Take the C Train: Campagnolo Centaur Drive Train

The "C" could be for Campagnolo or Centaur. It could stand for ciclismo, cappuccino or campione. The C Train is open to interpretation. I didn't buy this trio of components in one fell swoop, but rather in two different purchases from two online retailers. It was quite fortunate timing for me to get a great deal on the 2009 Campagnolo Centaur front derailleur and then the companion rear derailleur and 10-speed chain in a span of a few weeks. Piecing together a gruppo can be an uncertainty, but with patience and a keen eye all will come together well. Not having put these components into action yet the most I can say at this point is I expect them to perform similarly to the previous incarnations of their Chorus and Record counterparts. This is what the "expert" reviews of the cycling media have concluded at least. As I've noted in a previous blog post, or two, it is natural with any technology for the design innovations to trickle down from the top over time. While they await their installation I can at least admire the shiny, polished alloy and imagine how they will look on the completed bike. After all that is half the fun, acquiring the parts and envisioning the full assembly in the mind. The other half, naturally, is the actual building of the bike. That day is not too far off.

Pedal Hard: Shimano PD-R540

I've only owned one pair of clipless pedals in my years of cycling. Those were early model Speedplays I bought in 1993. I used them for a number of years until I sold my Centurion LeMans RS and have had only my KHS Montana Comp mountain bike to this very day. I really appreciated the two-sided design of the Speedplay pedals, but I was often disappointed with the trouble I had clipping out of them and the hot spots I experienced more than enough times for my comfort level. This time around I decided to ride the larger platform of the SPD type pedal with the hope for better comfort. Because I don't have any history with this kind of pedal I figured I would start with a basic to mid-level model and go from there. When I learn the subtlties of the pedal and levels of quality and perfromance I can graduate to a higher end model. My research found the Shimano PD-R540 had a great amount of positive user feedback. It falls into the basic to intermediate level, and to seal the deal I got a bargin of a price. A price that is hard to turn away, so I didn't have to contemplate this purchase much. I'm sure I will discover quickly how well these perform and how to adjust to their little quirks, if any. Then I'll know what features to look for in a pedal when I want to upgrade in the future.

Mission...Control: Campagnolo Centaur Ultra Shift

By comparing the blog entry dates one can tell I'm not a prolific writer by any means. I created this journal not out of a love for blogging, but a desire to record the progress of the making of a bicycle from the ground up. The coming together of parts has been a slow process. This has been in part due to research and price comparison and primarily because of a lack of funds to put into the project. This set of Campagnolo Centaur Ultra-Shift levers I've had for some months, just haven't gotten around to including them here until now. When I decided on a Campy gruppo I had set my sights on the Chorus components for their high performance qualities, but after some pricing of the parts I quickly learned I would have to consider the next model down the Campy line, Centaur. Reading many reviews of the 2009 Centaur group by both industry professionals and amateur cyclists put my mind at ease about the downgrade. The quality of this edition of Campagnolo's middle of the pack model is ideal for the amateur bicyclist who needs excellent performance in a price range that won't drain the wallet. The refinements of Record, Super Record and Chorus will not benefit me much at my level of experience and ability. The commonly held opinion of these Centaur shifter/levers is that they are of the same quality of the Record shifter/levers of a couple of years ago. This makes sense being the level of design and performance trickles down to the lower models over the years of product development.

There was a significant enough difference in price between the alloy levers and the carbon Centaur incarnation to influence my decision. The small saving in weight is not important to me either. With this piece of the puzzle in place I have a clear picture of a classic bicycle adorned with shiny steel and aluminum components. I've admitted to romanticizing about this bike capturing the style and aesthetic of the two-wheeled machines of yore, and now my vision of the completed build is ever more exciting. I may not have the skill and ability of Coppi or Merckx, but I will have a classic machine in the fashion of theirs.

She's A Beauty: Thomson Elite X2

I'm a sucker for the beautiful and pretty things in the world of bicycles. There are times I peruse the online bicycle shops and magazines just to drool over the $1000+ Colnago and Independent steel frames (also known as "bike porn"), and dream of the day I will be riding one. The Thomson Elite X2 was something I happily stumbled upon when researching stems. I have only owned one of this style of stem before, all others have been of the quill variety, and it was on my MTB. So this is the first with which I will be riding on the road. I had a whole lot of learning to do on this subject and started by punching in recognizable manufacturer names like Easton, Bontrager and Ritchey to get an idea of price and quality. Thomson is far from one of the heavy weights in bicycle components. Their two primary products are stems and seatposts. But do they ever make top quality stems and seatposts, and have earned a reputation for it. Thomson came to my attention by word of mouth (or hand in this case) in the bike nerd forums - a great reason for the existence of forums. After looking into the product I was impressed and even excited to secure one of these babies for my bike project. The Elite X2 is not only a gorgeous piece of crafted metal, its silvery body fits nicely into my retro-themed bike build design. Because most stems are black or blacker this shiny puppy was a revelation to find. I am now commited to going full on old school with all shiny, metallic components and am loving the thought of it. I had already decided on some brilliantly chromed out White Industries H2 hubs (yet to be purchased) so adding this stem to the mix convinced me I was already headed down this path of color scheme. Moving beyond aesthetics, the strength and quality of the stem is solid by most accounts. It has a 2-bolt handlebar clamp, as opposed to the common 4-bolt pattern, which for some raises concerns of the bars slipping mid-ride. I think when properly fastened this should not be a problem. Unless there are off-road conditions involved, then I think this design is sufficent. It's light weight coupled with strength. Should make for and excellent addition to the bike. And a final thought to add to all this adoration is when the product is high quality and design, as in this case, I will throw my money down to support the small company like Thomson.

