Road Testing.

posted 31-May-2012

In the morning we are off to Iran again on two VWRs with some spares in the bags. We are both running STI levers and are testing the New Sora 9sp which replaces the Tiagra 9sp. It appears to be identical to the Tiagra except for markings.

One bike has a Brooks B17. Great care has been taken to condition it and have it on the correct angle. Also to keep it dry. So let's see if we soften our opinion on Brooks this time.

We are testing the Avid BB7 front disc calliper.

One bike is running 700x35 and one 700x32.

posted Aug 12th 2012

Three of us a few days off going to Zurich to start a few weeks through Sth and central Germany.

One bike is a 2010 drob bar STI pretty much as it came but Tiagra cranks so geared up a bit. Another is a current DB STI that is going to get a new set of trekking bars that we are trialing. So it will go as a trekking bar bike. THis is the bike that had a brooks on the Iran trip in June. Since back it had the original WTB seat put back on and is most likely to go with the WTB. Still 32s on this bike and finding they can still be run fairly soft. Still Avid front calliper, the New Sora RH STI (which is the same as the earlier Tiagra). This bike is also trialing rear V-brake. This is because Shimano has now on offer 90mm V-brakes for drop bar levers.

The third bike is coming down from Canberra. Not sure which year but drop bar STI. Probably it is running 28s.  

By the way, after Iran, the opinion about the Brooks saddle has swung from overrated to neutral. Don't get them wet. Over a few weeks, you do toughen up a bit where you have more pressure on the saddle. And the saddle gives a tiny bit. If it gave more it could cave in so it is best that it is hard.