Recent comments

 His need is undoubtedly greater than mine poor fella

hope he gets back on his bike soon...

gonna send it to my brother in law to cheer him up - he came off on an iced up underpass this morning and broke his hip gotta have a plate installed tomorrow...

My Merlin Metalworks Sekonda arrived today, and it's really cool!

Pity it's too small for my fat wrists

The incomparable Joop Zijlaard:

As seen at the Gent Six, November 2008.

As to Red being more expensive than Campag or Shimano - yes, it is if you buy it afetrmarket - that's part of SRAM's strategy to turn it into a premium brand - the other bit is that the price to manufacturers using ti as OE is cheaper than Campag or Shimano - it's in SRAM's interests to get as much of it out there as quickly as possible.

Anyway, there's not point swapping the SRAM Red off for Campag - you might just as well get the Focus Cayo Expert Campa - mind you, I'd say you get better wheels on the SRAM version, more expensive any way. Which sort of proves my point about SRAM Red being expensive as an after market option but less expensive as original equipment.

As to all reviews of SRAM's road gruppos being universally good - mine wasn't and the original reviews of Force were decidedly mixed. I've ridden Force and I liked everything about it, except the shift itself, the shifting action was fine, but the actual shifts were sticky, and it missed quite a few, and it wasn't good under pressure. Give me Ultegra SL any day. I've put in a few miles on Red and ridden Dura Ace 7900 too - I'll take the latter - just. Mind you, I've met people paid to ride both Dura Ace and Red and who don't like either of them*… there's no pleasing some.

*Not that you'd get them to say that on the record (if you'll pardon the pun).

'Sure the SRAM Red is wonderfully slick, easy to get used to, but is it worth the extra money over say Campag Record or Chorus - not in my books.'

Bizarre as every other review I've read of the SRAM Red groupo beats Campy and shimano hands down.

For me I agree with the reviews the SRAM Red and Force are way above anything campy have done so far.

Then again I haven't ridden and 11 speed setup yet...

I must get back to track riding again this season.

I loved the Derny paced sessions, lapping at 30+ in a pace line behind the Derny as he cranks it up each lap until you can't hold on....that used to hurt.

The Devil was always a good race, but I only ever won a Kierin, so that happens to be my favorite for some reason. I have missed the last 2 track seasons due to a love affair with my road bikes and Alpine climbs of recent times.

This is another topic... I wear either an old RF Aquanort jacket - the one with LOADS of 3m seam piping or my new Altura Nightvision Jacket ( black version). For cold dark nights I put on a pair of Ron Hill Tracksters - the every old ones covered in reflective ink. Footwear? a pair of C-Dale urban shoes - look like black trainers with SPDs and even more 3M.

Nothing YELLOW!

Must look like something from the movie TRON.

Could be down to things like muscle memory - maybe you are just more used to riding the Kinesis, the way it handles the most efficient pedalling styles - it it's heavier maybe it's quicker on the downhill bits - well maybe.

Or possibly your were warmed up for the second ride… It is odd, because it must come down to something like how comfortable you are on the bike because as you say if you are putting the same amount of power into a lighter bike it should be quicker surely.

hope vision 4 led to see

selection of blinking cateyes and reflective tape to be seen

I can't bring myself to wear hi-vis