Paris equipment

Quoted message said:

Now that I've upgraded to a modern bike, I can actually converse with
the "elite" doing laps around Paris parks. I am quite impressed by the
number of people riding tubulars with carbon rims. I talked to a 60
year old guy who has been riding tubulars for at least 45 years and he
says he repairs them himself, it takes him between 30 minutes and an
hour, and since he's retired, he has nothing better to do. Maybe he
should start a business. Otherwise, I doubt that the younger guys
(still 40+) are doing that. The big question is: If they're already
riding 1200g aero wheelsets in training, what to they use in racing?
The answer: They don't race, they only ride laps around the park, and
apart from the old guy who rides over from Paris (I asked), they must
drive over to avoid getting flat tires. Oh, and not one power meter in
the bunch, probably too heavy.

After today's ride, I went to nearby Cycle du Tourmalet which supplies
these people with their equipment and leaning unattended on the the
outside wall was a Cervelo R3-SL. Of course that is a poseur frame, I
have the same one, but I don't have Lightweight wheels either. Yes,
the bike had a $5000++ wheelset. The bike also had what looked to be a
Tune quick releasehttp://www.starbike.com/images/tune/ac14_sandstein.jpg
So a real "weight weenie" bike. I did find the fatal flaw: it actually
had a power meter, the one by Polar, so you have a bike with all the
lightest most expensive equipment with a second rate power meter.
Obviously, he thought that SRM or PowerTap were too heavy for hilly
Paris.

-ilan

How fat was the guy on the weight weenie bike? It really cracks me up
when someone going on and on about the weight of the bike and
equipment, and spending $100/gram to reduce it is overweight.
No problem if they want to do it, but it just amuses the hell out of
me.
Bill C

Bill C said:

Quoted message said:

Now that I've upgraded to a modern bike, I can actually converse with
the "elite" doing laps around Paris parks. I am quite impressed by the
number of people riding tubulars with carbon rims. I talked to a 60
year old guy who has been riding tubulars for at least 45 years and he
says he repairs them himself, it takes him between 30 minutes and an
hour, and since he's retired, he has nothing better to do. Maybe he
should start a business. Otherwise, I doubt that the younger guys
(still 40+) are doing that. The big question is: If they're already
riding 1200g aero wheelsets in training, what to they use in racing?
The answer: They don't race, they only ride laps around the park, and
apart from the old guy who rides over from Paris (I asked), they must
drive over to avoid getting flat tires. Oh, and not one power meter in
the bunch, probably too heavy.

Quoted message said:

After today's ride, I went to nearby Cycle du Tourmalet which supplies
these people with their equipment and leaning unattended on the the
outside wall was a Cervelo R3-SL. Of course that is a poseur frame, I
have the same one, but I don't have Lightweight wheels either. Yes,
the bike had a $5000++ wheelset. The bike also had what looked to be a
Tune quick releasehttp://www.starbike.com/images/tune/ac14_sandstein.jpg
So a real "weight weenie" bike. I did find the fatal flaw: it actually
had a power meter, the one by Polar, so you have a bike with all the
lightest most expensive equipment with a second rate power meter.
Obviously, he thought that SRM or PowerTap were too heavy for hilly
Paris.

Quoted message said:

-ilan

How fat was the guy on the weight weenie bike? It really cracks me up
when someone going on and on about the weight of the bike and
equipment, and spending $100/gram to reduce it is overweight.
 No problem if they want to do it, but it just amuses the hell out of
me.
 Bill C

I saw the guy in the store later. He was in good shape and was talking
about doing cyclosportives, so actually uses his bike. He also had a
large frame, he was about 6'4", so the choice of lightweight stuff
actually made sense, at least the frame which does not sacrifice any
strength or stiffness.

Speaking of which I saw that in the Dauphine and Tour de Suisse, CSC
riders, e.g., Sorensen in his stage win and Frank Schleck in his
crash, were using 800g R3-SL frames with 1100g Zipp 202 wheels and no
power meters so I doubt they made the 6.8 kg limit. In fact, during
the uphill time trial on Saturday, Andy Schleck was using a regular R3
with a power meter. I am assuming that they only weigh the bikes for
uphill time trials.

