airosen

Very interesting thread.
While I agree about the rise of electronic shifting, I also think deep-section rims are here to stay.

patentcad

My assistant Larry just got that bike (he bought a used 2007). He loves his Triumph.

patentcad

I think electronic shifting moving into the mainstream is inevitable, but it will take five years to become better/cheaper/lighter and gain widespread adoption, even on the high end. It has to offer major advantages for me to want it on my bike (I'm extremely leery of anything that complicates cycling gear further, and battery operated electronics certainly do that).

Deep section rims are here to stay. A ride today on my Williams 38c's convinced me. They are faster, you can't really tell until you race or ride competitively, but I strongly felt they gave me a aero Zipp-like edge on that ride today in a clincher wheel that's not much heavier than Ksyriums or other light boxy clincher rims. They're comfortable, appear to be VERY durable, they look great. Any weight penalty on climbs is largely offset by their lateral rigidity (rear wheel doesn't flex under torque going uphill). Why wouldn't you want a training rim that helps you on competitive or group rides.

Any time you're riding with other people and they're riding harder than you feel like riding - you're on a competitive ride where an aero rim might help.

shapelike

More white bikes.

12345Michael543

Many of those people who bought bikes a year back - when gasoline was 4 bucks per gallon in the US, and looked to be going nowhere but up - will recognize that they rode their bikes twice, and they've been stored in the garage for the past year.

Now, with gasoline prices under $2/gallon, they'll be listing their generally mint condition bikes on eBay and craigslist, in order to free up some more room in the garage for the SUVs.

For you amateur astronomers out there, it's a lot like the way plenty of mint condition telescopes flooded the used market in the late 90s (a couple of years after all the media attention paid to comets Hale-Bopp and Hyakutake caused telescope sales to soar).
--
Michael

Campag4life

Thanks. I know you are an avid motorcyclist like I am. I have wanted one for a while and quite a story how I bought this bike. It is an '09 with 5 miles on it. The new Bonnies are injected and Triumph nailed the fuel delivery on them. The thing with the Bonnie other than nostalgia and pure design is the balance. A far cry from the venerated Bonneville that started the whole superbike craze...4V/cyl and twin counter rotating shafts to quell the vertical twin vibration. No ducati but a well balanced bike for weekend riding with std mid controls versus cruiser riding position.
Couple more pics...Come on spring...

CrimsonKarter21

Wait... How can a used telescope be anything but mint condition, unless it was dropped?

FlashBazbo

Most people don't ride at 17* yaw angles, so they can't take advantage of the negative drag. I think they'll notice the difference -- especially hauling those (relatively) heavy wheels up mountains.

Then, there's the matter of riding in a pack/peloton. No real aero advantage there. But there's gyro effect once you get them up to speed.

Of course, OTOH, there's the whole placebo effect thing. If you think they're faster, they might be, for you. If enough believe . . .

bigtea

Titanium could become very popular for club, recreational, and fitness riders who are seeking long term value instead of me-too, disposable carbon.

WxGuesser

fixed gear bikes/riding.... i'm not talking about hipsters either..

Mike_Like_Bike

Packing heat.

grolby

I don't know about most people, but you appear to have paid no attention whatsoever to the data. Aero wheels make you faster. That's been definitively established, "negative drag" notwithstanding. And given that you can build a 50+mm carbon tubular wheelset to <1400g, they don't make for much of a penalty going uphill. No, aero wheels are here to stay.

patentcad

The thing about that Bonnie that blows my mind is how authentically retro it looks, but it's a modern, reliable motorcycle. He rode it to work most days from May through late October, he put about 6K miles on the bike. I only ride my own motorcycle about 3K miles annually. Almost wanted to take the ST out today (high 40's here) but the top of my driveway is still a sheet of friggin ice. Oh well.

So I washed it instead. Sigh. Back in the garage. It needs tires again anyway.

Impulse666

affordable powermeters would be nice.

12345Michael543

The tube can suffer various types of minor cosmetic damage. The scope can be missing minor items - stuff like caps, knobs, sleeves, etc., or more major items - like the spider and secondary (don't ask me how this winds up lost, but I've known it to be the case). On an older reflector, the mirror may need recoating. Many modern telescopes include electronics to some degree (digital setting circles, electric focusers, tracking mounts, etc.), for which controllers, cables, battery packs, etc., may be missing.

So not every used telescope is necessarily in mint condition, even if it's never been dropped. Even though with reasonable care and only minor maintenance, many telescopes are capable of performing very nicely for generations.
--
Michael

waterrockets 

Winning.

markwebb

Naw, all those fixie pot smoking dope dealing tatooed mullet-headed hipsters are gonna dry up and blow away in 2009.

That's what they deserve for ruining so many good vintage steel bikes.

waterrockets 

There's also the gradual oxidation of the mirror surfaces (unless it's a refractor). Any mistreatment trying to clean the optical surfaces will cause microscopic scratches.

GP

Sweet.

Yotsko

Now, how is the economy going to get better with attitudes like that?

roccobike

+1, The greedy carbon fiber manufacturers that were talking about a shortage of carbon fiber in 2007, will will suddenly find production capacity to support the bike industry. Slack sales will drive at least one manufacturer to do what CrimsonKarter21 said, introduce a $1500 (or less) carbon road bike. Several other manufacturers will follow as soon as one of them makes the move.
Add: BTW, BD is selling one for $1100. It seems reasonable that someone else will tack on $400 and sell one through the LBS network.

f4rrest

Investment-grade metal frames for me from now on: gold, platinum, etc.

johnybutts

powertaps are affordable imo.. wired for $600... im no rich guy but for people commiting 10+ hrs a week to training, this is affordable.

doomkin

cyclocross.

kudude

good aero wheels are still lighter than the elites I race on. Therefore to me, and everyone else who doesn't have a sub 1300gm set --> aero = better.


Also, I think cycling itself will be more popular. Go Lance! will be the battle cry.....until August