OH YEAH!

I have a decent set of allen keys, but these are just so sexy and beautiful. Much thanks to Sam at CCACHE for inspiring me to get these, worth every single dollar. I love them!

Garmin EDGE 130 Plus.

I’ve finally caved and bought a bicycle computer, not for Strava, more for a speedometer than anything else (I used to use the old Cateye bicycle computers back in the day).

I ended up going with a Garmin EDGE 130 Plus. It’s affordable, tiny, has a black and white screen and weighs in at 33g. It also has the option for measuring power and heart rate if I want to go there in future.

Kocevlo vs. Specialized.

The SL7 stem plate has a hole in it which is designed for a Specialized stem accessory mount kit. In typical Specialized fashion it was going to be expensive at $71.95 AU shipped so on a whim I thought I’d buy a cheaper alternative from Kocevlobike on eBay (IE: Chinese alternative) for $27.20 AU shipped.

Turns out you get what you pay for (when will I ever learn?!). The main bolt that bolts through the mount to the back of the stem plate is too long (leaving it that way would literally have the end of the bolt damage the carbon bars) and the mount has a non-removable GoPro mount (all good if you use a GoPro but I don’t have one… yet?!).

Whilst I was installing a computer mount I thought I’d finally get the 4 black Ti bolts for the stem. CCACHE were out of black Ti bolts so I sourced some from GEAR Shop Brisbane’s online store (they’re the same weight as the OEM bolts so I assume the OEM bolts were titanium too).

Quality is night and day. Putting the computer on is perfect on the Specialized (the China one doesn’t allow the computer to click into place at all).

Oh noes… I’m becoming a roadie.

Adding weight back on the bike hurts more than it should, there’s still about 20g or so I can save from cutting the very long Hylix seatpost down, but honestly I can’t be bothered, more keen to just ride now!

PS: I also ordered a bunch of bibs, jerseys and socks off AliExpress as I’ve been avoiding buying brand name stuff (2 bibs, 2 pairs of socks and 2 jerseys for the price of one single MAAP jersey!), the company let me know that they were signed off on and delivered, but I never got them! Turns out there were mails in my spam folder from the local delivery agent, and they attached a proof of delivery photo, the doofus left the package outside on the street, and welp… the package was stolen.

Again, lesson learned. F AliExpress. I ended up putting in a $600+ order in with MAAP (one jersey, socks, gloves and bibs), ridiculously expensive but I hope the quality is great and hey I’m happier supporting local.

UPDATED SPECS: 2022 Specialized Allez Sprint Comp (size 49) in Tarmac Black/Brushed Foil

GROUPSET: SRAM RED AXS E1 rear derailleur, shifters and calipers, SRAM DUB BB, SRAM Red AXS E1 chain, SRAM RED AXS E1 cassette (10-36), SRAM RED AXS E1 crankset (160mm), SRAM X-SYNC chainring (50T).

WHEELS & TYRES: ENVE 65 Foundation wheelset, Continental AERO 111 front (29), Continental GP 5000 S TR rear (32), Galfer rotors (160mm front 140mm rear).

COMPONENTS: S-Works Tarmac SL7 stem (110mm -12 degree), Tarmac SL7 stem cable bat, stem cover kit and black Ti stem bolts, RaceWare 3D printed spacer, Specialized Roval Rapide handlebars (380mm), Burgh Lightning Bar Tape, Berk Lupina Short (132mm), Specialized carbon rail clamp, Hylix 0 offset seatpost, Xpedo Thrust SL titanium pedals, Specialized front derailleur mount cover, S-Works Carbon Rib Cage III, S-WORKS bottle cage bolts, Garmin EDGE 130 Plus, Specialized out front computer mount.

WEIGHT: 7.65kg (fully loaded with mount, computer, cage and pedals).

Finally got around to choosing a bottle cage holder I actually like. The AliExpress specials though super light just never felt right (sharp edges, kinda cheap looking too). I dropped in to Wooly’s Wheels in Paddington with Nanami this morning and she thought she’d try to pick out a cage for me, turns out the first cage she handed over was the one we were in the shop to buy haha!

