Browsing Tag

SRAM

Blog June 13, 2024

Can you build a budget TT/Tri Bike?

I have never regretted buying a Speed Concept, and overall I’ve been very pleased with it. But, running out and dropping $10,000 bike isn’t realistic for everyone. I was recently chatting with some friends around this, and I decided to see how much it would cost to build a TT bike that I would ride, and feel comfortable providing a roadmap around if someone wanted to get into the discipline “on the…

Blog May 16, 2024

Why are some bike OEMs putting rear calipers on the front fork?

I must admit that I don’t follow bikes I would never buy that closely. So it totally escaped my notice that ENVE’s Custom Road frame uses a “rear-mount” brake caliper on the front fork. They aren’t the only bike OEM that does that. I first noticed it on the 3T Exploro; a bike a friend owns, that I have occasionally worked on. Unfortunately, I don’t have a great answer there. I’ve seen…

Blog October 17, 2023

WWWTPD (What Would World Tour Pros Do)

Every so often I run across a WWWTPD cyclist. You know the type, they look at what the pro teams are doing, and say out loud to those who do their own research that all of that effort is a waste of time. You should just do what the World Tour (WT) teams do. Performance is so important to the pros that they wouldn’t possibly compromise on the products they use. I…

News May 26, 2022

Don’t be a dick, Shimano. Oh, too late…

I’ve generally had a very positive view of Shimano. For the most part, the kit just works. What’s not to like about that? Well, part of how it just works, won’t anymore because they decided to cut Hammerhead out of their Di2 licensing. Why? Because SRAM bought Hammerhead… Yep, Shimano is screwing every one of their Di2 customers that also has a Hammerhead bike computer. WTF?…

Featured Review January 25, 2022

Croder 5-bolt 110BCD Spirit Spider for SRAM AXS 8-bolt

It was more of a challenge to find a 5-bolt 110BCD spider for a SRAM Force AXS crankset than I expected. Fortunately, despite the odd name, the Croder Spirit Spider might just be the thing I was looking for. https://www.crodercycling.com/product/f3b3bfa2-7ac4-41f1-b581-e054ed695264…

News March 24, 2020

As someone who loves data, I don’t get it

I love data, and I love toys. But, speaking as someone who knows what my favorite gears are (50/15 & 50/17) and pays attention to my shift count, I do not get SRAM’s play here. Or, I guess I should say, I understand why they want the data, I don’t understand the value in sharing it with them. Maybe it’s because I’m anal AF, but I know the battery level of my…

Featured Review November 26, 2019

SRAM 11 36 Cassette + Shimano Ultegra R8000 Medium Cage

As a flatlander who likes to climb, I’m always on the lookout for some mechanical advantage which can make it easier to get up the hills. SRAM’s 11-36 cassette is an obvious way to do that, but officially my Shimano R8050 (R8000 should be the same) rear mech only supports up to 34 in the back. Having tried the Ultegra 11-34, and not being a big fan, if this works. It seems…