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Pinarello Dogma 65.1 Think2 2014 Complete Bike Nice looking bike. Nothing outstanding, all properly set up and race ready. Exactly as you can buy in the shops. Mainly one for British fans I guess. Weight: 7.54kg (16.62lb, with computer and cages) RRP in USD: $16599 with Campgnolo EPS and ENVE 3.4 Very nice build of this bike here: www.glorycycles.com/pido65caepss.html $16599. Although for that price you don't even get a power meter. | |
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Pinerello Dogma 65.1 Think 2 Frame and forks Frame used by team sky. Has strange ripples in the frame which I can't see are anything but a gimmick. Frame is reasonably light, due to use of Japanese 65HM1K Nano-alloy Carbon Fiber. Do remember that UCI team bikes can't go below 6.8kg, which doesn't mean that you have to. There's also an interesting asymmetry to the design. Even the top tube is slightly offset to the right. Whether this will make you go faster is up for debate. If you want to spend a lot of money on a frame which is probably going towards the marketing budget, then please feel free. Personally I'd go for a lighter, more aero and cheaper option, of which there are many. *Update June 2014. New Dogma F8 has been released. The wavy forks have been done away with, and instead we have bowed forks for improved aerodynamics. There's more aero styling. There's one in the local bike shop; will test. Weight: 920g 54cm frame RRP in USD: $5,700 includes headset, seat post The Dogma THINK 2 sells for $5300-$5600 at competitive cyclist | |
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Shimano Dura-Ace C50 tubular WH-9000 Wheels Another piece of advice you'll ignore: don't bother with tubs. They won't sing along like you've read. They won't make you go faster. They are a pain, as gluing is messy and time consuming. You need a stash of tubs in the garage, maturing like fine wines. At $100 a tub, punctures are expensive. While the pros have a couple of guys with strong thumbs who can glue all the tubs for them, you are better off with clinchers. At this point I could recommend the C50 clincher version, saving you $900. BUT the C50 clincher is closer to 1900g (claimed 1672g), which you will feel when racing. As you accelerate out of corners, your bike will feel like it is mounted on a couple of massive gyros. Go with the Shimano C24, or if you want deep section carbon, fork out for the ENVEs and Zipps of this world. My article about aero wheels here. If you must get deep carbon tubs, then set pair will serve you very well. Weight: 1396 g claimed, 1,460g actual (pair) RRP in USD: $2700 You can buy the C50 tubular wheels for $2500 here  or
for $2145 at Wiggle.
Watch out for fakes, there seem to be a lot of them for sale.The C50 clincher wheel has an aluminium rim and sells for $1450  . However these wheels don't offer much aerodynamic advantage to the C24 and are heavier and cost more, so the C24 at $916
or
$798 at Wiggle
gets my recommendation for everyday use.
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Stages Dura-Ace power meter Power meter Stages has obviously forked out a lot to get their power meters on Sky's bikes. 'If it is OK for Sky then it is OK for me', is what they are hoping we'll be thinking. And we are! Despite concerns about taking data from only the left leg, the low weight and price are enough to make us overlook this. For more info on power meters, please check my article here. You can get the Ultegra or 105 version for $100 and $200 less, but if you have Dura-Ace cranks, you're not going to want a mismatch. It would be like wearing a Rolex watch with a Seiko strap. Weight: 15g RRP in USD: $900 You can find a dealer here: stagescycling.com/dealers. I've not found anywhere selling these at a discount yet. | |
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Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 ST-9070 - 11 Speed Levers I'm glad to report that the Dura-Ace and Ultegra Di2 levers are interchangable. The Ultegra levers look just as good, and are 76g heavier for the pair, but you will save about $350 (half price). Both levers use the E-tube wiring system. You need to ensure that all firmware is up-to-date to get everything to work together properly. To do this you will either need to: 1) Take it to your local bike shop to upgrade. 2) Buy an internal BCR2 seatpost Di2 battery. The charger doubles as a PC connector so you can use e-Tube software at home. The charger and battery costs about $250. 3) Buy a PCE1 PC Interface Device for about $250. This plugs into a laptop USB port and a lever port. You then update using e-Tube software. Shimano did think one thing to push you to upgrade. Part SW-7972 are little buttons that are mounted on the inside of your bars under the hoods, and allow you to bang it into the 11 sprocket without coming off the drops. You can't fit these to the Ultegra levers. Overall, Dura-Ace or Ultegra, these are beautiful shifters which feel superb in your hands and of course brake and shift perfectly. Weight: 237g pair RRP in USD: $861 pair The Shifter set (left and right shifters) sells for $699  . The Ultegra ST-6870 Di2 STI Lever Set is $349
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Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 RD-9070 - 11 Speed Rear Derailleur Like the front derailleur, this is a slick bit of kit. Faultless shifting yet again. If you go with the Ultegra version, you'll have an extra 43g of bulbous motor popping out at you. Ugly. I recommend the Dura-Ace version, although preferably as part of an entire bike as buying individual parts is expensive. Weight: 217g RRP in USD: $830 The Dura-Ace Di2 RD-9070 sells for $534  .The Di2 Ultegra RD-6870-GS Rear Derailleur at $280  is cheaper, but bulkier.
