It's not about the bike...really

[rgmerk]

The winner of the queen stage of the Tour of the Philippines' bike:

http://cyclingiq.com/2012/04/18/joel-calderons-stage-winning-tour-de-filipinas-bike/

* Giant TCR Alliance/w some random Argon 18-branded fork.
* 105 5500 groupset.
* Shimano RS-80 clinchers

 

[ElChingon]

If its not about the bike then why are they listing the specs?

You can't say its not about the bike and then give detailed info on what was used as if to give it value, even if cheap. There are groupo's lower than 105 by the way.

 

[42x16ss]

If its not about the bike then why are they listing the specs?

You can't say its not about the bike and then give detailed info on what was used as if to give it value, even if cheap. There are groupo's lower than 105 by the way.

Maybe, but this is something a lot of people tend to forget.

A mate of mine races Elite A with current 105 and RS80's and it's amazing how often he gets the whole "How do you keep up with that setup? If you upgraded you'd smash everyone yadda yadda yadda" routine

 

[Martin318is]

If its not about the bike then why are they listing the specs?

You can't say its not about the bike and then give detailed info on what was used as if to give it value, even if cheap. There are groupo's lower than 105 by the way.

you're kidding right?

 

[Kiara is a rational girl]

I had one of those briefly (T-Mobile colors and all). It's not a bad bike, and I doubt I'd be significantly slower on it than my current top of the range carbon thing. Now, could he have won on one of those dutch city bikes?

 

[twothirds]

Maybe, but this is something a lot of people tend to forget.

A mate of mine races Elite A with current 105 and RS80's and it's amazing how often he gets the whole "How do you keep up with that setup? If you upgraded you'd smash everyone yadda yadda yadda" routine

True. How long ago was 105 the "new" Dura-Ace? I'm pretty sure you can legitimately say that at some point those components were Tour winning spec.

 

[42x16ss]

True. How long ago was 105 the "new" Dura-Ace? I'm pretty sure you can legitimately say that at some point those components were Tour winning spec.

Very true. If you ever look at the bikes from some of the continental teams at races such as the Tour of Langkawi you will see a surprising amount of Ultegra/Force/Chorus groupsets along with lower spec wheels.

A lot of lower level teams don't have the resources you would expect from trade teams but still manage to get some solid results in their bigger races.

 

[Boeing]

it is all about the bike if you are swapping out forks

 

[Notso Swift]

Very true. If you ever look at the bikes from some of the continental teams at races such as the Tour of Langkawi you will see a surprising amount of Ultegra/Force/Chorus groupsets along with lower spec wheels.

A lot of lower level teams don't have the resources you would expect from trade teams but still manage to get some solid results in their bigger races.

Try looking at the ladies pro teams