Comments:
--Sancerre
Bike Porn
I know we are the wild men (and women) of watches, but today I was introduced by a wild man named Bill to his 21st century state-of-the-art 18-pound bicycle. And priced to compete with a nice titanium Swiss watch, too.
This is not a tour de France bike, but a simple gentleman's express for cruising around town, up hill and over dale. Please excuse the pedals with toe clips and old saddle - I had to supply my own and without robbing one of my other bikes, this was all I had. At least they were Campy Super Record to go with the Campy electric shifting group on his bike.
Awesome hollow bottom bracket axle and carbon fiber everywhere. Including the matrix frame tubes of titanium alloy and carbon. These are welded together with some of the finest joints you'll see anywhere. Reynolds is the label on the seat stays. The seat post, stem and bars appear to be carbon fiber.
I had to let Mrs Cazalea click off a photo before I went inside, threw on my bike gear, and took off for a ride.
The wheels have 24 DT spokes and hubs with red alloy spoke nipples. I can't tell what brand the rims are - there's an argument for NOT making your logo so mysterious that prospective customers can't read it. Tires are Vredestein and quick release by Salsa.
The electric paddle shifters are just like on a Ferrari - nifty. But not as fast of course - and it doesn't make me go uphill any faster. The gearing is 34-50 up front and 11-25 in the back, divided by 20 speeds.
I'll add some other details in subsequent posts.
Awesome hollow bottom bracket axle and carbon fiber everywhere. Including the matrix frame tubes of titanium alloy and carbon. These are welded together with some of the finest joints you'll see anywhere. Reynolds is the label on the seat stays. The seat post, stem and bars appear to be carbon fiber.
I had to let Mrs Cazalea click off a photo before I went inside, threw on my bike gear, and took off for a ride.
The wheels have 24 DT spokes and hubs with red alloy spoke nipples. I can't tell what brand the rims are - there's an argument for NOT making your logo so mysterious that prospective customers can't read it. Tires are Vredestein and quick release by Salsa.
The electric paddle shifters are just like on a Ferrari - nifty. But not as fast of course - and it doesn't make me go uphill any faster. The gearing is 34-50 up front and 11-25 in the back, divided by 20 speeds.
I'll add some other details in subsequent posts.
Cheers
Cazalea
This message has been edited by cazalea on 2013-04-24 21:35:31
Great hobby
There's a lot in common with bikes and fine watches...both require state of the art engineering and precision.
Have been cycling on and off due to work commitments..but here's my contribution..
Bike on the right is a lust-inducing steel bike which is on permanent loan to a fellow watch buddy of mine...bike on the left, the canondale(since broken into 2), belongs to another friend, a photographer..
My ride for now is the De Rosa in the middle, groupo is a Shimano Ultegra SL, wheelset is a fulcrum 5(value for dollar)..I like this bike because climbing is easy with it, though the acceleration is not the best, judging from trying other bikes, such as the colnago C59..
Cheers!
This message has been edited by Cookies on 2013-04-24 21:29:09
Have been cycling on and off due to work commitments..but here's my contribution..
Bike on the right is a lust-inducing steel bike which is on permanent loan to a fellow watch buddy of mine...bike on the left, the canondale(since broken into 2), belongs to another friend, a photographer..
My ride for now is the De Rosa in the middle, groupo is a Shimano Ultegra SL, wheelset is a fulcrum 5(value for dollar)..I like this bike because climbing is easy with it, though the acceleration is not the best, judging from trying other bikes, such as the colnago C59..
Cheers!
This message has been edited by Cookies on 2013-04-24 21:29:09
That is a great looking bike
Biking is one of my passions, along with watches and photography (not to mention my family, my dogs, the outdoors...).
Here is my current bike - it was originally a Specialized Roubaix, but the frame was broken during a crash. The manufacturer offered a great discount for a 'crash replacement', and this is the result. It is a 2012 S-WORKS Tarmac. It is matched with the Ultegra from the Roubaix, along with the Fulcrum 4 wheels. It is a great ride, but is probably going to be that much better whenever I can save up from some wheels that match it!
The Tarmac is surprisingly comfortable, given its racing pedigree. My nearly 50 year old bones don't miss the Roubaix at all.
--Sancerre
This is the new hobby!
A lot of cyclers out there now.
I didn't know bikes had electronic paddle shifters?
Relatively new
Both Campagnolo and Shimano have electronic shifting. I probably should have put Shimano first, since they were to first to come out with electronic shifting.