-ilan

Quoted message said:

it actually
had a power meter, the one by Polar, so you have a bike with all the
lightest most expensive equipment with a second rate power meter.
Obviously, he thought that SRM or PowerTap were too heavy for hilly
Paris.

I can recall seeing only one other rider with a power meter in Paris:
an SRM on a randonee bike just before last year's PBP. I did have a
conversation with a guy once about PMs. He noticed my PT and started
asking about it. He used a Polar HRM so was leaning in the Polar PM
direction. I tried to be gentle.

Robert Chung said:

Quoted message said:

it actually
had a power meter, the one by Polar, so you have a bike with all the
lightest most expensive equipment with a second rate power meter.
Obviously, he thought that SRM or PowerTap were too heavy for hilly
Paris.

I can recall seeing only one other rider with a power meter in Paris:
an SRM on a randonee bike just before last year's PBP. I did have a
conversation with a guy once about PMs. He noticed my PT and started
asking about it. He used a Polar HRM so was leaning in the Polar PM
direction. I tried to be gentle.

There was a guy there today with a Garmin 705 and was raving about all
its functions, and I had to tell him that I had already downloaded the
manual so knew all about it. He also told me that he was going to get
the power functionality soon, and I had to break the news to him that
there are only 3 compatible power meters, 2 of which haven't come out
yet, the third sells for almost 3000 Euros. Apparently, the person who
sold him the power meter hadn't been entirely forthcoming about the
power aspect of the Garmin 705. I also told him that I wanted to get a
Garmin, but at the time no power meters were compatible, so it was
either GPS (and the superior Garmin computer) or power measure, so I
told him: "C'est les Watts que je prefere". In case you don't get
this last part (you have to have be totally immersed in outdated
French popular culture): http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=F0ivS16j6FM
and no power meter company has thought of using this as a slogan
either....

-ilan

Quoted message said:

Now that I've upgraded to a modern bike, I can actually converse with
the "elite" doing laps around Paris parks.

I've been meaning to get back on the Vincennes track for 5+ years
now...do you ever go there ?

Quoted message said:

I am quite impressed by the
number of people riding tubulars with carbon rims. I talked to a 60
year old guy who has been riding tubulars for at least 45 years and he
says he repairs them himself, it takes him between 30 minutes and an
hour, and since he's retired, he has nothing better to do. Maybe he
should start a business. Otherwise, I doubt that the younger guys
(still 40+) are doing that. The big question is: If they're already
riding 1200g aero wheelsets in training, what to they use in racing?
The answer: They don't race, they only ride laps around the park, and
apart from the old guy who rides over from Paris (I asked), they must
drive over to avoid getting flat tires. Oh, and not one power meter in
the bunch, probably too heavy.

After today's ride, I went to nearby Cycle du Tourmalet which supplies
these people with their equipment and leaning unattended on the the
outside wall was a Cervelo R3-SL. Of course that is a poseur frame, I
have the same one, but I don't have Lightweight wheels either. Yes,
the bike had a $5000++ wheelset. The bike also had what looked to be a
Tune quick release http://www.starbike.com/images/tune/ac14_sandstein.jpg
So a real "weight weenie" bike. I did find the fatal flaw: it actually
had a power meter, the one by Polar, so you have a bike with all the
lightest most expensive equipment with a second rate power meter.
Obviously, he thought that SRM or PowerTap were too heavy for hilly
Paris.

So, hardly any retro grouches around here. Mostly a lot of old men
with expensive bikes. In France, most people retire at around 60 years
of age and have very healthy pensions, so they are able to get good
equipment. As I said before, it's funny to see 80 year old guys on the
latest carbon frames.

-ilan

Quoted message said:

Now that I've upgraded to a modern bike, I can actually converse with
the "elite" doing laps around Paris parks. I am quite impressed by the
number of people riding tubulars with carbon rims. I talked to a 60
year old guy who has been riding tubulars for at least 45 years and he
says he repairs them himself, it takes him between 30 minutes and an
hour, and since he's retired, he has nothing better to do. Maybe he
should start a business. Otherwise, I doubt that the younger guys
(still 40+) are doing that. The big question is: If they're already
riding 1200g aero wheelsets in training, what to they use in racing?
The answer: They don't race, they only ride laps around the park, and
apart from the old guy who rides over from Paris (I asked), they must
drive over to avoid getting flat tires. Oh, and not one power meter in
the bunch, probably too heavy.

