2018 TdF equipment overview

oldpotatoe · #1 07-31-2018, 07:39 AM

Since we all seem to have 'gear fetish'

, here's an interesting recap of the 'stuff' used at this years Tour.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/...is-years-race/

livingminimal · #2 07-31-2018, 07:55 AM

Serious question: do as many of us have a gear fetish when it comes to high-end road as we did in the past?

Though we can purchase their bikes, I dont feel nearly as attached or as interested as I used to be in the modern racing bike.
I cant imagine buying a production bike that couldnt take at least 40mm tires and have a slightly finer tuned geometry for all day riding.

I kind of look at the pro road bikes and see something extremely single purpose, extremely high-tech, and extremely unrelatable anymore. In a sense, they're feeling closer to TT bikes than a bike I would pay retail for in 2018.

oldpotatoe · #3 07-31-2018, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by livingminimal

Serious question: do as many of us have a gear fetish when it comes to high-end road as we did in the past?

Though we can purchase their bikes, I dont feel nearly as attached or as interested as I used to be in the modern racing bike.
I cant imagine buying a production bike that couldn't take at least 40mm tires and have a slightly finer tuned geometry for all day riding.

I kind of look at the pro road bikes and see something extremely single purpose, extremely high-tech, and extremely unrelatable anymore. In a sense, they're feeling closer to TT bikes than a bike I would pay retail for in 2018.

I think 'gear fetish' is alive and well but maybe a 'fetish' in the sense of a path to disagreement or 'discussion' more than anything. For instance, I can't imagine ever buying a production bike that COULD take 40mm tires..To each his own and what they want there bike to 'be'.

Still plenty of people looking at and buying a 25mm tired, road only, racey-type bike..what the 'big boys' sell the most of, still.

livingminimal · #4 07-31-2018, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldpotatoe

I think 'gear fetish' is alive and well but maybe a 'fetish' in the sense of a path to disagreement or 'discussion' more than anything. For instance, I can't imagine ever buying a production bike that COULD take 40mm tires..To each his own and what they want there bike to 'be'.

Still plenty of people looking at and buying a 25mm tired, road only, racey-type bike..what the 'big boys' sell the most of, still.

Yeah, makes sense. I just see the industry continuing to introduce and highlight bikes that will never win a stage in a GT (checkpoint, diverge, etc). That isnt to say there arent still tons and tons of road-only riders, but we're also at what feels like a point of technology-overkill with aero properties and integration with cockpits and cables, stuff like that.

bigbill · #5 07-31-2018, 08:28 AM

It's regional, each market is different. I'm moving to NW Arizona where gravel and MTB are king. Even the roads aren't good so it would be advantageous to have a bike that would take a 28 or larger. If I was in SoCal, I'd want a fast road bike because of the coastal rides with lots of people. Even if I was not in a fast group, the roads are nice and there'd be no reason to have oversize tires. I ride crap roads on 25 tubeless around here.

For the TdF bikes, they're race bikes, specialized for those events. You could show up for Tuesday night world championships on one, but I'm not sure you'd want one for your daily miles. The disc brake thing didn't seem to make much difference this year other than to complicate wheel changes. Sagan had disc brakes and still took a flyer into the woods when he overcooked a corner. I don't think they mattered at all, especially on the TT bikes used on a relatively flat course.

I haven't seen a bike in the tour that made me lust since the red/white Ridleys a few years ago, and that was mostly the paint.

merckx · #6 07-31-2018, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by livingminimal

Serious question: do as many of us have a gear fetish when it comes to high-end road as we did in the past?

Though we can purchase their bikes, I dont feel nearly as attached or as interested as I used to be in the modern racing bike.
I cant imagine buying a production bike that couldnt take at least 40mm tires and have a slightly finer tuned geometry for all day riding.

I kind of look at the pro road bikes and see something extremely single purpose, extremely high-tech, and extremely unrelatable anymore. In a sense, they're feeling closer to TT bikes than a bike I would pay retail for in 2018.

