Hampton Cycles http://hamptoncycles.posterous.com Authorized Specialized dealer 353 Hampton St Hampton Vic Australia. www.hamptoncycles.com.au (03) 9521-8700 posterous.com Tue, 15 Nov 2011 16:16:00 -0800 Read here about Specialized S-Works Turbo tyres and why the latest are so much better http://hamptoncycles.posterous.com/read-here-about-specialized-s-works-turbo-tyr http://hamptoncycles.posterous.com/read-here-about-specialized-s-works-turbo-tyr

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S-Works Turbo mounted to my awesome ENVE 45 clinchers

I have trained on, raced on, recommended Conti GP4000S tyres for the past 2-3 years with great all round durability, relatively good handling and speed to their durability. In my opinion no other tyre I had tried ticked all 3 boxes as high as these Clincher tyres.

I had tried the previous edition Specialized S-Works tyres last year and managed to get 2 different punctures in 2 days on a brand new pair. Not what my faithful Conti's had ever done. Hey it might have been bad luck, but they definitely werent going to be for me for an everyday tyre. Sure the S-Works seemed to handle better than the GP4000S's but I wasn't keen on changing tyres every 1000kms or so.

My 2012 S-Works Venge came with the Specialized S-Works tyres as standard on them and I just figured I would ride them until they cut up and wore out. Hey who throw's out new tyres?

I was really impressed with how they handled again and their feeling to me, of low rolling resistance and speed whilst still being comfortable to ride on. I had put in 1000 odd kms and was surprised to see they were still cut and nick free both front and rear and hadn't missed a beat. This through the wet weather that Melbourne had through winter, that usually destroys my tyres.

2000kms in and Damo and I were both commenting on how much better they were than the last time we tried them. So I did a little research and remembered meeting a German guy last year at a Specialized launch and that he had previously worked at Continental as their R&D guru. the penny dropped, these were his new tyres for Specialized. Wolf Vorm Walde is his name so I googled it and came up with this interesting little interview that Jared Gruber did with him at Peleton magazine

Place http://pelotonmagazine.com/Chatter/content/18/849/Wolf-Vorm-Walde in your browser if the link doesn't work.

Now almost 3500kms in, still no punctures, the back tyre is starting to show signs of debris having a go at the tyre and is starting to square off a bit. Super impressed with them thus far and have absolutley no hesitations in recomending these to anyone wanting a high performance Racing tyre that you can leave on to train with.

The 2 items on my bike that I am most attached to and would never thought I would change are my Specialized Romin saddle and what were my GP4000S.

With these new tyres -No more GP4000S for me.

Leigh

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700x23c standard.

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Suppliant 220 tpi with Blackbelt Puncture protection is working for me.

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The biggest cut in the tyre and its still didnt puncture!

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Hard to show the squaring off.

 

These babies RRP at $99 each but at Hampton Cycles we are doing introductory pairs at $140. Come in and give them a try. You wont be dissappointed.

 

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Wed, 12 Oct 2011 18:19:00 -0700 Look what we built week-Tarmac SL4 Di2 Saxo Bank http://hamptoncycles.posterous.com/look-what-we-built-week-tarmac-sl4-di2-saxo-b http://hamptoncycles.posterous.com/look-what-we-built-week-tarmac-sl4-di2-saxo-b

What a joy it is to work in the bike industry when you get to help clients build up their dream bikes and you are having as much fun and enjoyment about the whole process as they are.

This Saxo Bank Build kicked off a couple of weeks ago with a phone call and a simple question asking when are they available?

Well the when was answered so we got to work. The client had a set of wheels in his soon to be posession for this build, the rest of it was still up for some discussion and recommendations.

We talked through the groupsets, crank options, pretty quick decisions here. Di2 and those popular S-Works Carbon cranks.

Bar and stem moved from Zipp Contour to Vuka Sprint, Speed stem and SL145 to the Specialized S-Works shallow and S-Works stem.

Saddle was easy - S-Works Toupe Carbon in white.

A little more bling was needed so the choice to add in some Ceramicspeed jockey wheels in the oh so out of colour Red and the White cable outer and anodized red Brake cable ends. White Bar tape just finished it off nicely.

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Pretty sure this is Tim's Favourite build this year.

The paint details on this frame is quite something, its pretty simple from some angles but intricate from others.

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This machine weighed in at 6.4kg with pedals and cages in a 56cm with the Zipp 404 Tubs on it. Cant wait to see where it ends up with those Lightweights?

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The lighter wheels, saddle, chainrings, jockey wheels all add up to be a S#%t hot looking bike. Different enough to stand out, but not to the level that in 1-2 years it looks out of date.

He was almost convinced to get the Enve 45's as well until his other wheels showed up.

Cant wait to hear how she rides

 

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Wed, 07 Sep 2011 21:52:00 -0700 Now stocking @ENVEaus wheels, come check out the 2nd pair of Smart 6.7 in Australia http://hamptoncycles.posterous.com/now-stocking-enveaus-wheels-come-check-out-th http://hamptoncycles.posterous.com/now-stocking-enveaus-wheels-come-check-out-th

Smart-enve-system-6_7

Taken from http://www.enve.com/wheels/road/6.7.aspx

The new Smart ENVE System 6.7 is specifically designed for the performance driven Triathlete and Road Racer.  The 6.7s have proven time and again to be the fastest, most stable, wheelset available when installed on a bike in comparison to wheels of similar stature.  Having been available for only a few months, the 6.7s are rapidly forging a presence on triathlon and road race podiums around the globe.   In May 2011, Timo Bracht in his first race aboard the svelte 6.7, broke one of the longest standing Ironman records in Lanzarote, Spain.   We believe that this is just the beginning of many records that will fall to the quiet 6.7s. 

 

THE EVOLUTION OF SPEED. INTRODUCING THE SMART ENVE SYSTEM.

The recipe for a fast wheel is no one single element; rather, it’s a combination of factors. When you start with in-frame development and blend proven aerodynamics, optimized stability, lightweight, stiffness and durability, the result is a revolutionary wheel design. Introducing the Smart ENVE System.

SPEED

The Smart ENVE System optimizes the interface between the frame surfaces and the wheels, creating an integrated system. The front and rear wheels interact differently with the air and the rest of the bicycle. Rim shapes are optimized to allow airflow to stay attached at higher yaw angles, thus reducing drag and improving ride performance.

  • The front wheel is wider and shallower to improve stability and reduce drag in any wind condition.
  • The rear wheel is deeper to reduce drag where stability is less affected.
  • Wheels were tested on multiple frame designs in order to produce the maximum drag reduction. The result is a wheel system, which handles predictably, and displays superior drag results when installed in multiple bicycle frame designs.

 

STABILITY

Steering feedback in variable conditions needs to be predictable to have total handling confidence. Less predictable wheels have a non-linear steering response, resulting in erratic and unpredictable handling in unsteady conditions. The shape of the Smart ENVE System rim is optimized to ensure even and predictable airflow attachment. What the rider experiences is a balanced build up of side force as the angle of crosswind changes. This allows the rider to accurately predict the handling mannerisms of the wheel and avoid dangerous over correction cycles.

  • The focus on steering stability resulted in improved handling and confidence in varying crosswinds.
  • Therefore, the wheel shape was optimized to produce a predictable and linear response.
  • The target stability gradient was 1.0.

ENVE Carbon Bars, Stems and Forks all available to order through Hampton Cycles now.

 

 

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1464102/HCLogoBlack_reasonably_small.jpg http://posterous.com/users/4TkiD486XbEZ Leigh Schilling leighschilling Leigh Schilling