Time: VXS, VXRS, ...?

[Claus Assmann]

Does anyone have some experience with the Time frames that (s)he
could share? I want to buy one of the Time models but I don't know
enough about the differences to decide (yet). My main purpose is
for "training" rides (I'm not racing, but I'm trying to go fast...)
which last about 1-3h (most a bit more than 1h, some 2:30-3h).
The rides are in "hilly" terrain (about 700m climb on the 1h ride),
so I'm looking for a light bike (in case someone suggests that the
rider should lose weight before looking for a "light" bike: I'm
175cm, 60kg, which means I'm at the low end already).

My current bike is a Serotta Atlanta which is a a great bike, but
it's about 10 years old and after about 1:30h of riding I have a
lot of pain in the left shoulder. For the first 4 years I had the
bike I didn't have that problem. What changed is:

o I moved to a different country where the roads are significantly
worse that what I was used too.
o I broke the collarbone some years ago (and just recently again).

It seems that the ride with a carbon bike is "smoother" than with
the Serotta (which has an aluminium fork), at least that's what I
learned during my test rides in the summer.

Any feedback on those Time frames? TIA!

[Chris Neary]

>My current bike is a Serotta Atlanta which is a a great bike, but
>it's about 10 years old and after about 1:30h of riding I have a
>lot of pain in the left shoulder. For the first 4 years I had the
>bike I didn't have that problem. What changed is:
>
>o I moved to a different country where the roads are significantly
>worse that what I was used too.
>o I broke the collarbone some years ago (and just recently again).

And you got 10 years older....

>It seems that the ride with a carbon bike is "smoother" than with
>the Serotta (which has an aluminium fork), at least that's what I
>learned during my test rides in the summer.

Why not put a carbon fork on your Serotta?

Just some random thoughts....



Chris Neary


"Science, freedom, beauty, adventure: what more could
you ask of life? Bicycling combined all the elements I
loved" - Adapted from a quotation by Charles Lindbergh

[Ryan Cousineau]

In article >,
Chris Neary > wrote:

> >My current bike is a Serotta Atlanta which is a a great bike, but
> >it's about 10 years old and after about 1:30h of riding I have a
> >lot of pain in the left shoulder. For the first 4 years I had the
> >bike I didn't have that problem. What changed is:
> >
> >o I moved to a different country where the roads are significantly
> >worse that what I was used too.
> >o I broke the collarbone some years ago (and just recently again).
>
> And you got 10 years older....
>
> >It seems that the ride with a carbon bike is "smoother" than with
> >the Serotta (which has an aluminium fork), at least that's what I
> >learned during my test rides in the summer.
>
> Why not put a carbon fork on your Serotta?
>
> Just some random thoughts....

Another random thought is that a position change (possibly to emulate
the bike you test-rode) might be more in order. Given that you are 10
years older, riding rougher roads, and have a gibbled shoulder, you
might want to get the bars up higher.

I'd also consider running wider tires if you have the clearance, but the
position is likely the first thing to fix.

That said, the Times are perfectly nice bikes, and I am unwilling to be
the person to tell you not to buy a new bike, even if the only reason to
buy one is because you want to.

Full disclosure: I am an enthusiastic buyer of used bicycles, and will
generally encourage others to increase the available supply of used
bikes if possible.

So, um, what size is the Serotta?

--
Ryan Cousineau http://www.wiredcola.com/
"I don't want kids who are thinking about going into mathematics
to think that they have to take drugs to succeed." -Paul Erdos