FYI, just want to say that both my wife and I have LOL-ed at the various exchanges regarding your advice to me on bikes. Thanks again for you advice and jokes.

mperlberg said:

@Marc - we were laughing about it on the ride home as well. 

I decided you have a son and can't be a selfish bike racer anymore. Instead, you must invest you money in a college savings program. I recommend NY State's 529 plan through Vanguard. 

https://uii.nysaves.s.upromise.com/content/home.html

Quill stem til 2030! 

Done. Peter already has a plan set up!

unfortunately you and Sarah don't make enough to save what its going to cost for college...

Jules said:

How freely should the pulleys on my rear deraillieur spin?

One spins like a top, taking several second to spin down, the other is pretty... sticky.

I overhaul those things occasionally. Just take them apart, clean and lube and get 'em spinning nice and easy.

To add to the CaaD 10/Super Six/Super Six EVO discussion:

mperlberg said:

I decided you have a son and can't be a selfish bike racer anymore. Instead, you must invest you money in a college savings program. I recommend NY State's 529 plan through Vanguard. 

As someone who has a son, the bike is the only thing you can be selfish about at this point. Take advantage of that fact and get the SSE.

I do agree with Mike on the NYS 529 account.

If DC Rainmaker says no, then you know it'd a dud.

Adam said:

If DC Rainmaker says no, then you know it'd a dud.

Yeah, but I do like the connect feature.  I have been trolling foursquare for some time looking for an app that would allow people to "check in" to a ride; no more wondering if you've missed the bridge meetup, or if there is anyone else out on Rive Road...

They say you can go on rides with Dan Martin, David Millar, Ryder Hejesdal and Andrew Talansky:

What about this dark horse?  With our team deal, we get the frame, fork and headset for about $950.  You can build it into a 16.5 lb bike.  The bike I most enjoyed owning was a boron steel bianchi...you can't explain how nice steel rides...you have to experience it.  

Are we actually now able to get the Ritchey frame in our sponsorship deal? With my travel demands, a Ritchey Breakaway has been on my wish list for at least a year. Last I checked, the frames weren't part of the deal. 

Jeff,

Thanks, I figure it's something that should be tested more first. Just looking into affordable Power Meter options for this season.

I am on their email list to be alerted when they are available.  I plan on getting one...(after I read some professional and user reviews.  I have a leg strength discrepancy...the spindle on my left Speedplay has a trench dug into from my cleat...the right side spindle is not bad at all.  Fortunately, the Stages meter read from the left crank arm.  It would be pretty simple to mount a Stages meter to a bike that has an srm or quarc meter and compare power values.  The price is very attractive for a force based meter.  yacks

So...even though I'm totally broke, I'm thinking about getting a complete CAAD10 through our deal.  I'm leaning towards 105 and saving for a decent wheelset, rather than coughing up for Ultegra and never upgrading to anything better than what I roll on now (i.e. Aksiums).  Thoughts?

twoyacks said:

It would be pretty simple to mount a Stages meter to a bike that has an srm or quarc meter and compare power values.  

Looks like Bike Radar did this with a Power Tap.

I'm not doubting the accuracy. The risk of being an early adopter is that the company could go bankrupt and you'll have nobody to service or repair your pricey power meter. 

@Jeff & Yacks - I emailed with Stages earlier today and they said the BB30 C'dale cranks should be shipping in March. I'm likely to get one once available.

@tito - haven't you been listening to the discussion? You should bankrupt yourself and get the SSE Black Inc. Otherwise my humble opinion is that a wheel upgrade is far more important than a group upgrade at the 105 level and up.

tito,

mugwump said:

tito,

Get the frameset, swap components, upgrade wheels.  

 

I had thought about just getting the frameset for now...but as far as swapping components, a large part of the impetus for this move was to have two road bikes.  One for racing and the other for storing in my parents' garage upstate so I can train when visiting.
Anydoo, thanks for the imput, all - basically confirming my own thoughts.

I suspect that the SRAM Force CaaD 10 is between the Ultegra and 105.  Since you're already on SRAM, you might be better off with this, as you can move components back and forth more easily.

tito said:

mugwump said:

tito,

Get the frameset, swap components, upgrade wheels.  

 

I had thought about just getting the frameset for now...but as far as swapping components, a large part of the impetus for this move was to have two road bikes.  One for racing and the other for storing in my parents' garage upstate so I can train when visiting.
Anydoo, thanks for the imput, all - basically confirming my own thoughts.

Which bike is going to your folks place, the old one or the new one ? 

Tito is right about the CAAD 10 105 option. He can get great wheels and a Dura ace crankset upgrade down the line. All of this can create a killer bicyclette!

Seriously Tito...you and I have asked the same question. We're like the same, except I am fat and you have a better mustache, but neither of us had to wear pink Vassar Cycling uniforms. So allow me to summarize the responses so far, I will translate/edit to your situation:

Jeff and Ragot say, "You are not a pro. Get the 105."

Adam and Jules say, "Get the fancy-pants bike that will arouse you to a higher state of being."

William DC says, "Stop the insanity."

JP does a cost per pound evaluation, pulls out a Ouija board, and sees you riding a CAAD 10 with 105.

Vlad encourages us all to not be pussies.

Malcolmson reminds us that we kind of suck and so it doesn't much matter anyway.

Ryan wants us to not get the crap beat out of us by our better halves after we bring home a bike we neither deserve nor can afford.

Good luck with your decision.

Yack says, "enjoy riding that new bike...which was manufactured in a Chinese factory, by either a political prisoner or a child who has been tethered to an assembly line with a paint gun filled with the blood of dissidents."