lonefrontranger
04-06-2004, 01:52 PM
Here are some nice shots of my 'nags taken by my SO at local events. The roadie pics definitely don't reflect the owner at her best, since this was my first training race after an extremely ill-spent but highly enjoyable off-season :) This year's preseason races have all involved impromptu attacks off the back, but with local races listed every weekend through September I'm none too botherered yet. I did use the side-on road shot as a guide to move my saddle forward a bit.
Colnagos are popular in this region for fast recreational and long distance organized touring folks. I also see quite a few of them at the local races. I'm particularly well acquainted with the Rona issue CT-2, generally as it disappears over the horizon and the rest of the field curses in disbelief wondering where she's hidden the motor on the thing :)
My observations on 'nags in general as full-fledged racing machines, forgive me if I ramble on as usual.
I have 2 Colnagos, a road bike and a cyclocross rig. I race 50-60 events per year in both disciplines and logged just a tick under 8,700 total road miles last year not counting the 'crossie (no computer on it). I was 2003 Colorado BAR Cat 3 runner up and the 2003 35+ USCF state cyclocross champ, so my bikes get used a bit ;)
The roadie is a 2003 Dream Plus (straight up, no B-stay) and the 'crossie is a 2002 Dream Cross. The roadie is the 46cm CTT semi-compact design and the 'crossie is a 50cm CTT standard geometry. Both have the same effective TT length and it's amazing with the difference in weight and geometry due to their intended functions how similarly the 2 'nags ride.
I'm particularly impressed with the fact that despite riding very small frames equipped with 700c wheels, I have not one mm of toe overlap on either bike, even with fat tires on the 'cross bike. I've had minor to moderate overlap on every other frame I've owned. It's not much of an issue on road bikes unless I'm trying to trackstand at a stop light, but it was irritating to downright dangerous on past 'cross bikes I've owned. Both bikes track stable enough to put a jacket on no hands, corner telepathically and descend like guided missles. That Ernesto guy is a true wizard of geometry.
I have a very nice locally built frame (Morgul Bismark) that I use as my commuter / rain / crit / backup bike, but IMO the Dream rides 100x nicer despite the fact that both are aluminum frames with carbon forks and Campag bits using the same wheelsets. The build quality and geometry on the 'nag is incomparable.
The roadie in the pics wears a 2002 Record 10 drivetrain with Mavic brakes, ITM alloy bar & stem, and (on this day) a set of old-school Helium tubies which I prefer as crit wheels since they are durable, stiff, functionally light, and don't act squirrelly in crosswinds. Record seatpost, SLR saddle, Speedplay X-2s. It's a mix true enough, but since I don't have an unlimited budget, it represents a racer's balance of weight vs. cost vs. functionality vs. durability. My USE Alien carbon post was indeed cool looking and gonzo light, but it was a PITA to adjust, the clamp broke 3 months after I got it, and the post came loose from the head collar after a year's worth of fun. I really don't enjoy having these things happen to me in the midst of a 3 hour race or a 5 hour training ride.
The Record drivetrain is a year older than the frame as it was transferred off a bike that didn't fit me properly. It represents one no compromise area, and while the levers do show some cosmetic wear, I'd rather my stuff function and last, not look pretty. A 2002 Chorus 10 build would be equally nice and it's what's hanging on the Morgul, however I like the fact that on the cold days that frequently occur in Colorado, the composite levers don't transmit the freeze to my hands. The groupset still works as brand new despite over 15,000 miles logged training and racing in all varieties of weather and road condition (including quite a bit of dirt road riding, a feature of the area), plus the random abuse peculiar to racing. The only maintenance cost of the Record kit has been a $40 rebuild of the right-hand lever. That cost reflects replacement of every spring and ratchet in the lever after a crash broke the internal post that the G-springs are mounted on. The lever never actually stopped working and functioned fine as a friction unit until I could get it in to be repaired. The cables are now starting to feel the slightest bit stiff as they're reaching the end of their useful life span, but the chain is still well within tolerance, the mechs are set-it-and-forget-it and I've not touched the adjuster barrels since build day.
I have several wheelsets and am considering unloading my Zipp 303 tubs in favor of a pair of Reynolds Stratus for road races. The Zipps are nice wheels but the hubs have recently gone flaky and the rear needs a full rebuild (I've replaced 2 driveside spokes). I do all my training on Mavic Cosmos with both roadies and the 'crossie as they are an extremely durable and decent wheelset for the cost.
