0.02% aero lost, 236% cool gained
Tradition and innovation sit mostly comfortably alongside each other in Cycling. The bicycle itself is inherently a very simple machine, the basic design of which has remained the same for centuries; frame, two wheels, cranks, saddle, handlebars. It’s what has been done to these elements along the way that has shaped what the modern road bike (because mountain bikes are way out there and another realm altogether) now looks like.
To me, they look like crap.
The ‘advancements’ made through the use of carbon fibre have without doubt benefitted those who really need to benefit in incremental steps, and that is Pro riders. These guys and gals are paid to ride a bicycle as fast as they can and to get it across a line hundreds of kilometres away from where they started before hundreds of others, sometimes by the barest of margins. That’s not us. We ride because we love the freedom, the health benefits, all that bullshit that Bicycling magazine will give you 7 tips on how to do it. We don’t need aero-tubed frames and deep dish carbon wheels, but we want them. Sure, all this stuff makes our experience better, and I’m not suggesting we all ride around on K-Mart bikes, even though we’d still probably have some form of fun if we did. Even if you race, even A grade at club level, or have a crack at Nationals, the bike isn’t going to make you win. I’ll repeat; you’re not a Pro.
This whole ‘aero’ frame fad that has taken over the peloton is all well and good when the sport’s top prizes are at stake. When rolling around with your mates and having a coffee before and a beer after is the modus operandi, then why not do it with a modicum of style? Aero bikes are not stylish. Those oversized, flattened, sharp edged carbon members (I refuse to call them tubes) are just downright ugly. The curvy swooping lines and bent-six-ways stays are an abomination. And some of the stems popping up now look like tumours growing from Frankenstein’s neck. I don’t like them, in case you’re not picking up on that.
The more I look at the new crop of ’boutique’ builders working with steel, the more I realise how much of a blight these carbon race frames are. My eyes are attuned to the simplicity of round, straight tubes, with a sensible diameter, and if they’re held together with lugs, well that’s not a bad thing either. But even these simple things of beauty can be sullied by another modern invention, the sloping top tube. A lot of the bikes that appeared in my feeds from the recent NAHMBS featured quite radically sloping tt’s, and whenever a flat tt’ed bike popped up it was even more apparent that flat is where it’s at. And I’m not saying this because I own such a bike; in fact, there was a period after purchasing my Jaegher where I questioned whether I should have had some slope built in. But the more I witness the glut of ugly that is is the Pro peloton, I’m glad I listened to the denizens who lovingly handcrafted my beauty, and kept the tubes like they are meant to be: flat, round and straight.
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@litvi
To be fair, the bike was taken in and out of the stand many times to show people..over at Don Walker's booth and to have photos taken of it. Maybe a little more leeway than usual can be afforded there.
@Haldy
Nope. That's sorry, tired, and sad excuse. There is no leeway for that kind of carelessness. Besides, it's funnier to think you did it on purpose.
@litvi
Well, I sadly, can't claim to be the only person to handle the steed. There were several others( not well versed in the Rules..) that moved the bike about. Heck @gianni was there and since he knew it was @frank's machine he may...may have added to the mischief level a bit.
@Haldy
Is this bike created with a super short wheelbase or is it just a function a the angle the snapshot was taken? And almost looks like more seatpost than seat tube! And rear hub is right under the saddle. And bars out in front of front hub. That's a gorgeous bike indeed with the black and orange fade, the smokin' wheel set and drivetrain. Just really hot. Weird photo angle I guess.
#1 & #2
Cannondale tubes are about as close to traditional as you will find in a modern bike. Roundish and with a top tube that is a joy to drape a leg over when seeking a casually deliberate pose.
Evo HiMod on the left and CAAD 10 on the right.
Saddle angle on the Evo has now been attended to.
@wilburrox
It's a combination of many things. The sightly odd angle of the photo, the gear combo/chain length on the bike has the rear wheel slammed very far forward in the dropouts. Also track bikes have steeper angles than road bikes. The frame is made as small as possible so as to be as stiff as possible. Comfort and compliance are just not considerations in a track steed. Spinning is the name of the game on the track..so the position is a little more forward on the bike than it would be if you wear smashing the big gears on a road bike. For example...my road bikes are 73 degree seat tubes, my Walker track bikes are 74.5 degree seat tubes.
@kixsand
Those Cannnondale's are not too sloped, they look pretty good. Colnago still makes the C60 in traditional geometry. And it you go to the North American Handmade Bicycle show you can see many, many frames being made with traditional geometry.
@ChrisO
Is there a TCR I haven't heard of made by someone other than Gi@nt?
Mass market, corporate led, niche stealing, trend following, "make everything well" Giant? That's bollocks that is. Ever been to Taiwan and seen the factory floor? Ever seen a massive company copy the little fella and put them out of business by throwing money at marketing their brand. These guys are Spesh without the American sense of entitlement. Trek without the background development. Technical trend followers and band wagon jumpers. When you realise how much these guys make for other people you realise they can't possibly get it "wrong". Which is why this site has merit, opening people eyes to the myriad options and not just regurgitating tired marketing cliches..."it rides better than last years" is the mantra for all these companies. "Last years" being the clue.
Give Giant, and the other big corporates a chance, and you will be running to the dealer every year for fear of being seen on last years colours, wheels or group set. It's already begun, I see riders in shop everyday getting sucked in to this BS. They will eventually reduce this industry to a few key players, with no alternative apart from the uber expensive chi-chi custom market. It will be like the car industry - and I have to say it is in my opinion time to see it for what it is.
This industry has many great facets - we look to you, the guys riding the bikes regularly, to see through the bullshit and support something as passionate as you are about your riding.
So, to paraphrase.....Dude, It's a fucking Gi@nt.
*Rant Over*
@kixsand
Two of the nicest looking "modern" bikes on the market. But I suppose I'm extremely biased with an Evo Hi-Mod and a CAAD 8. A CAAD 10 would be a nice addition but a CAAD X or a CAAD 10 Track would make more sense.
What are the tyres on the Super Six? I'm thinking some of the new Corsa speed tubulars for mine.
@ChrisO
I agree about the TCR being a classic.
I had an alloy TCR in the ONCE colours with Shimano 105. It was a great bike - like just about anything Mike Burrows designed.
I saw a Giant MCR for sale a while back. I wish the UCI hadn't banned them, so we could have seen them vs the Trek Y-Foil, etc etc
The new Defy with discs is a sexy machine too.