This pic says it all... (and more wheel speak)

[ergott]

http://grahamwatson.com/gw/imagedocs.nsf/images/06flanders/$file/11.jpg

Can you say classics giants! Three champions and the MSR winner.

I must take away at least a couple of points from TB for using black spokes. It's my thing. Silver hubs, silver spokes, silver nipples and dark rims. The other boys got it right. :D They did go throught effort to take the labels off the rims. I hesitate to guess that they are FIR ST 120s which are very popular this week every year (Jerk, are you sure they are Ambro?). Ambros have the label adonized (or whatever they do) so if they are Ambros, he got them without labels (he can do anthing he wants). The two look look exactly the same and there are no high rez pics yet.

[bostondrunk]

Those heavy wheels must have slowed them down by at least 3-4mph on the climbs compared to if they had used lightweights, campy hypers, or ada's....
imho mp bro cheers
:rolleyes:

[Johny]

What TIRES did they use?

[ergott]

Those heavy wheels must have slowed them down by at least 3-4mph on the climbs compared to if they had used lightweights, campy hypers, or ada's....
imho mp bro cheers
:rolleyes:

They have to give the other guys a chance somehow, don't they? I think they were forced to use "heavy" wheels as a handicap. :beer:

[saab2000]

I commented on this yesterday. The only thing I thought about was why Campagnolo doesn't have them on Neutrons. That said, the heavy and slow handbuilts didn't seem to hurt them too much.....

[Johny]

Those heavy wheels must have slowed them down by at least 3-4mph on the climbs compared to if they had used lightweights, campy hypers, or ada's....
imho mp bro cheers
:rolleyes:

They must have used ceramic bearings, ceramic powder and steroid lubricants...

[ergott]

I commented on this yesterday. The only thing I thought about was why Campagnolo doesn't have them on Neutrons. That said, the heavy and slow handbuilts didn't seem to hurt them too much.....

They are technically satisfying any sponsor deals by using the hubs. IMHO, the Neutrons have nothing on the custom sets they were using. The weigh was probably the same (easy to do with Sapim Race spokes). The ride is similar. The main difference is if a spoke does go, a 32/36 spoke wheel will be better for them until a spare is gotten. There is always a chance of the team car being caught up and being isolated. These guys take no chances.

[Fixed]

They are technically satisfying any sponsor deals by using the hubs. IMHO, the Neutrons have nothing on the custom sets they were using. The weigh was probably the same (easy to do with Sapim Race spokes). The ride is similar. The main difference is if a spoke does go, a 32/36 spoke wheel will be better for them until a spare is gotten. There is always a chance of the team car being caught up and being isolated. These guys take no chances.

bro I thought it was cos of cobble stones .. what did they ride last week?
cheers

[saab2000]

I am only speaking as someone who has Record hubbed wheels and Neutrons. I like the Neutrons better. Admittedly, my handbuilts are clinchers and the Neutrons are tubulars. Makes a BIG difference.

They will go with what works, that is clear. They will surely be using handbuilts again next week.

I wonder what they will use for Fleche Wallone and L-B-L and Amstel. They are smoother surfaces.

Thinking about that race again, it is cool to see a World Champ in the thick of things. Except for Freire, most World Champs disappoint the following year. Boonen makes it all look so easy.

[FlaRider]

Who's the guy in the Belgian champion's jersey?

[MikeM]

I thought that although the gruppo is Campag, QuickStep was sponsored by fulcrum for their wheels, and Tom (or Mr Boonen to us mere mortals) uses their new carbon light jobbies - http://www.fulcrumwheels.com/racing_light.html

Mike

[MarcusPless]

Who's the guy in the Belgian champion's jersey?

I think it's Serge Baguet

[BdaGhisallo]

Serge Baguet is the current Belgian national road champ. He used to ride for Davitamon/Lotto. He retired from the sport some years back, painted houses for a few years and then decided to give it another go. He won a stage in the TdF in his comeback year - 2002 I think it was. He is 37 years old, so he's not doing to badly for an old guy. Just after he finished working his butt off for Boonen, he had to catch a flight down to northern Spain for the Tour of the Basque Country!! Busy man.