I am in this camp too. Pro racing machines are no longer practical for my needs. When I was participating at the competitive end of the sport, a pro race machine would have my full attention. Now I want a bicycle with versality, and comfort. My current Zank accommodates 40mm tires (with 57 reach calipers), mudguards for winter riding (with 30mm tires), and a race fit that is more relaxed. My template was the race machines from the 1950s and 1960s. They had all of these features.

livingminimal · #7 07-31-2018, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigbill

It's regional, each market is different. I'm moving to NW Arizona where gravel and MTB are king. Even the roads aren't good so it would be advantageous to have a bike that would take a 28 or larger. If I was in SoCal, I'd want a fast road bike because of the coastal rides with lots of people. Even if I was not in a fast group, the roads are nice and there'd be no reason to have oversize tires. I ride crap roads on 25 tubeless around here.

That's where I live and I ride PCH a lot! I have a bike for that, but I fair just as well on my more gravelish bike when I slap my 28s on it and go. I dunno. Just seems road bikes are getting more and more narrow, or mine (our?) tastes are expanding more.

If/when my Stinner Refugio breaks, I will be lining up for an Open UP or a 3T Exploro I think.

bigbill · #8 07-31-2018, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by livingminimal

That's where I live and I ride PCH a lot! I have a bike for that, but I fair just as well on my more gravelish bike when I slap my 28s on it and go. I dunno. Just seems road bikes are getting more and more narrow, or mine (our?) tastes are expanding more.

If/when my Stinner Refugio breaks, I will be lining up for an Open UP or a 3T Exploro I think.

I was stationed in San Diego for a year and rode around 5K miles on my road bike and only flatted once and that was a thorn near Escondido. The roads where crowded but decent. I think I was riding on some nice Vittoria clinchers in 25mm. Around here, I have to ride tubeless or suffer 1-2 flats a week, regardless of tire size. I've got a set of Altamonts with 32mm file tread Maxxis tubeless tires for my gravel bike and they're a great option when I travel with one bike, but I'm faster on the road with a fat 25.

oldpotatoe · #9 07-31-2018, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigbill

I was stationed in San Diego for a year and rode around 5K miles on my road bike and only flatted once and that was a thorn near Escondido. The roads where crowded but decent. I think I was riding on some nice Vittoria clinchers in 25mm. Around here, I have to ride tubeless or suffer 1-2 flats a week, regardless of tire size. I've got a set of Altamonts with 32mm file tread Maxxis tubeless tires for my gravel bike and they're a great option when I travel with one bike, but I'm faster on the road with a fat 25.

Copy to Jan (Heine)...

paredown · #10 07-31-2018, 09:40 AM

I liked the look of Sylvan Chavanel's Wilier--although it would take some doing for me to seriously consider buying one....

saab2000 · #11 07-31-2018, 09:55 AM

Agree on both counts. Bikes like this rapidly get to the $10k+ territory and that is pretty much a ridiculous amount to pay for a bike that next year will be called obsolete.

On the local FB bike classifieds there is a top shelf Trek Madone from 2017 with DA and all the best Trek has to offer. Selling it for 50% of MSRP after a season of light usage and is getting zero interest.

The depreciation of high end bikes is eye watering.

Quote:

Originally Posted by paredown

I liked the look of Sylvan Chavanel's Wilier--although it would take some doing for me to seriously consider buying one....

MattMay · #12 07-31-2018, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by livingminimal

If/when my Stinner Refugio breaks, I will be lining up for an Open UP or a 3T Exploro I think.

You’ll love the Exploro. I ride PCH then hop on any of the several canyon trails...Sycamore, Zuma Ridge, Latigo to Baller Mtn and Bulldog, Paseo Miramar etc. got the idea from Dave Zabriskie and his DZ Nuthouse gravel camp. 650b, 47mm. Also have a 700c, 25mm wheelset for pure road. Options are good, versatility is good.

AngryScientist · #13 07-31-2018, 10:36 AM

i'd happily ride one of these Argons. 25c tires are still A-OK with me on the road.

thermalattorney · #14 07-31-2018, 10:40 AM

Thanks for posting the link! While my "go-fast" bike is steel with 28s, I'm a sucker for new high-end tech. It all trickles down eventually.

johnmdesigner · #15 07-31-2018, 12:31 PM

I still ride 23s on the road.
I've tried 28s on gravel but too many punctures. To me a 32 Michelin is perfect.
Never ridden a 25 but I can't believe it would be a revelation to me.
I took the 7-speed, down tube,23 bike out the other day and was quite happy.
But that's just me. If you have the money for it by all means change equipment every year.