Improvement in Freccia Celeste set up - a much lighter bike, better shift and braking performance

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
April 12, 2018

                                                         Left over parts from Jagwire

This post completed the installation of the Toseek drop bar (compact type)   80 mm reach and 120 mm drop.  At 200 + grams and Toseek 60 mm stem at 120 grams.  That is only 320 grams vs the total of 500 grams for alum, or a savings of nearly 200 grams.  It now very aero, and less buzz due  to flexing of the bar on rough road.   Wow

Then shifts and braking improved because of better bend of cables.  To aid the shift and brake performance, I used the left over accessories from Jagwire (used in Bianchi project).  There are nipples that connect the brake cable to the STI resulting in less effort to brake.  And crisper more positive shift.

I would not part with this Bianchi for anything less than P45K is someone is buying. Why:

      1.  Ultegra GS albeit 6600
                 FSA chainset  +BB              900 grams
                 RD   -  180
                 FD       100 grams
                 Brakes  350 grams
                STI        480 grams
               Chains     300 grams
               Cables     100 grams

               Total      1,510 grams

               Total                             2,410
       

     2.  Bianchi Light frame of only 1,200 grams
           Carbon fork                         400 grams

     3.  Novatec Jetfly wheelset at 1,435 grams

    4.  Carbon:

              1.  Seat post  -  Toseek brand     200+ grams
              2.  Handle bar   Toseek brank     200+ grams
              3.  Stem            Toseek  brand    100+ grams

                                        Total                 500 grams

   5.  Tubes and tires Continental  GP        500 grams

                                Tubes                       200 grams

TOTAL BIKE WEIGHT EST.              6,645.grams

Pedals                                                     350 grams      

Seat                                                        300 grams

                Total                                  7,295 grams.   x 2.2 lbs/kg  =  16,049 lbs.  Wow  

                                            7 days  delivery from Lazada. Ordered only March 31, Arrived
                                             April 6, less 10% if you use  Citibank, on a week end.  This
                                                   combo cost me P2,700;  the Fizik saddle which
                                                   is about to arrive costs only P1,000 plus

                                         Stem and aero carbon  drop bar weigh mere 300 + grams

                                                      Carbon Stem and aero drop bar

                                    100+ grams carbon seat post

                                             1,435 Novatec Jetfly seat post

                                                Carbon FSA chainset 53 - 39

                                 About  100 to 150 grams heavier than its sister:  Bianchi Oltre xr4

                                         Dramatic improvement in appearance and performance

         

                                                   Almost a superbike from Bianchi, top of the
                                                         line Bianchi Alum Bike -  Freccia  Celeste

Resulted in faster, more confident, more agressive riding... At mas mayabang.  Hehe

How does my repainted Freccia Celeste compare with Freccia and Specialissima pics at the internet ?

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
February 22, 2018

My repainted Freccia bike must have traveled all ready about a 1,000 km  most of them on training rides, and the latest was the ride from Urdaneta up to San Fernando. since it was repainted.  Its crank bolt (the non drive side got loose and was lost.  I had to continue the Vigan ride on a borrowed bike)

Its geometry and that of Specialissima are the same, but the latter is carbon and is much lighter than that of Oltre xr 4 (which I just got)

Let us see how they compare:

                                     Specialissima special ed.  Sells for $8,000

                                                           Specialissima

                                                    Freccia Celeste - sells for 2,000 pounds

                                                                My bike

                                                   How much is this bike worth now?

Building a lighter bike (lighten up your bike)

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
January 18, 2018

                                                       Light frame:   alum or carbon?  Some alum
                                                       frames are lighter than carbon.

Parts that make most impact on weight;

After being in the bikers world for more than a decade, more or less I now know how to have a lighter bike. Some measures are cost effective. Some are not.  The biggest weight contributors, they more or less make up 25% of the bike weight are:

       1. Frame and fork -  from 1.5 kg to 2.5 kg

       2. Group set:    from         2.00 to 3 kg

       3.  Wheel set   from          1.3 to 2 kg+

With regards to other parts:   stem, head set, bars, gains can be minimal.  So for you to aspire for lighter bike, think again....

     1. Frame and fork:

        Alum frame +  alum fork       1.4 kg say Mosso and fork   .5 =                  1.9 kg

        Alum frame +  carbon fork    1.4 kg say Mosso  and carbon fork  .4 =      1.8 kg

                                                   1.1 kg   say  CAD 12  and carbon fork .280  =  1.380 kg

With the new CAAD12, Cannondale seems to be throwing down the gauntlet to the competition in high-grade alloy. The numbers are compelling: the frame weighs just 1098g, which is 52g lighter than the CAAD10, while the fork – based on Cannondale's new EVO design – weighs a mere 300g. More expensive CAAD12 models get the HM fork, a scarily light 280g.

      Carbon frame + carbon fork   1.1 kg    +   .4 kg                                     =  1.5 kg

      Superlite  carbon frame + carbon fork         900 gms.   + 400 kg            =  1.3 kg

       Take note:

       1.  That carbon is not necessarily lighter or sturdier;  some alum are lighter than carbon and lasts longer and dont disintegrate on impact. Such is the strength of brands like Cannondale.  Alum frame that is lighter than carbon

     2. Carbon fork gain is limited to only 100 grams.  It has something to do with the steerer

                                                    Fulcrum Racing Quattro Alum wheelset
  2. Wheel set:

       Generic wheel set  local                                                                       -    2.2 kg

       RS   10                                                                                               -   1.845

      RS    11                                                                                               -   1.750

      Fulcrum 7                                                                                            -   1.845

      Fulcrum Quattro   350 mm                                                                   -   1,700

     Zipp                                                                                                     -   1,300

     Campagnolo Bora 2                                                                             -   1,300

     1.  Most of the entry level wheel set are from 1.8 kg to 2.2 kg. The 1.5 kg weight is in the territory of carbon fiber.

     2. Sometimes the wheel sets are heavier for being aero say 500 mm. But experts say that at 35 to 40 kph aero counts. Being slick can save you  up to 50 watts of power and that means a lot in racing.  Weight give you momentum and inertia to move forward.  For a 200 grams difference the price difference is staggering P30 up to 150t.  Only millionaires and riders with sponsors can afford it.

3. Group sets:

                                    Durace is the most expensive P68,000 now but the lightest
                                    at mere 2,000 grams same as Campy Rekord and SRAM red

   The lightest group sets are SRAM red, Campagnolo Rekord and Durace.  Around 2.000 kg total weight

          SRAM and Campy would cost just about even P120 to P130t (may nagbebenta sa Toyota Shaw P80t only  paluugi) at sa Sabak  P30t only for SRAM red)

          Ultegra 6800 and 8000 weigh about 2,550 grams,  6800 is sells for P17 k,   8000 for P30k

          Shimano 105 is 2,700 grams is availablefor P13,000 only.  For 4,000 difference the difference in weight is 200 grams.  Ultegra 6800 is value for money and is slightly lighter than  8000 GS.

The  value for money:

1. Cannondale frame say CAAD 10 to 12 with carbon frame

2.  GS Ultegra 6800

3.  Wheelset -  fulcrum quattro (lalabas daw si Christy ng tig P15,000 soon)