stuff today maybe?
- fat chance, NYC
March 16, 2010
FMB silk TT tubulars. Because I need that extra .0001 second and my kids don't really need college anyway. Always been available from World Class Cycles, a really lovable little mom and pop mail-order-only track and tire shop.
- Andrew, Queens, NY
March 16, 2010
Rapha site, fast here. That's two for Minneapolis :)
- Eric, Minneapolis
March 16, 2010
the 8:50 moto crossing the Roubaix velodrome is hairy.... whoa
- Jack, NYC
March 16, 2010
Haha, Kelly wins on an aluminum 979 Vitus all Mavic. Most Americans thought those frames were too wimpy. Kelly showed 'em time and time again.
- REG, San Francisco
March 15, 2010
An Opera Leonardo FP in Iles Balears colors = the shizz. If I ever find one in a 59.5 I'll bid my nuts off.
- K, LA
March 15, 2010
Always thought "Opera" was an interesting move by Pinarello. Although I never could understand why they created confusion by having a Pinarello-badged model with the same name as their alternate brand. I guess there are no more reasons for Pinarello to hedge their bets. Maybe once someone makes a frame out of helium gas they will reboot Opera. Love that Bartoli vid, especially the part near the end where the moto comes within a gnat's ass of wiping out the leaders on the track.
- PawleeWalnutz, NYC, Where Precious Faces Abound
March 15, 2010
HED does in the US as well.
- G, Nolichucky
March 15, 2010
Hed already sells direct to customer, certainly in the UK http://www.hedwheels.com
- Alex, London
March 15, 2010
Bjarne Riis has a big upper body?
- Bjarne, Denver
March 15, 2010
This months Pro Cycling, p 106, Malcolm Elliiot with a sweet looking Opera!
- Brian, New York
March 15, 2010
in this bartoli video, at about the 5 min mark, the guy in the red jersey has to have one of the biggest upper bodies I have ever seen on a PRO. Thats a big guy on a bike
- Jordan , Portland
March 15, 2010
Up until a year or so ago Zipp did offer direct to consumer purchasing via their website. But then their brick-and-mortar dealers starting beating them up about it and Zipp but the kibosh on DTC.
- AH, Indy
March 15, 2010
Top 3?
Tchmil
Tafi
Van Den Broucke
- Jeremy, Kansas City
March 15, 2010
Bartoli on the bike is so smooth and effortless, always loved his riding too
- GM, YEG
March 15, 2010
The real reason Rapha's site seems slow is it's not run out of a datacenter it seems, but seemingly off of a cable modem (not kidding!) after looking at the traceroute data.
- Adam, austin, tx
March 15, 2010
The rapha site loads great for me. Competitive cyclist has been very slow for me as of late though...
- Aaron, Minneapolis
March 15, 2010
yes, the rapha site loads pretty slow for me as well. in chicago.
- sma, chicago area
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