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Comments - 2011 Year End Awards, Part III

January 08, 2012

@bill Good points. How much debt do you think CC was carrying? The move always seemed sudden and shocking both to customers and locals.
- Jeremy, Conway

January 08, 2012

"Brosociety" and "Tramdock" failed. And I love this assurance from Chainlove, "DISCLAIMER: Bike is NOT ready to ride and requires assembly by a certified bike mechanic. We will not be held liable for injuries you cause to yourself or others through the use (or misuse) of this product. So don't be stupid." Good move Brendan!
- Bill, Ft. Smith

January 08, 2012

I commend you guys/gals for staying on top of the blog, but inquiring minds really do want to know about Canyon, Merlin and Andy Clark.
- Stefen, Honolulu

January 04, 2012

good call on the FSA omega compacts. on the other hand, recommending used "hand built" wheels on craigslist or ebay is an abomination. just go to the local shop and have them build something that doesn't have a covert flaw or fatal imperfection.
- wigs, brooklyn

January 04, 2012

It is stunning how much un/under-informed vitriol there is out there for Osymetric rings. If you've never used/tried them maybe you all should either do so or consider shutting your collective pie holes. As someone who has and does use them they work very well for gereral road riding, TTing and, yes, for climbing too. Wiggins and Froome's mistake was not pairing their 39 chainrings with 11x36 cassettes which would have given them roughly equivalent gearing to a 34x32. Oh and as proof of how much these things (don't) suck I bet you anything that Froome and Wiggins will be racing on them again next season.
- NRG, LA

January 04, 2012

Cervelo S5? How generic and uninteresting ... no soul !!
- David, Toronto

January 04, 2012

Appreciate the posts! Sorry to annoyingly ask about this, but any news on Marlin?
- sleeper, PA

January 03, 2012

I echo what Dennis said.
- Stuart , Adelaide Australia

January 03, 2012

I like the blog, but if they are going to do "products of the year" they might look outside of their own website for candidates. Integrity fail.
- dennis, phx

January 03, 2012

Osymmetric = Biopace (circa 1991) didn't last then, won't last now. Just say'n
- Mike, SF

January 03, 2012

How about awarding some "worsts of the year"? I for one would like to nominate CC's customer service. I hope this is just a short term trend attributable to "the move." two words: inventory management.
- IJ, Baltimore

January 03, 2012

I have my 2008 pinarrello Prince and I love it. When the new season of cycling comes I do not ride it until I am in a shape worthy of my Prine. Now I am thinking a new Wilier. Yes I do have the disease . Thank you.
- Soroush, Folsom CA

January 03, 2012

I'm gonna back up Colin and take one issue with what he said. First, all hand built wheels aren't the same. At all. Most ride like junk cause whomever built them doesn't know how to build a wheel. Everyone now uses a tension meter. That is a tool for someone who knows how to already build a wheel. Mot people use the tension meter to build the wheel. Sure the tension all lines up, but then it's a crap ride. I've seen it happen all the time. So be careful who you get your wheels from. I have Joe Young build mine and they are awesome. Colin is wrong, though, there is something that rides way, way better than a hand built clincher. A hand built tubular. It's a fact, don't even bother debating it.
- Tom, DC

January 03, 2012

Zipp came out with new brake pads made by Swiss Stop because of the excessive heat the cork generated. I even tested this heat theory in France in the Alps. Let me tell you brake fade was very apparent in the cork pad and a bit scary at 50+ mph.
- grant, nyc

January 03, 2012

Cervelo S5 is far and way the bike of the year. I guess you can't mention products you don't sell anymore.
- Alex, Ardmore, PA

January 03, 2012

The Vuelta was LOST on osymetric ! Yeah buddy, good call... Time trail maybe, mountain climb, no effin way.
- marc, St-Crown

January 03, 2012

One problem with having two wheelsets as you advise: You have to swap brake pads with each wheel change since Zipp does not advise using the same pads for carbon clinchers as you would with traditional clincher braking surfaces.
- Bob , Baltimore, Md

January 03, 2012

Great article however I couldn't disagree more with you about clincher wheels. As a master wheelbuilder with over a couple thousand wheels built under my name (literally) I think that most of what you find built on eBay and Craigslist is average quality, if not somewhat unreliable. I've seen spoke tensions that were too low, wheel lacing that was just plain incorrect, and wheels that are completely out of dish. If you value your health and your life while riding your bike (especially racing in the rain or inclement weather) then have someone that truly knows how to build a wheel do your clinchers for you. Likewise, I think the Zipp 404 clincher carbon rim is average at best. If you really want a nice carbon clincher rimset that builds up nicely, holds its true, and allows you to put some real spoke tension on it then go with the ENVE (formerly Edge Composites) carbon clincher rims. With propreitary carbon inlays for the spoke eyelets you can put significantly more tension on the spokes while building these rims up thereby allowing you to build a reliable, trustworthy carbon clincher wheelset. With your Zipp 404's you'll need to get acquainted with your local wheelsmith as you'll be needing work on both the hubs and the rims if you ride them with any frequency. For the money: Dura Ace 7900 24 hole front, 28 hole rear hubs laced to ENVE carbon clinchers. Super reliable, ligthweight, and very, very low-maintenence. (Sorry boys and girls, you're usually pretty spot on with your reviews, but not on this one). For Clinchers: Ultegra 6700 or Dura-Ace 7900 hubs, 32 hole, DT-Swiss double butted 14/15/14 guage spokes with alloy nipples if you must, 3 cross, built onto either DT clincher rims or Mavic Open Pro's. For those who've ridden and raced for many years you know what I'm talking about. Nothing rides better than a nice pair of handbuilt clincher rims. Period.
- Colin, Denver, CO

January 03, 2012

They cannot speak of Canyon because they don't sell that brand here. lol!
- Gary L., San Francisco

January 03, 2012

this blog has lost its credibility. boo hoo
- matt , little rock

January 03, 2012

Wow. What's the sub-text wirh the Lance anti-doping commercial?
- Buf, Elkins Park

January 03, 2012

The Osymetric chain-ring pick is kinda humorous, because that is probably why Chris Froome LOST the Vuelta! He stated that Sky was way overgeared on the Angliru, but that was because the Ossymetric-ring does not allow for a compact crankset! Had he been riding a 34 tooth chainring, there is a good chance he would have won the Vuelta.
- Mike, Colorado Springs, CO

January 03, 2012

As always, you make interesting award choices. I agree on the FSA Omega Compact. If you have good fit with proper handlebars and a righteous saddle the rest will take care of itself. Nice of you to recognize the value of this under-appreciated component. Carbon 29er hardtail? Meh. No thanks. 32-spoke handbuilt wheels? There's nothing better...and that will still be the case 100 years hence.
- PawleeWalnutz, NYC

January 02, 2012

Thanks for a great series of posts CC, I've enjoyed them over the holidays..
- Adam, Hamilton

January 02, 2012

What about Canyon?
- Aqualung, Hoboken

January 02, 2012

Did you really not mention WIGGLE in this post or call out another bike shop on their gaffes? Has 2012 brought real compassion to Mr. Quirk? Maybe, but you still haven't told us about CANYON!
- Troy, Helen