Next Blog Entry: Campagnolo Centaur Ultra-Shift Controls (with Ergopower!)

Soma Smoothie...that's S-O-M-A Smoothie.

Out of curiosity I conducted a Google search to see where this blog came up using the keywords "Soma Smoothie". The results revealed there are a modest number of Smoothie related websites: a handful of blogs, the Soma Fabrications and SOMAfeed websites of course, a dozen or so online retailers and a few forum discussions. And there are tons of pharmaceutical sites, some legit some most likely not, advertising a Soma drug of one kind or another. Of the 43 pages Google produced for my search I found Immaculate Corpse: A Blog About A Bike deep in the pile on page 39. And that link on page 39 lead to the entry about the Silencer SL fork not the Soma Smoothie frame. I'd like for this blog to be easily found by those seeking info on the Soma Smoothie, or Profile Design Silencer SL fork for that matter. So hopefully today's entry will bump the blog far up on the Google search results. Wonder where I turn up on the Yahoo engine...

14 June, 2009 - a follow up to this post: I have since renamed the blog "Brave New Velo" in reference to the great Huxley novel in which a soma drug is dispensed to the population by the government machine in order to keep the people in a euphoric state. I was never satisfied much with the original title of the blog which I had only settled on because "Exquisite Corpse" was already taken. But then this bicycle does not meet the definition of an exquisite corpse anyway being I am the sole creator.

Sprockets! Now it is time we dance: Campagnolo Centaur Ultra Drive Cassette

Even Dieter's German sensibilities of fine engineering and precision have to appreciate the beauty, craft and performance of Campagnolo components. Having purchased a Record crank, rounding out a complete Record gruppo was a natural inclination. But the top of the Campy line comes at a steep cost. And for what really? What you get with most Record components are lighter, slightly better versions of Chorus components. The performance of the two are usually on par with each other with Record intended for professionals and amateur cyclists with piles of expendable cash. I would be completely happy "settling" for Chorus components, but in many cases they too are pricey. Although...one more step down the line is Centaur, the overshadowed, under-appreciated, hard working and responsible child in the famiglia. Campagnolo has made nice upgrades to the 2009 Centaur components, making them a fine alternative choice when top of the line and the highest of highest performance is not a priority, but rather reliability and bang for your buck. This 2009 Centaur Ultra Drive 13-26t cassette is a little heavier than its bigger siblings, but is more than half the price and still excellent quality. A "compromise" I'm willing to make. I went with a 13-26 tooth for greater climbing ability. After logging (or slogging) X number of ascents I might find I would prefer a large cog as big as 29t. That will be sorted out over time. For the time being I think this cassette size companied with the 53/39 chain ringed crank will serve me well. It appears now that the drivetrain and braking system of the bike will be a pastiche of Campagnolo - a little Record, some Centaur, and Chorus to complete the work. Not bad at all. The purchase of this cassette is also my first since learning about Pro Bike Kit. PBK arguably offers some of the lowest prices of any retailer, internet or LBS. Thanks very much to the current weakening of the GBP versus the USD, I got a great deal. I know PBK will be one place I will turn to over and over again for parts. Cheers mates!

Smoothe Arrival: Soma Smoothie

A few days ago the Soma Smoothie frame was dropped at my doorstep via UPS. There was excitement in the air as I whisked the box inside to open it. The dog was as anxious as I to see what await inside, poking her snout at the top as if to say, "What could it be? Hurry!" The back order period was about twice as long as projected, but that's OK because I don't have all the components yet to build up the bike completely. First impressions? It's quite light, I was surprised when I picked up the box for the first time. The finish is lovely, the metal-flake pearl white shimmers beautifully in the sunlight. The joint welds are pretty good. For a $300 frame I wouldn't expect them to be much neater than they are. The frame design is practical - rear rack braze-ons allow for the option of touring, functional with its agile and somewhat aggressive geometry making for some quick riding, and aesthetically attractive. General opinion is I got myself a good quality frame most likely worth every penny of its selling price. I'm looking forward to putting this baby on the road.