On Monday, September 18, 2017 at 7:18:26 AM UTC-7, wrote:
On Sunday, September 17, 2017 at 6:02:11 PM UTC-7, jbeattie wrote:
On Sunday, September 17, 2017 at 2:43:18 PM UTC-7, wrote:
snip
I don't know the wear characteristics of the GP4000S but would assume that it is slightly less that the Gatorskin whose entire purpose is to live a long hard life.
I have been trying to make a list of components so that I can keep track of lifespan but I've changed bikes so often until the last year that I have to start fresh.
Rather than those super expensive Campy chains you might try the KMC Gold. These are supposed to be "lubed for life" but I put so much faith in that, that I lube them at regular intervals. One of the things I do more carefully now is to clean the outside of the chain off. This seems to cut down on that thick crud build-up on the cassette.
I just got back from a 30 mile ride (50km). 12 miles of it was on a gravel access road to the San Francisco Bay Shoreline Trail. Since this was on my regular road bike with 23 mm tires, it beat me up pretty good. That probably doesn't help tire wear much and so I don't know if I can compare tire life and chain life.
I'm far more concerned about cassette life though since 10 speed cassettes are so expensive for a reasonably light version.
I don't particularly like Gatorskins because they do not roll very well and they aren't very good in corners. I tried the ThickSlick and it was a little better and cheap but when it got a cut the rubber started peeling away from the casing. Not a lot but some.
I tried Specialized Armadillos and they are very good all around. I seem to remember in the past that they got goat's head flats but the set I bought a year ago didn't get any. Their problem is the staggering cost compared to other tires. Almost twice the cost of the competition. And you can only get them at a Specialized dealer.
I tried the Michelin Pro4 Endurance and really liked them. They roll and corner like a sew-up. It was VERY noticeable. And I didn't get any flats with them. But apparently they had trouble with them peeling off of the carcass like I got with the ThickSlick.
So they released and improved version: The Michelin Power Endurance. I have a set of those on the shelf and will install them on the Pinarello Stelvio I'm rebuilding. I hope they perform like the Pro4 Endurance because I REALLY liked them.
It's not often when you can actually feel the difference in performance. I had an Eddy Merckx Strata OS that I can kick myself for selling but that was in my moving to carbon fiber phase. That was the most perfect riding bike I ever had - better than a Basso Loto. Though with any luck I think that the Pinarello will match it. The Basso flexes just the slightest amount too much. The Stelvio uses the same tubes but the bottom bracket isn't quite as low as the Basso and the wheelbase is 2 cm shorter. That should cure the flex.
For a CX I've had several bikes. The Ridley Longbow actually felt much better than anything else but both of my Redlines were faster though they didn't ride nearly as good. They were perhaps a little lighter but their geometry is such that you can jump off of them at the last second on these 25+% climbs just as the front wheel begins to lift. And they descend these drops pretty well with minimal braking.
So now I'm in a position where I'm pretty satisfied with my bikes and can keep track of component life.
Hats off to people who keep track of all of this, but it kind of reminds me when I got one of those early Quicken programs that allowed me to keep track of household expenses. It produced an expense pie chart, and a huge slice of my personal pie was the mortgage. Goddamn! Look how much I'm spending on the mortgage. I better stop paying that.
Same way with chains and cassettes. Wow, look how much I'm replacing those chains. I better stop doing that.
Once you've settled on a chain/cassette/tire brand and model, it's just a fixed cost, and it really doesn't matter how long it lasted. I've settled on my chains -- KMC comes with a quick link, it is reasonably priced and last longer than SRAM. I don't like the pins on Shimano chains and don't want to pay for a separate quick-link. I buy Shimano cassettes -- 105 level or above, and my tires vary somewhat, but fast tires are close-out Pro4 Service Courses. I bought four today for $25 (after discount for picking up in store) a pop at Western Bikeworks. Two will go to my son for Christmas.. It's a first-class fast road tire for a song.
Gatorskins are the go-to commuter bike tire, but they're over-priced and rarely go on a good sale, so I try sale table tires. The more durable, the more they ride like wagon wheels. I still have a Bontrager front tire that I got off a sale table more than three years ago. It just won't die -- and I want it to die.
OT, but Portland had the worst air in the US yesterday because of all the forest fires. It was a little better today, and I went on a ride with some friends -- and a few hours ago, rain rolled in. It's been dry for months. This will be great for the forest fires, the air and lawns -- but it signals the beginning of many months of riding on wet pavement and my annual quest for really grippy tires with good rolling resistance. Something in the 32mm range, so if anyone has a suggestion, let me know.
Shimano's chains now come with quick links.
I see that Shimano offers one, but I don't think it is being shipped with the chains.
https://www.coloradocyclist.com/shim...11-speed-chain It looks like a $15 add-on (for two).
https://www.coloradocyclist.com/shim...-11-quick-link Does anyone know if the new 11sp Shimano chains are shipping with quick links?
I used a KMC quick link with Shimano chains in the past on bikes that came with Shimano chains OE, so using a quick link has always been an option, but I just didn't like paying the extra charge when you can get a KMC chain (who makes chains for Shimano) with the link included.
-- Jay Beattie.