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Shimano Dura-Ace FC-9000 HollowTech II Double Cranks Shifting is impeccable, looks are fantastic, chain ring wear is excellent, it is stiff (they all are though). Its one weakness is the weight. 53g heavier than Campagnolo Super Record and 61g heavier than SRAM 22 Red. Having said that, firstly it won't make any difference, and secondly, most riders will be using power meters. The SRM cranks come in at 858g for Dura-Ace 9000, which is a whopping 282g heavier than SRAM. Weight: 637g 172.5mm crank arms RRP in USD: $650 The Dura-Ace 9000 cranks sell for $453.50 
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Speedplay Nanogram Zero Pedals Speedplay pedals are light and are easy to enter as they are double sided. This Nanogram version is very expensive. Fabian Cancellara is using them, so they must be good, right? The pedal is light: Standard SpeedPlay: 210g pair Nanogram SpeedPay: 130g pair Shimano Dura-Ace: 248g pair Look Blade 2: 180g pair But some of the weight has been moved to the cleat, although if you pay for the Nanogram version you do get a light cleat. Standard SpeedPlay cleats: 118g Nanogram SpeedPay cleats: 89g Shimano cleats: 75g Look cleats: 68g There are some problems with these cleats however. 1) You can't screw them to your shoe too tightly. If you do, the release mechanism doesn't work. If you torque the screws correctly, they fall out. You have to use Loctite, which is an unsatisfactory solution. 2) If you live in an area with a lot of rain and mud, like Wales or Seattle, then the cleat mechanism becomes full of grit and stops working smoothly. You'll be fine if you are in california or Sydney. 3) The cleats wear out very quickly if you walk on them. You could carry around cleat covers with you, but who can be bothered with that? 4) If you are building a bike to be over the UCI6.8kg limit, then you'd want to put more weight on the pedal rather than the cleat. I guess we're talking about a few grams here, so it doesn't really matter. 5) They are comparatively expensive at $40  (comparing to Look or Shimano).If you live in a place with good weather and you'd like a really light bike that's good for crits, then go for the speedplay. Otherwise, stick to the tried and tested Look or Shimano (best). Weight: 130g RRP in USD: $630 The Nanogram is selling for $630  . Look for the Speedplay Zero Cr-Mo pedalset at $129 for a more reasonable price.
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Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 FD-9070 - 11 Speed Front Derailleur Well it has to be said, this is a pretty sexy derailleur. Shifting with Di2 is faultless. I sometimes find myself shifting up and down gears just for the fun of it. I like the little electric motor sound. I feel like a cyborg. The Ultegra version is 162g, so 48g heavier, and has added bulk. But it is about half the price. Let's face it, the Ultegra version shifts perfectly, and makes total sense. But the Dura-Ace version is the one you should get. Weight: 114g RRP in USD: $559 You can buy a Dura-Ace Di2 front derailleur for $350 here  . You will certainly get the best deal by buying a whole bike with Di2 fitted, or getting a groupset.Consider the Ultegra Di2 option for $211  .
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Garmin Edge 810 GPS It costs 50% more than the Edge 510 but for that you get a larger screen which shows routes. That's very useful if you're in a new area and you just want to keep riding. Stopping to look at your phone map every 5 minutes is a pain. However, it doesn't come with the GLONASS chip (the Russian GPS system), so it is less accurate than the 510. Apart from the price, there's an 18g weight penalty and battery life is 17 hours compared to 20 hours. The main reason to get an 810 over a 510 is for the maps feature. You can see a map of where you are and where you need to go. Be careful to buy the version with maps installed (Garmin City Navigator), although you can download free maps from the Open Street Maps Project. There isn't a huge amount of difference between the 810 and the 800. The case is the same, screen is the same, functionality is the same. Only the Bluetooth tracking feature is new. Otherwise, another excellent Garmin device that is waterproof, has long-lasting batteries, shock proof, light and small enough to look good on your handlebars. A must have for Strava enthusiasts. Weight: 98g RRP in USD: $500 The Edge 810 sells for $500  although if you need the bundle (HR strap and cadence sensor) it is $700 or $566 here.The Edge 800 now represents excellent value, since it is essentially the same. You can get it for $280  .
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Shimano Dura-Ace BR-9000 Brakes These brakes work well, are fairly light, easy to clean, and the pads are not expensive. Nothing bad to report here. The Shimano pads are also very easy to swap out, which is useful if swapping between aluminum and carbon rims. A direct-mount version of the rear brake can be purchased. This is for attachment to the bottom bracket for a more aero effect, e.g. BR-9010 Weight: 293g front and rear RRP in USD: $401 These brakes sell for $282 for the set (Black/Silver)  . Make sure you are buying a front and rear brake set, and not just a single brake.