After today's ride, I went to nearby Cycle du Tourmalet which supplies
these people with their equipment and leaning unattended on the the
outside wall was a Cervelo R3-SL. Of course that is a poseur frame, I
have the same one, but I don't have Lightweight wheels either. Yes,
the bike had a $5000++ wheelset. The bike also had what looked to be a
Tune quick releasehttp://www.starbike.com/images/tune/ac14_sandstein.jpg
So a real "weight weenie" bike. I did find the fatal flaw: it actually
had a power meter, the one by Polar, so you have a bike with all the
lightest most expensive equipment with a second rate power meter.
Obviously, he thought that SRM or PowerTap were too heavy for hilly
Paris.

So, hardly any retro grouches around here. Mostly a lot of old men
with expensive bikes. In France, most people retire at around 60 years
of age and have very healthy pensions, so they are able to get good
equipment. As I said before, it's funny to see 80 year old guys on the
latest carbon frames.

-ilan

Tubulars are making a big comeback here too with all the deep carbon
wheels. I get those guys to give me their punctured top-dollar tires.

"What do you want that for?"

I guess the guys at the bike store figured somebody who dropped $3000
on a flexible wheelset would swallow the bit about being told to just
throw the tire away. Lots don't even know how to change the tire, so I
guess they were just going to let the bike shop throw them away for
them when they brough t the wheel in to get the tire changed.

Joseph

Keith said:

I've been meaning to get back on the Vincennes track for 5+ years
now...do you ever go there ?

You talking 'bout the Cipale, or the piste cyclable with the
corbeilles?

Keith said:

Quoted message said:

Now that I've upgraded to a modern bike, I can actually converse with
the "elite" doing laps around Paris parks.

I've been meaning to get back on the Vincennes track for 5+ years
now...do you ever go there ?

Quoted message said:

I am quite impressed by the
number of people riding tubulars with carbon rims. I talked to a 60
year old guy who has been riding tubulars for at least 45 years and he
says he repairs them himself, it takes him between 30 minutes and an
hour, and since he's retired, he has nothing better to do. Maybe he
should start a business. Otherwise, I doubt that the younger guys
(still 40+) are doing that. The big question is: If they're already
riding 1200g aero wheelsets in training, what to they use in racing?
The answer: They don't race, they only ride laps around the park, and
apart from the old guy who rides over from Paris (I asked), they must
drive over to avoid getting flat tires. Oh, and not one power meter in
the bunch, probably too heavy.

Quoted message said:

After today's ride, I went to nearby Cycle du Tourmalet which supplies
these people with their equipment and leaning unattended on the the
outside wall was a Cervelo R3-SL. Of course that is a poseur frame, I
have the same one, but I don't have Lightweight wheels either. Yes,
the bike had a $5000++ wheelset. The bike also had what looked to be a
Tune quick releasehttp://www.starbike.com/images/tune/ac14_sandstein.jpg
So a real "weight weenie" bike. I did find the fatal flaw: it actually
had a power meter, the one by Polar, so you have a bike with all the
lightest most expensive equipment with a second rate power meter.
Obviously, he thought that SRM or PowerTap were too heavy for hilly
Paris.

Quoted message said:

So, hardly any retro grouches around here. Mostly a lot of old men
with expensive bikes. In France, most people retire at around 60 years
of age and have very healthy pensions, so they are able to get good
equipment. As I said before, it's funny to see 80 year old guys on the
latest carbon frames.

Quoted message said:

-ilan

I was there today. It's actually quite pleasant. The nice thing is
that there are different types of groups, the old guys who ride 22-24
kph, the average big group 28-32kph depending on mood, and the "fast"
group at 40kph (it usually breaks off from the main group). People are
generally friendlier than you would expect, given the proximity to
Paris.