[ergott]

Serge Baguet is the current Belgian national road champ. He used to ride for Davitamon/Lotto. He retired from the sport some years back, painted houses for a few years and then decided to give it another go. He won a stage in the TdF in his comeback year - 2002 I think it was. He is 37 years old, so he's not doing to badly for an old guy. Just after he finished working his butt off for Boonen, he had to catch a flight down to northern Spain for the Tour of the Basque Country!! Busy man.

Watson thought it was Steels. :D
http://grahamwatson.com/gw/imagedocs.nsf/updateframesetcall?openform&06flanders

[BdaGhisallo]

And that ain't Pozzato either! Pippo rides in Sidi boots and not the northwaves on that fellow. Hard to tell for sure but it's got to be one of the two Kevins, Van Impe or Hulsmans


Edit: oops! Cretskens it is!

[ergott]

And that ain't Pozzato either! Pippo rides in Sidi boots and not the northwaves on that fellow. Hard to tell for sure but it's got to be one of the two Kevins, Van Impe or Hulsmans

You're right!

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2006/apr06/rvv06/index.php?id=raceday/45

[ergott]

And that ain't Pozzato either! Pippo rides in Sidi boots and not the northwaves on that fellow. Hard to tell for sure but it's got to be one of the two Kevins, Van Impe or Hulsmans


Cretksens it is.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2006/apr06/rvv06/index.php?id=raceday/9

[BarryG]

Watson thought it was Steels.
Graham is off a year.

[Johny]

I thought that although the gruppo is Campag, QuickStep was sponsored by fulcrum for their wheels, and Tom (or Mr Boonen to us mere mortals) uses their new carbon light jobbies - http://www.fulcrumwheels.com/racing_light.html

Mike

Campag and fulcrum are virtually the same company. Don't tell shimano fans though... :D

[CalfeeFly]

http://grahamwatson.com/gw/imagedocs.nsf/images/06flanders/$file/11.jpg

Can you say classics giants! Three champions and the MSR winner.

I must take away at least a couple of points from TB for using black spokes. It's my thing. Silver hubs, silver spokes, silver nipples and dark rims. The other boys got it right. :D They did go throught effort to take the labels off the rims. I hesitate to guess that they are FIR ST 120s which are very popular this week every year (Jerk, are you sure they are Ambro?). Ambros have the label adonized (or whatever they do) so if they are Ambros, he got them without labels (he can do anthing he wants). The two look look exactly the same and there are no high rez pics yet.

Last year (or the year before) Mobile rode Fir Zeniths in Paris Roubaix. The Zenith has offset rear nipple holes that make them easy to spot. You are right that Ambrosio has been a European race favorite for years. Most Americans think Mavic rules the Peloton because of advertising and sponsorship but Fir and Ambrosio make super rims. I own both.

[ada@prorider.or]

[QUOTE=ergott]http://grahamwatson.com/gw/imagedocs.nsf/images/06flanders/$file/11.jpg

Can you say classics giants! QUOTE]

bettini .pozato boonen
baquet zabel

[The Spider]

my 'super heavy' 32 spoke wheels ended up being 120grams lighter than my Mavic Kysrium SL. I'll take em back and get something with cheap bearings, expensive replacement spokes that costs more and weighs more too. :D

seriously, 32 spoke wheels might not be aerodynamic as some of the high end stuff...but they are very competitive when it comes to weight.

[DavidK]

I thought that although the gruppo is Campag, QuickStep was sponsored by fulcrum for their wheels, and Tom (or Mr Boonen to us mere mortals) uses their new carbon light jobbies - http://www.fulcrumwheels.com/racing_light.html

Mike

Fulcrum == Campagnolo

They are just trading under Fulcrum to overcome the Campy vs Shimano camps. For some strange reason Shimano fanboys won't usually fit Campy gear. So the Fulcrums are being traded as a neutral brand.

I have a pair of Racing 1's, and they are lovely.

Ooops! Missed that this was mentioned above.