--Sancerre
Not weight
Believe it or not, the advantage is not weight, and certainly not cost.
However, the precision and capability to stay in adjustment are much better. For example, the front derailleur automatically adjusts based upon the chain location on the rear derailleur. This prevents the chain from rubbing against the metal housing of the front derailleur. On my (mechanical) derailleur, I have to do this manually, but there are only two possible positions per chain ring.
Oh wait, it is really cool, does that count as an advantage?
--Sancerre
Thank you again...
Thank you again for the education and your explanation. This is much appreciated. I've been out of cycling for years (and I used to cycle with mountain bikes, not road bikes).
Yes, being totally cool does count as an advantage!
Biking has been my main hobby for years ...
... untill i got to ride my Suzuki bike at the age of 17 ... 
To me a bike is not about how expensive or hightch it is .. more about how cool it can be
Nonetheless i picked up a couple of years ago ... as i was given my fathers bike (who got it from his brother) ... must be over 30 years old ... .
... .To me a bike is not about how expensive or hightch it is .. more about how cool it can be
Cool Bim
agreed
that is a cool bike, and all kinds of bikes can be really great - commuter bikes can take on a life of their own, kind of how at some point an old car becomes collectible.
--Sancerre
I've always wondered about the brakes
Cool bike cazalea. I'm more of a mountain biker (riding a Cannondale Scalpel) and I've always wondered why road bikes don't take advantage of disk brakes instead of rim brakes. I know it weights more but if you're going to add electronics for shifting and all the carbon stuff, might as go big and all out with the hydraulic disc brakes.
Regards,
ED-209
Regards,
ED-209
Not worth the trouble
In my opinion, hydraulics aren't worth the effort on a bicycle. Cables are readily available, light, easily routed, etc. The advantages of hydraulic or cable-operated discs are exploited best on off-road bikes (muddy rims) and tandems (overheated rims).
I do have a disc brake on my tandem. And many off-road bikes have discs. But there are issues with discs too, as there are with rim brakes.
Cheers
Cazalea
This message has been edited by cazalea on 2013-04-25 21:51:13
SOTC or State of the Collection
Here is my current fleet of classic bikes:
Schwinn Paramount Criterium Bike Factory Chrome from 1972
Platano Touring Bike (custom made circa 1975)
Cycles California Tandem (custom made circa 1978)
Raleigh Professional (early Seventies) Mrs Cazalea's bike (repainted)
Thanks. I've had it since 1973
It cost me $425 back then, which was like buying a Roger Smith watch.
This is the earliest photo I have found in my box of unlabeled, unmounted photos. I was riding in a time trial
More of Bill Holland's Bike
Macro shots to display the workmanship . Note that this bike is ridden all the time, and was not cleaned up for the photos.
Cazalea
very nice. how is the power shift powered ?
is it a rechargable pack, batteries or regenerative from the brakes?
i have a pretty modern commuting bike with Sturmey Archer 3 speed system like the old bikes.
biking is very popular where i live as its very flat. all the main roads have cycle lanes and you see a lot of different bikes from battery assisted commuters through european style ladies bikes, single speeders like you see in US beach films to hi tech race bikes.
i chose a bike with the sturmey archer system as it requires far less maintaining than derailliers. you dont get that annoying grating if the cable is 1mm out.
power shift is really interesting. less effort for my right fore finger
G
Battery
They use batteries, which I think are recharged with a simple USB cable. The charge lasts months, if I remember correctly.
To be clear however, this is very expensive technology only found on high end road bikes. Having said that, the technology is already starting to trickle down.
--Sancerre
No more annoying grating
It somehow figures it out and moves the front based on where the rear is, keeping the cage clear.
Rear shifter and cluster
Cazalea
Here are some close-ups
Control box and finger button and lever (for up and down)
Battery (rechargeable) and front shifter (carbon cage)
Rear shifter and cluster
Cazalea
Big bike for me :-)...
36" wheels. Monster Cruiser. Wine caddy is a critical accessory
Cool ExoGrid!
Congrats on the new frame! I like how the Holland has the ability to run the lines internally. Where's your helmet? Safety first!
-MW
-MW
Safety First is Right
I only ride with a helmet.
And in the last few years, also wearing a bright safety vest or shirt.
Too many texting, talking, impatient drivers in SoCal.
I made this to show some other friends why I bother with the vest.
Animation is courtesy of Picasion (not Picasso).
In the earlier photo I just pedaled 20 feet so my wife could take a photo.
Cazalea