The most amazing thing I saw recently was 2 weeks ago, a 75 year old
guy riding there with a 2007 California champion jersey. I asked him
about it and it turns out that his brother, who is also French, moved
to California 40 years ago and is now totally cleaning up in the 70+
age group, so he gives his brother some of his extra jerseys. I tried
looking him up without success, he apparently lives in LA, right near
the Hollywood Bowl.

-ilan

email hidden said:

Quoted message said:

Now that I've upgraded to a modern bike, I can actually converse with
the "elite" doing laps around Paris parks. I am quite impressed by the
number of people riding tubulars with carbon rims. I talked to a 60
year old guy who has been riding tubulars for at least 45 years and he
says he repairs them himself, it takes him between 30 minutes and an
hour, and since he's retired, he has nothing better to do. Maybe he
should start a business. Otherwise, I doubt that the younger guys
(still 40+) are doing that. The big question is: If they're already
riding 1200g aero wheelsets in training, what to they use in racing?
The answer: They don't race, they only ride laps around the park, and
apart from the old guy who rides over from Paris (I asked), they must
drive over to avoid getting flat tires. Oh, and not one power meter in
the bunch, probably too heavy.

Quoted message said:

After today's ride, I went to nearby Cycle du Tourmalet which supplies
these people with their equipment and leaning unattended on the the
outside wall was a Cervelo R3-SL. Of course that is a poseur frame, I
have the same one, but I don't have Lightweight wheels either. Yes,
the bike had a $5000++ wheelset. The bike also had what looked to be a
Tune quick releasehttp://www.starbike.com/images/tune/ac14_sandstein.jpg
So a real "weight weenie" bike. I did find the fatal flaw: it actually
had a power meter, the one by Polar, so you have a bike with all the
lightest most expensive equipment with a second rate power meter.
Obviously, he thought that SRM or PowerTap were too heavy for hilly
Paris.

Quoted message said:

So, hardly any retro grouches around here. Mostly a lot of old men
with expensive bikes. In France, most people retire at around 60 years
of age and have very healthy pensions, so they are able to get good
equipment. As I said before, it's funny to see 80 year old guys on the
latest carbon frames.

Quoted message said:

-ilan

Tubulars are making a big comeback here too with all the deep carbon
wheels. I get those guys to give me their punctured top-dollar tires.

"What do you want that for?"

I guess the guys at the bike store figured somebody who dropped $3000
on a flexible wheelset would swallow the bit about being told to just
throw the tire away. Lots don't even know how to change the tire, so I
guess they were just going to let the bike shop throw them away for
them when they brough t the wheel in to get the tire changed.

Joseph

I don't get why they ride tubulars. At the track, I got a rear disc
which weighed 1500g (400g more than their wheelsets!) and I ended up
being faster than before. I don't see how a 1700g aero clincher
wheelset is going to be such a disadvantage. Anyway, that's what I
plan on getting (though it will be 200g heavier because of the
PowerTap). Apparently, people are also starting to ride clinchers on
the track, which seems to confirm my theory.

-ilan

In article
<[email hidden]>,

Quoted message said:

Now that I've upgraded to a modern bike, I can actually converse with
the "elite" doing laps around Paris parks. I am quite impressed by the
number of people riding tubulars with carbon rims. I talked to a 60
year old guy who has been riding tubulars for at least 45 years and he
says he repairs them himself, it takes him between 30 minutes and an
hour, and since he's retired, he has nothing better to do. Maybe he
should start a business. Otherwise, I doubt that the younger guys
(still 40+) are doing that. The big question is: If they're already
riding 1200g aero wheelsets in training, what to they use in racing?
The answer: They don't race, they only ride laps around the park, and
apart from the old guy who rides over from Paris (I asked), they must
drive over to avoid getting flat tires. Oh, and not one power meter in
the bunch, probably too heavy.

After today's ride, I went to nearby Cycle du Tourmalet which supplies
these people with their equipment and leaning unattended on the the
outside wall was a Cervelo R3-SL. Of course that is a poseur frame, I
have the same one, but I don't have Lightweight wheels either. Yes,
the bike had a $5000++ wheelset. The bike also had what looked to be a
Tune quick release http://www.starbike.com/images/tune/ac14_sandstein.jpg

I am trying to determine what the they are lying on. Appears to
be an uncured naugahyde.

