Quickstep sponsored by spam

[Bustedknuckle]

sp(r)am sponsored for 2012? Oh well, now they will have another excuse why they won't have any results in 2012...

Too bad from the best to the worse in one year.

 

[ElChingon]

Really surprises me being that Lefevre is so critical of malfunctions of any kind, including riders racing tactics.

So what will happen first:

* Broken Chain at a critical point in the race.
* Major mishift at a critical point in the race.
* Dropped chain at a critical point in the race.
* Shift malfunction at a critical point in the race.
* Riders using 3rd party parts instead of SRAM?

 

[Bustedknuckle]

Really surprises me being that Lefevre is so critical of malfunctions of any kind, including riders racing tactics.

So what will happen first:

* Broken Chain at a critical point in the race.
* Major mishift at a critical point in the race.
* Dropped chain at a critical point in the race.
* Shift malfunction at a critical point in the race.
* Riders using 3rd party parts instead of SRAM?

He should have talked to Vaughters or Cadel before talking to the money/parts guy.

 

[ultimobici]

He should have talked to Vaughters or Cadel before talking to the money/parts guy.

Vaughters I get, but Cadel? What on earth does he know about problems with SCRAM?

Although IMO the riders who complain about SCRAM tend to be primadonnas. Schleck, Garmin etc....

 

[Bustedknuckle]

Vaughters I get, but Cadel? What on earth does he know about problems with SCRAM?

Although IMO the riders who complain about SCRAM tend to be primadonnas. Schleck, Garmin etc....

BMC switched from Campagnolo, initially to spam. Cadel rode it and refused to use it...shimano groups were bought, their first year.

I think a groupset, frame, wheelset that provide consistent and reliable performance is what any bike racer wants. They care little about marketing driven pablum. Why JV didn't like a year with spam. Too many things failing or just not working, like FDers.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

BMC switched from Campagnolo, initially to spam. Cadel rode it and refused to use it...shimano groups were bought, their first year.

I think a groupset, frame, wheelset that provide consistent and reliable performance is what any bike racer wants. They care little about marketing driven pablum. Why JV didn't like a year with spam. Too many things failing or just not working, like FDers.

Contador hasn't had a problem with Sram.

 

[Bustedknuckle]

Contador hasn't had a problem with Sram.

He has far more serious problems than what kind of shifters he has on a race bike.

 

[Race Radio]

Contador hasn't had a problem with Sram.

Faustino Muñoz, Contador's personal mechanic, modifies almost every part of the drive train.

 

[ultimobici]

Contador hasn't had a problem with Sram.

My thoughts exactly.

I find the BMC/Cadel thing fishy too.

SRAM stuff works straight out of the box, just as Shimano & Campagnolo. In my experience, when stuff is problematic at the Red/DA/Record level it's the human element of the situation. People continually point out snapped chains a peculiarly SRAM issue. Well ask David Millar about his lost Giro stage, that was Dura Ace.

 

[ultimobici]

Faustino Muñoz, Contador's personal mechanic, modifies almost every part of the drive train.

I call bs. More like he's a competent mechanic.

 

[Bustedknuckle]

My thoughts exactly.

I find the BMC/Cadel thing fishy too.

SRAM stuff works straight out of the box, just as Shimano & Campagnolo. In my experience, when stuff is problematic at the Red/DA/Record level it's the human element of the situation. People continually point out snapped chains a peculiarly SRAM issue. Well ask David Millar about his lost Giro stage, that was Dura Ace.

sram groups in the pro peloton will have shimano cogsets, chains, cable kits and force or 6700 FDers more often than not.

 

[Race Radio]

I call bs. More like he's a competent mechanic.

Nope. He also uses little, if any, lubricate. Instead rebuilds the bike daily.

liquigas does similar. They manipulate the SRAM front DR on all their bikes and use a chain catcher.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Faustino Muñoz, Contador's personal mechanic, modifies almost every part of the drive train.

That's a bit misleading. He switches out the bearings to ceramic in order to cut down on any possible friction. He replaces some pulley wheels. It's not as though he's overhauling the drivetrain.

Plus, I'm guessing he didn't work on Nuyens bike when he won RVV or the rest of Saxo's.

Are there some problems with Sram? Sure. But the bashing that goes on is out of proportion with the issues.

 

[Race Radio]

That's a bit misleading. He switches out the bearings to ceramic in order to cut down on any possible friction. He replaces some pulley wheels. It's not as though he's overhauling the drivetrain.

Plus, I'm guessing he didn't work on Nuyens bike when he won RVV or the rest of Saxo's.

