Monday, June 18, 2007

Shallow End

Shallow End

After weeks of thinking about it, (Should I? Shouldn't I?!!) I finally took the plunge and started ordering parts for my new bike, which I plan to unveil to the World in August at the Desaru Long-Distance Triathlon. I've ordered a pair or 50mm deep section carbon wheels from the UK, complete with bags, tubular tyres, titanium skewers etc... and a couple of carbon bottle cages...

I'll have a fitting session in Singapore at the end of July, where I'll buy the frame. The Dura-Ace groupset and all other components will come from Edwin. It's going to be an all-black mean machine with yellow bar tape to make it look menacing to others like a poison-arrow frog!!

Hopefully I'll get a couple of short rides on it in before the first big test on 12 August (Desaru Tri) - to get everything all set for my main event of the year - S'pore Half-Ironman on 2 Sept.

Titiwangsa Run

As part of my plan to squeeze a bit more training into each week, and a desire to update my blog with a new PB, I went for a short 6km run around Lake Titiwangsa after work yesterday and... I managed a new PB time of 35:21 (17:50+17:31), over 2 minutes faster than my previous best set about 6 months ago.

All Excited

Now I've taken the plunge with my new bike, I thought I'd better start thinking about crank length, cassette ratios etc... so I checked my current bike. (Warning - Tech talk ahead folks).

I've always thought that my gearing was 52/42 with a 12-25 cassette, explaining why most cycling companions have it easier on climbs on newer bikes with a slightly smaller 39 chainring. However to my surprise it turns out that my bike is 53/39 and 13-23. No wonder I struggle a bit on long or steep climbs - I always thought I had a 25 for that, but its only 23! That means I climbed Genting on a 39 x 23! Wow!

So anyway my conclusion is that my new bike will also be 53/39 but with a 12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-21-23 10-speed cassette. And it'll have to be the biggest size - XL (57cm). That's 3cm smaller that my current steed but that's normal these days now that seatposts are strong enough to be longer.

5 comments:

The Editor said...

I think you should go for the 12-25 cassette. Better spread and reserve cogs for climb.

tryathlete said...

i think the 12-23 is good, but keep a spare 12-25 handy. i've got a 12-23 on my race bike but i can switch to a 12-25 when needed, only takes 5 minutes. one thing i've found with the 12-23, is that i'm most comfortable cranking 53/18 and you don't get the 18 in a 12-25. it's a very nice gear.

oh... and congratulations on the new bike. can't wait to see it.

Vicious Cycle said...

i cant wait.. i can imagine it already... black yellow.

Can it Transform into an alien looking robot?

"Saunier Duvalva-tron" with Planet X weaponary.

Bernard got bitten by the Transformer bug.

fook said...

wow...wow...
cant wait to see ur new bike in action!!!

Whatever said...

Whoaaaaaa ..... can't wait to see its unveiling in Desaru!