Improving bike ride quality even on an alum bike frame with Carbon fiber stem and drop bar

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
April  13, 2018

                                 Aero, shallow reach, compact design, 12 k ang weave ng carbon

Its April 13, a Friday.  Ingat po sa bike ride kung naniniwala ka sa mga superstition of Friday the 13th.

Two days ago I installed the  carbon fiber stem and drop bar I ordered from Lazada:  branded Toseek. it set me back P1,800 for drop bar and  P1,000 for the carbon fiber stem.  It would have set me back  P5,000 for the handlebar, and P4,000 for the  stem.  (That is about 3x) if bought at commercial bike shops.

The bar is carbon 12 k ata, aero, but a little bit fatter so it was so easy to insert the cable.   Wala pa ng 2 minutes tapos na.  Sa other model na P1,500, kalahating arawa bago maitusok.  Hiwalay ang cable line ng shifter at brakes.  Walang ligaw ang cable outer.

It is compact in design (shallow) 80 mm  ang reach, 120 mm ang drop

The stem weighs in at 120 grams, and only 60 mm in length.  Tamang tama...Dahil small ako

I did not realize what a difference a carbon fiber drop bar makes.   Parang bumili ka ng carbon frame in terms of bike ride quality. Smooth and vibration less.

It removes the buzz from the road, as does a carbon frame, the ride is more comfortable (since the vibration are insulates the rider from the  frame) And being that you can focus on pedaling and riding faster.  I should  have installed prior to Marinduque ride para di matagtag.

Who says  kailangan mo mga vibration damper ng Specialized at CV ng Bianchi to have smoother ride.

It can be unnerving though sa hindi sanay kagaya ko kasi the drop flexes and parang nasa barko pakiramdam mo pag nagdrop ka....

                                               Stem is mere 60 mm.   Tama sa short reach

                                          Completo nang bike:  aero wheels, carbon fiber seat post
                                           stem, at drop bar.  Branded alum frame - Freccia mere
                                           1.2 kg in weight.   Parang carbon na rin total weight

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

Nice and very light handle bar from Lazada by Ed de los Reyes

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines
January 24, 2018

I passed by the  house of Ed de los Reyes in Cardona and saw his newly acquired carbon fiber drop bar. it is so nice with holes for cables and very light. The ads say it is only 240 grams.  Imagine that. Some alum drop bar would be in 400 to 500 grams weight.   Who cares whether it is from China or  Lazada.  Magaan at Maganda naman

3K Glossy Carbon Fiber bike no logo from Lazada