Are there some problems with Sram? Sure. But the bashing that goes on is out of proportion with the issues.

He actually uses the stock SRAM pullies now. A few years back he used the over sized stuff. As I understand that Muñoz pulls apart the entire bike after each stage.

The info on teams modifying the front DR came directly from a very well placed SRAM employee. They are certainly aware that teams are running non-standard stuff.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

He actually uses the stock SRAM pullies now. A few years back he used the over sized stuff. As I understand that Muñoz pulls apart the entire bike after each stage.

The info on teams modifying the front DR came directly from a very well placed SRAM employee. They are certainly aware that teams are running non-standard stuff.

Well, I believe that is Munoz' standard practice regardless of what group Contador runs. As for modifying the FD, that's the least expensive part of the drivetrain, other than maybe the chain. Not a huge deal.

I was reacting to your statement that Munoz "modifies" almost every part of the drivetrain. I have seen no evidence of this at all. None.

 

[ultimobici]

Nope. He also uses little, if any, lubricate. Instead rebuilds the bike daily.

liquigas does similar. They manipulate the SRAM front DR on all their bikes and use a chain catcher.

This has nothing to do with the bikes being equipped with Sram. ROminger's Colnago was treated the same way in 93 in the Vuelta, with even the tubs being fresh every day. Pity the poor sod who had to keep them sorted!

 

[Race Radio]

This has nothing to do with the bikes being equipped with Sram. ROminger's Colnago was treated the same way in 93 in the Vuelta, with even the tubs being fresh every day. Pity the poor sod who had to keep them sorted!

Really? It is normal for most Pro Teams to modify their non-SRAM front DR's?

To be clear I think SRAM plays an important role in the sport. They have good entry level products and have pumped cash into team, riders, and events.....but it would be silly to pretend that many heavy users do not have issue with their products.

 

[Race Radio]

This has nothing to do with the bikes being equipped with Sram. ROminger's Colnago was treated the same way in 93 in the Vuelta, with even the tubs being fresh every day. Pity the poor sod who had to keep them sorted!

Really? It is normal for most Pro Teams to modify their non-SRAM front DR's?

To be clear I think SRAM plays an important role in the sport. They have good entry level products and have pumped cash into team, riders, and events.....but it would be silly to pretend that many heavy users do not have issue with their products.

 

[ultimobici]

Really? It is normal for most Pro Teams to modify their non-SRAM front DR's?

To be clear I think SRAM plays an important role in the sport. They have good entry level products and have pumped cash into team, riders, and events.....but it would be silly to pretend that many heavy users do not have issue with their products.

Butchery of parts, front mechs included, has been going on since the dawn of time irrespective of make. To suggest that it is sub standard is ridiculous. Ask your mechanic mates on Pro Tour teams if they only mod Sram. If they're honest they'll tell you no.

Someone earlier commented that the use of chain catchers on Sram equipped bikes was indicative of a fault. They ALL use chain catchers, so ALL manufactures are making duff stuff.

Here's a Di2 equipped HTC bike with a chain catcher

And Fast Phil has one too!

Mr Schleck has one as well

So all that the presence of a chain catcher proves is chains occasionally get dropped no matter what make you use, especially if your name is Andy.
On the other hand, here's an interesting pic

No chain catcher and, wait for it..............



































A stock Red front mech with the regular, only for the public, titanium cage!!

 

[Parera]

You could probably add Bottom Brackets to the list of absolute crap SRAM makes.

 

[Race Radio]

Butchery of parts, front mechs included, has been going on since the dawn of time irrespective of make. To suggest that it is sub standard is ridiculous. Ask your mechanic mates on Pro Tour teams if they only mod Sram. If they're honest they'll tell you no.

Someone earlier commented that the use of chain catchers on Sram equipped bikes was indicative of a fault. They ALL use chain catchers, so ALL manufactures are making duff stuff.

I think Chain Catchers are great, I use one myself. I think the increase in use has more to do with the wide gearing ratios we see these days couple with their simple design.

But I do find it odd that most Pro Teams modify SRAM front DR's. I have not heard of this with Shimano or Campy.

 

[Bustedknuckle]

You could probably add Bottom Brackets to the list of absolute crap SRAM makes.

But, but, but, they are ceramic and expensive........

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

But, but, but, they are ceramic and expensive........

I think their whole line up of BB's is junk, LiarVativ GXP design is the worst outboard BB on the market ceramic or not.

 

[veganrob]

Sram BB's challenge FSA for the worst on the market. The PF 30 I had was so bad out of the box I would not even put it in my bike. Got a good one instead from RWC.

 

[simo1733]

What mods do mechanics do to pro components?