--
Michael Press

On Jun 24, 4:07 pm, [email hidden] wrote:
Apparently, the person who

Quoted message said:

sold him the power meter hadn't been entirely forthcoming about the
power aspect of the Garmin 705. I also told him that I wanted to get a
Garmin, but at the time no power meters were compatible, so it was
either GPS (and the superior Garmin computer) or power measure, so I
told him: "C'est les Watts que je prefere".  In case you don't get
this last part (you have to have be totally immersed in outdated
French popular culture):http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=F0ivS16j6FM
and no power meter company has thought of using this as a slogan
either....

-ilan

That's really really bad....;-)
Bill C

Quoted message said:

http://www.starbike.com/images/tune/ac14_sandstein.jpg

I'd be scared to ride a bike with those.

Quoted message said:

Now that I've upgraded to a modern bike, I can actually converse with
the "elite" doing laps around Paris parks. I am quite impressed by the
number of people riding tubulars with carbon rims. I talked to a 60
year old guy who has been riding tubulars for at least 45 years and he
says he repairs them himself, it takes him between 30 minutes and an
hour, and since he's retired, he has nothing better to do. Maybe he
should start a business. Otherwise, I doubt that the younger guys
(still 40+) are doing that. The big question is: If they're already
riding 1200g aero wheelsets in training, what to they use in racing?
The answer: They don't race, they only ride laps around the park, and
apart from the old guy who rides over from Paris (I asked), they must
drive over to avoid getting flat tires. Oh, and not one power meter in
the bunch, probably too heavy.

After today's ride, I went to nearby Cycle du Tourmalet which supplies
these people with their equipment and leaning unattended on the the
outside wall was a Cervelo R3-SL. Of course that is a poseur frame, I
have the same one, but I don't have Lightweight wheels either. Yes,
the bike had a $5000++ wheelset. The bike also had what looked to be a
Tune quick releasehttp://www.starbike.com/images/tune/ac14_sandstein.jpg
So a real "weight weenie" bike. I did find the fatal flaw: it actually
had a power meter, the one by Polar, so you have a bike with all the
lightest most expensive equipment with a second rate power meter.
Obviously, he thought that SRM or PowerTap were too heavy for hilly
Paris.

So, hardly any retro grouches around here. Mostly a lot of old men
with expensive bikes. In France, most people retire at around 60 years
of age and have very healthy pensions, so they are able to get good
equipment. As I said before, it's funny to see 80 year old guys on the
latest carbon frames.

-ilan

One of the guys I talked to today was riding Campagnolo Bora wheels. I
didn't realize they cost $4000.

-ilan

Quoted message said:

I also told him that I wanted to get a
Garmin, but at the time no power meters were compatible, so it was
either GPS (and the superior Garmin computer) or power measure, so I
told him: "C'est les Watts que je prefere".  In case you don't get
this last part (you have to have be totally immersed in outdated
French popular culture):http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=F0ivS16j6FM
and no power meter company has thought of using this as a slogan
either....

I wish I could be like David Watts.

Ben

On Jun 24, 6:14 pm, "[email hidden]" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I also told him that I wanted to get a
Garmin, but at the time no power meters were compatible, so it was
either GPS (and the superior Garmin computer) or power measure, so I
told him: "C'est les Watts que je prefere".  In case you don't get
this last part (you have to have be totally immersed in outdated
French popular culture):http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=F0ivS16j6FM
and no power meter company has thought of using this as a slogan
either....

I wish I could be like David Watts.

He is so gay.

"Bill C" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

How fat was the guy on the weight weenie bike? It really cracks me up
when someone going on and on about the weight of the bike and
equipment, and spending $100/gram to reduce it is overweight.
No problem if they want to do it, but it just amuses the hell out of
me.

The French aren't fat. At least not in the way that Americans are. When a
fat person walks up to a Frenchman, he will normally address them in English
if he can speak it well enough.

"Tom Kunich" <cyclintom@yahoo. com> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Bill C" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

How fat was the guy on the weight weenie bike? It really cracks me up
when someone going on and on about the weight of the bike and
equipment, and spending $100/gram to reduce it is overweight.
No problem if they want to do it, but it just amuses the hell out of
me.