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PRO Vibe Handlebars As used by Sky, Giant-Shimano, Orica, FDJ UCI pro teams. Internal cable routing is a nice touch. Nice and fat all the way across the top. Some riders prefer the stiffer PRO Vibe 7S which is the same shape but aluminium, although 95g heavier. The aluminium bars are a third of the price. Weight: 200g for 40cm RRP in USD: $400 | |
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Fi'zi:k Arione R1 Carbon braided Saddle
If you go with the standard model you'll be 50g heavier but about $170 lighter. If you fall off, your saddle will get scraped. On the other hand, your saddle is quite visible, so perhaps you want to get something carbon and special. Note that these wingflex saddle have a habit of breaking after a year or so. The plastic in the middle snaps, resulting in a saggy saddle. this has happened to every Fi'zi:k saddle I've ever owned (3) and also those of friends, so whilst anecdotal, it does seem to be an issue. Weight: 195g RRP in USD: $370 The Arione R1 Carbon braided sells for $245  or
for an Arione CX (169g),
$190 at Bikewagon
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Shimano Dura-Ace CS-9000 Cassette Available in 11-23, 11-28, 12-28, 11-25 and 12-25t The largest 4 sprockets are made from titanium to reduce weight. These sprockets are mounted on a carbon spider. There have been reports of these spiders collapsing due to rider power. This may well have been resolved by Mar 2014. The CS-9000 11-23 version is 1g heavier than the CS-7900 version but you get the bonus 11th sprocket. Apparently an additional sprocket makes your ride that little bit smoother. I don't notice anything. I've not noticed if wear is any better between Dura-Ace and Ultegra. I tend to keep my chains clean and change them 3-4 time per year, so I get good sprocket wear on both types. Weight: 163g 11-23 RRP in USD: $360 You'll need a new one of these at least every year, even if you keep your chain clean. The price of cassettes has really rocketed over the last 10 years. The CS-9000 sells for $208 (12-25T)  or
$201.23 here,
which is a decent saving over retail price.Look to the 6800 Ultegra 11-Speed Cassette, 11-28T at $80  for your training wheels. I've found that the Ultegra wears just as well and shifts just as well but is a few grams heavier. | |
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Veloflex Roubaix Tubular 25x700c Tires Pro teams are using 25mm tires this year, up from 22mm and 23mm. Such tires are a little heavier, and require more frame clearance (check before buying), but apparently roll faster as they deform less, and are more aero as they suit wider rims better. On smooth roads, the difference between a 23 and 25mm tire will be negligible. Rolling resistance is small in this case. On cobbles, I can imagine there would be an advantage. Tubulars would also be better as they are less likely to suffer pinch flats than clinchers. Veloflex and Dugast tubulars are the staple for the cobbled classics. Team Sky do not have a tire sponsor, so choose the Arenberg at $101 from Wiggle. Weight: 290g RRP in USD: $125 Veloflex Servizio Corse sell for $200  .The Arenberg sells for $101 at Wiggle. | |
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PRO PLT Alloy Stem This aluminium stem from PRO does the job nicely, without fuss, without being glam, and cheaply. In use by Bradley Wiggins and other riders at Team Sky (2014) and also by some riders at Giant-Shimano, although the graphics may be misleading. (Sky has custom colors, other riders have Pro Vibe graphics on this stem). Recommended - light weight, stiff enough for professionals and cheap. Weight: 125g (100mm) RRP in USD: $100 The PLT can be purchased for $60 in black  or $50 at Wiggle.
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Shimano Dura-Ace CN-9000 Chain This is an 11 speed chain. The old Shimano chains were the best wearing in tests. This 11 speed chain shouldn't wear any faster than the excellent 10 speed versions as the rivets are similar. I get about 5000 dry km per chain. Make sure you follow good chain maintenance procedures to maximize wear. DA chains used to require being mounted in one direction, but this has now changed - they can be mounted any way. I imagine this is because so many muppets were not reading the very CLEAR instructions supplied by Shimano, then complaining about a noisy drive chain and poor shifting. Shimano has also removed the slots that were drilled into the inner plates, yet the chain, being narrower, is 23g lighter. It isn't much, but it all adds up. Weight: 243g for 114 links RRP in USD: $58 The Dura-Ace 11 speed chain sells for $47 here  or $41 here.
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Elite Custom Race Bottle Cage Bottle Cage These cages are simple, light, cheap and strong. Your bottle slots in with a reassuring 'thunk' and stays there, even over cobbles. As the cage is fairly stretchy, it can hold a range of bottle diameters. You'll add an extra $80 to save 15g per cage if you buy the carbon fiber version. So save $160 for a 30g weight penalty which makes sense. Recommended bottle cage - cheap, light, holds bottles securely, and you get a choice of colors. Weight: 42g RRP in USD: $19.99 You can buy the Custom Race for $18.81 here  .
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