Hope you enjoy the pics. It's nice here in Colorado!
Colnagos are popular in this region for fast recreational and long distance organized touring folks. I also see quite a few of them at the local races. I'm particularly well acquainted with the Rona issue CT-2, generally as it disappears over the horizon and the rest of the field curses in disbelief wondering where she's hidden the motor on the thing :)
My observations on 'nags in general as full-fledged racing machines, forgive me if I ramble on as usual.
I have 2 Colnagos, a road bike and a cyclocross rig. I race 50-60 events per year in both disciplines and logged just a tick under 8,700 total road miles last year not counting the 'crossie (no computer on it). I was 2003 Colorado BAR Cat 3 runner up and the 2003 35+ USCF state cyclocross champ, so my bikes get used a bit ;)
The roadie is a 2003 Dream Plus (straight up, no B-stay) and the 'crossie is a 2002 Dream Cross. The roadie is the 46cm CTT semi-compact design and the 'crossie is a 50cm CTT standard geometry. Both have the same effective TT length and it's amazing with the difference in weight and geometry due to their intended functions how similarly the 2 'nags ride.
I'm particularly impressed with the fact that despite riding very small frames equipped with 700c wheels, I have not one mm of toe overlap on either bike, even with fat tires on the 'cross bike. I've had minor to moderate overlap on every other frame I've owned. It's not much of an issue on road bikes unless I'm trying to trackstand at a stop light, but it was irritating to downright dangerous on past 'cross bikes I've owned. Both bikes track stable enough to put a jacket on no hands, corner telepathically and descend like guided missles. That Ernesto guy is a true wizard of geometry.
I have a very nice locally built frame (Morgul Bismark) that I use as my commuter / rain / crit / backup bike, but IMO the Dream rides 100x nicer despite the fact that both are aluminum frames with carbon forks and Campag bits using the same wheelsets. The build quality and geometry on the 'nag is incomparable.
The roadie in the pics wears a 2002 Record 10 drivetrain with Mavic brakes, ITM alloy bar & stem, and (on this day) a set of old-school Helium tubies which I prefer as crit wheels since they are durable, stiff, functionally light, and don't act squirrelly in crosswinds. Record seatpost, SLR saddle, Speedplay X-2s. It's a mix true enough, but since I don't have an unlimited budget, it represents a racer's balance of weight vs. cost vs. functionality vs. durability. My USE Alien carbon post was indeed cool looking and gonzo light, but it was a PITA to adjust, the clamp broke 3 months after I got it, and the post came loose from the head collar after a year's worth of fun. I really don't enjoy having these things happen to me in the midst of a 3 hour race or a 5 hour training ride.
The Record drivetrain is a year older than the frame as it was transferred off a bike that didn't fit me properly. It represents one no compromise area, and while the levers do show some cosmetic wear, I'd rather my stuff function and last, not look pretty. A 2002 Chorus 10 build would be equally nice and it's what's hanging on the Morgul, however I like the fact that on the cold days that frequently occur in Colorado, the composite levers don't transmit the freeze to my hands. The groupset still works as brand new despite over 15,000 miles logged training and racing in all varieties of weather and road condition (including quite a bit of dirt road riding, a feature of the area), plus the random abuse peculiar to racing. The only maintenance cost of the Record kit has been a $40 rebuild of the right-hand lever. That cost reflects replacement of every spring and ratchet in the lever after a crash broke the internal post that the G-springs are mounted on. The lever never actually stopped working and functioned fine as a friction unit until I could get it in to be repaired. The cables are now starting to feel the slightest bit stiff as they're reaching the end of their useful life span, but the chain is still well within tolerance, the mechs are set-it-and-forget-it and I've not touched the adjuster barrels since build day.
I have several wheelsets and am considering unloading my Zipp 303 tubs in favor of a pair of Reynolds Stratus for road races. The Zipps are nice wheels but the hubs have recently gone flaky and the rear needs a full rebuild (I've replaced 2 driveside spokes). I do all my training on Mavic Cosmos with both roadies and the 'crossie as they are an extremely durable and decent wheelset for the cost.
Hope you enjoy the pics. It's nice here in Colorado!