The French aren't fat. At least not in the way that Americans are. When a
fat person walks up to a Frenchman, he will normally address them in
English if he can speak it well enough.

That might be true in the Île-de-France region. In the 'sticks, there are
plenty of overweight folk. Not as many as you'd see in the US, but it's a
myth that the French are, in general, skinny. Unfortunately, most Americans
don't know much of France beyond Paris.

And even in Paris you're likely to see pensioners who appear rather well
fed.

--Mike Jacoubowsky
Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReaction.com
Redwood City & Los Altos, CA USA

Tom Kunich' cyclintom@yahoo. com said:

"Bill C" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

How fat was the guy on the weight weenie bike? It really cracks me up
when someone going on and on about the weight of the bike and
equipment, and spending $100/gram to reduce it is overweight.
No problem if they want to do it, but it just amuses the hell out of
me.

The French aren't fat. At least not in the way that Americans are. When a
fat person walks up to a Frenchman, he will normally address them in English
if he can speak it well enough.

I was enjoying this thread until now.

R

Quoted message said:

On Jun 24, 10:55 pm, "[email hidden]"

Quoted message said:

On Jun 24, 7:12 pm, [email hidden] wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Now that I've upgraded to a modern bike, I can actually converse with
the "elite" doing laps around Paris parks. I am quite impressed by the
number of people riding tubulars with carbon rims. I talked to a 60
year old guy who has been riding tubulars for at least 45 years and he
says he repairs them himself, it takes him between 30 minutes and an
hour, and since he's retired, he has nothing better to do. Maybe he
should start a business. Otherwise, I doubt that the younger guys
(still 40+) are doing that. The big question is: If they're already
riding 1200g aero wheelsets in training, what to they use in racing?
The answer: They don't race, they only ride laps around the park, and
apart from the old guy who rides over from Paris (I asked), they must
drive over to avoid getting flat tires. Oh, and not one power meter in
the bunch, probably too heavy.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

After today's ride, I went to nearby Cycle du Tourmalet which supplies
these people with their equipment and leaning unattended on the the
outside wall was a Cervelo R3-SL. Of course that is a poseur frame, I
have the same one, but I don't have Lightweight wheels either. Yes,
the bike had a $5000++ wheelset. The bike also had what looked to be a
Tune quick releasehttp://www.starbike.com/images/tune/ac14_sandstein.jpg
So a real "weight weenie" bike. I did find the fatal flaw: it actually
had a power meter, the one by Polar, so you have a bike with all the
lightest most expensive equipment with a second rate power meter.
Obviously, he thought that SRM or PowerTap were too heavy for hilly
Paris.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

So, hardly any retro grouches around here. Mostly a lot of old men
with expensive bikes. In France, most people retire at around 60 years
of age and have very healthy pensions, so they are able to get good
equipment. As I said before, it's funny to see 80 year old guys on the
latest carbon frames.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

-ilan

Quoted message said:

Tubulars are making a big comeback here too with all the deep carbon
wheels. I get those guys to give me their punctured top-dollar tires.

Quoted message said:

"What do you want that for?"

Quoted message said:

I guess the guys at the bike store figured somebody who dropped $3000
on a flexible wheelset would swallow the bit about being told to just
throw the tire away. Lots don't even know how to change the tire, so I
guess they were just going to let the bike shop throw them away for
them when they brough t the wheel in to get the tire changed.

Quoted message said:

Joseph

I don't get why they ride tubulars. At the track, I got a rear disc
which weighed 1500g (400g more than their wheelsets!) and I ended up
being faster than before. I don't see how a 1700g aero clincher
wheelset is going to be such a disadvantage. Anyway, that's what I
plan on getting (though it will be 200g heavier because of the
PowerTap). Apparently, people are also starting to ride clinchers on
the track, which seems to confirm my theory.

-ilan

Because they haven't done any research, and just bought the top of the
line. I opted for aero clinchers so I wouldn't need to monkey with
using carbon specific pads and switching when using other wheels, and
for the rolling resistance (how good at glueing could I be?). Not to
mention the multiple-flat issue.

Joseph