Greed

Couldn't ride at all last night due to my teaching responsibilities...which, by the way went well. Thankfully the flourescent lights weren't killing my eyes like usual.

Anyway, got back on the rollers tonight for an hour session. So I wanted to continue analyzing my current equipment and note any upgrades/changes that I can make for the upcoming season. To start off I have an '03 Trek 5900. Well, more like a 5700 because of my Ultegra drivetrain. Anyway, its been bombproof and superb over the last 3.5 years. The RaceXLite wheels have been just as durable...aside from that Chrysler Crossfire snapping my rear in half.

So I want to make it clear that this bike is not/will not hold me back in ANY WAY. If I do get something new...its due to my own greed and desire to just have something new and different. Granted, there are lighter and stiffer frames now...but in a real world race how much difference will that really make. The bike has 12,000 miles on it and will get sent back to Trek for a new headset this winter.

The current ride...


One thing I would like to upgrade is the stem. I had weighed this one time and it was a whopping 198grams. Thats an effin' pig. Especially when there are Easton or Deda stems like this that shave off 70grams.


More room for improvement would be wheels. The RaceXLites are great...but investing in some Reynolds Stratus DV's would be killer. Lighter, more Aero...

And then there's always the temptation of a new bike altogether. Do I need it? No. Do I want it? Yeah, kind of. So we have two candidates. There's nothing to say I wouldn't want to stick with Trek...but honestly I don't really dig the Madone's.

Tested by Tour Magazine to have the stiffest bottom bracket (along with the Canyon F10) is the Cannondale SystemSix. Carbon front triangle mated with an Alu rear. $4700 (with DA...pic shows SRM)


And then there is the Specialized TarmacSL. All carbon...lighter than the 'Dale. Placing second to it in that same Tour Mag stiffness test. Probably a few hundred more in price...same componentry and wheels.


Its a toss-up. The SystemSix is a little cheaper...The Tarmac is lighter. Both have similar geometries with the top tubes being a .5cm difference. And contrary to a lot of riders, I totally dig the Tarmac curvature. Would be nice to have leave the Trek at work as my main training/crit bike...and have another for road races.

Ah well...a new 5K bike would certainly be money wasted in the eyes of some. But when I consider that I'm young, have no debt, no bills, etc...I can treat myself :)