I did take a look at a limited hand painted aluminium Supacaz cage which I spotted on their online shop. Would have made for a really good match with the brushed foil logos on my Allez Sprint frame, but they were showing signs of corrosion, not cool as there’s no way I’d be fucked with polishing up bottle cages! Shame, but I happily paid the extreme tax on a single S-Works Carbon Rib Cage III bottle cage instead.

As the sun sets. Went for a ride today to test out the new tyres and 160mm cranks. I’m a spinner, and well… I was spinning! Can’t say I can felt any dramatic difference between 165mm and 160mm cranks though. Same goes for the Aero 111 tyre. Can’t say that the bike felt any faster, but I definitely noticed a difference with crosswinds which really took me by surprise (I’m pretty pesimistic when it comes to marketing talk). Wasn’t the windiest day out but the front definitely felt more planted.

UPDATED SPECS: 2022 Specialized Allez Sprint Comp (size 49) in Tarmac Black/Brushed Foil

GROUPSET: SRAM RED AXS E1 rear derailleur, shifters and calipers, SRAM DUB BB, SRAM Red AXS E1 chain, SRAM RED AXS E1 cassette (10-36), SRAM RED AXS E1 crankset (160mm), SRAM X-SYNC chainring (50T).

WHEELS & TYRES: ENVE 65 Foundation wheelset, Continental AERO 111 front (29), Continental GP 5000 S TR rear (32), Galfer rotors (160mm front 140mm rear).

COMPONENTS: S-Works Tarmac SL7 stem (110mm -12 degree), Tarmac SL7 stem cable bat and stem cover kit, RaceWare 3D printed spacer, Specialized Roval Rapide handlebars (380mm), Burgh Lightning Bar Tape, Berk Lupina Short (132mm), Specialized carbon rail clamp, Hylix 0 offset seatpost, Xpedo Thrust SL titanium pedals, Specialized front derailleur mount cover, S-WORKS bottle cage bolts.

WEIGHT: 7.56kg.

NERO Show Canyon Aeroad spotted at CCACHE.

Oops, we made a mess.

No compressor needed to seat the tyre.

Sam adding sealant.

Actual width of the GP 5000’s fitted. Would be way wider on a rim with wider internal width (the ENVE 65’s are only 21mm internal). PLENTY of room in the rear chainstays.

Happy that the fat 32 in the rear has closed the huge gap between the tyre and seat post by around 5mm.

As reported by others on Weight Weenies forum, the 111’s come in a bit narrower.

Sam’s Factor. We’re twins!

Sam’s running CADENCE wheels on his Factor which are made by a guy in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney (they’ve got a great reputation out there!).

165mm SRAM RED crankarm weight.

I really wanted 160mm cranks but SRAM didn’t make 160mm RED cranks, turns out the new SRAM RED E1 cranks come in 160mm and there was a set at CCACHE so I nabbed them! Happy days!

The carbon shows through a lot more on the E1 crankarms.

Thought I’d weigh the Xpedo Thrust pedals whist they were off. Crazy light!

Dura Ace pedals weight.

Sad face. Bit of a weight gain but that was expected as the new tyres are way fatter than the ENVE SES tyres I had on there.

Hung out at CCACHE with Sam today to get my new tyres installed. Also splurged on 160mm SRAM RED E1 crankarms! Really happy with how fat the rear tyre looks, but the Aero 111’s look a little thin on the front in comparison. It’s Sunday tomorrow, worst day to ride at the park (Sunday drivers AND Sunday riders!), but I’m too keen to test out the new crankarms and tyres so I’ll have to go out and endure!

280g as advertised, but heaver than the 27mm ENVE SES tyres I have on atm (245g).

Marketing talk: Specially designed aero cavities in the patented tread pattern function as vortex generators, creating turbulent airflow on the surface that enables the air to stick to the rim shape of the front wheel. The result is a maximization of the sailing effect by delaying the flow separation from the rim, resulting in the ultimate aero wheel tire system.

I was just looking to get some wider tyres, especially for the rear as I’d like to close the gap between the rear tyre and the seattube. I was looking at some 32mm Conti GP5000’s as they seem to be arguably the world’s most loved and used tyre right now, but then I came across these Continental AERO 111’s so I thought I’d get one for the front (29mm) and will stick a 32mm Grand Prix 5000 S TR on the rear.