Svelte Cycles without comproise

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Week In Review with Justin Spinelli

As the weather grows friendlier and we think more and more about our riding in 2009, the orders and coming in at a good clip and I already have many fun projects in store for this week. Here is a little glimpse at what I do when I'm not riding my bike in the hills of New Hampshire.



Gutting out a SRAM lever has always been something I've wanted to do. Last week my pal Tony put a call in for SRAM Force Cross kit. He wanted to emulate my set up on my Richard Sachs race bikes so it was up to me to take care of the details. I've heard horror stories of failed attempts and ruined levers but for me it was a snap. Good luck putting this back together though!


Time bikes are moving really well especially the Edge Racer modules I have on special for $1700. This one is the Team Pedros + 3 Network p/b Svelte Cycles bike. This team is comprised of a tres cool bunch of Cat3s whose enthusiasm for pedaling bikes gifts me a breath of fresh air after being surrounded by Pros for the last decade. Most Pros arent always so psyched to ride their bikes... it is after all work! A snowy winters night and some boredom were all it took for me to take to the streets with my camera and snap this pic. (note: Matt will race on Edge wheels, those Zipp thingys are for training)


Oh yeah, speaking of wheels I almost forgot about the hoops I built up for Tony. These are DT Swiss 240 hubs on Kinlin TB-25 rims with Wheelsmith double butted spokes and alloy nipples. We went with a 28h radial front and a 32h 3x/3x rear pattern.


Cluttered shelves are not par for the course for any Virgo. This is not exactly like a display layout you would find while shopping at Prada or Gucci but hey... I make the most out of what I have! (drat that grease stain on the wall. did not notice that till I posted these pics!)



Day...

... turns to night


... and I prepare my next project. Another set of custom wheels! Strength will be paramount on this build so went with the DT Swiss R1.1 double eyelet rims in a 32 hole front and rear count. Lacing will be 2x front, 2x non-drive rear, 3x drive side with Wheelsmith double butted spokes and alloy nipples (the wise choice for any build). These will be finished off with a set of Vredestein Fortezzas, Michelin Aircomp Tubes and a the solid as a rock DT Swiss Steel Skewers.


Time to get some Zs at 8000 feet!

Until Next Time,
Justin Spinelli

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Svelte Cycles Issue Time Edge

It's a great day.



This is a special bike as not only is it the Svelte Cycles Issue Time show bike, but it is now in the hands of my original web designer extraordinaire and good pal Brian Hayes of Fuzz Productions. I had the fortune of befriending Brian on the local cross scene back in 2004. By 2005 his good rides and all around awesomeness earned him a spot on the Richard Sachs Cyclocross Team on which we were teammates for 3 years. After taking a little break for the racing scene, Brian is ready to start turning the pedals in anger again and this will be his instrument come race day.


What follows is not my typical deluge into the salient features of the object in review but more a pictorial collage on which you can draw your own conclusions. So enjoy the images and be sure to click on them for the high resolution copies. After Brians fit, we set out on a little adventure into the North End of Nashua, NH. These two locations piqued our interest as worthy backgrounds to document his new machine.


All carbon all the Time.











Who here can tell me what "ZOLL-D" means? Roland are you reading?











Fin...

I am offering the Svelte Cycles Issue Time as pictured but without wheels or pedals for $3899. Please contact me at "justin@sveltecycles.com" if you would like to purchase one for yourself. Prefer the phone? Just dial 603 943-4202 and be sure to leave me a message if I can't answer your call (code words for I'm out riding!).

Cheers,
Justin Spinelli

Friday, February 13, 2009

This is my bicycle. There are many like it, but this one is mine.

This is my bicycle. There are many like it but this one is mine.
(warning this youtube link contains material not suitable for children)


Primarily, I went with a tried and true Campagnolo Centaur gruppo. Some people don't care for the Quickshift mechanism but I appreciate its accuracy and light weight. Don't forget Danilo DiLuca won the Giro on a set of Centaur Quick Shifts!


A nice feature of the now dated square taper Centaur cranks is that they come with Record level chainrings. I wish I could say the same about the new Centaur cranks.


Centaur rear derailleur with a carbon cage. Save some steel bolts this is identical to first generation Carbon Record.


Clean looks on this front derailleur fitted to a SRAM Red clamp.


The 3T bars and stems have done nothing but impress me with their gorgeous looks, precise and well finished hardware not to mention their stiffness and strength.


Bold yet tasteful graphics.


Note the "3T" etched out of the faceplate. When paired with its counterpart 3T bar you get a visually striking front end. Also note the Fizik Microtex Handlebar Tape... by far the best available on todays market.


Nice low profile clamp with easy to adjust bolt design. None of that reverse mounting nonsense we see from some other brands.


When you weigh 150lbs soaking wet you get to take advantage of some gram savings with weight weenie items. I have come to the conclusion that 99% of weight weenie crap is just that but these Zero G Ti's (I have these on special order FYI, just ask) serve me well.


Cork Pads are becoming a must have as most riders like to switch between alloy and carbon wheels without concurrently swapping brake pads constantly. This specific brand of pads which I carry offer paramount stopping power and are very reasonably priced.


Though Campagnolo and Shimano offer arguably the best hubs on the market due to their ball bearings, you just can't go wrong with DT Swiss.


The R1.1 rims are very durable, light and stiff. These are offered in a single or double eyelet design depending on how sturdy of a wheel your weight and riding terrain dictate. These 28hole single eyelet'd wheels took me through the cyclocross season in its entirity (Thank You Richard) and now grace my road bike.


A nice feature of DT Swiss over Campagnolo hubs is that you can lace the DT Swiss with a radial pattern. The dominant feature of DT Swiss over Shimano Dura Ace hubs is the substantial weight savings and black finish.


Nothing makes a wheelset complete like a nice set of skewers. I went with the smooth cam'd DT Swiss Steel version. Light enough, good looking but most importantly; trust worthy.


Here we see not only the beauty and simplicity of a square taper crank but also the aluminum bottom bracket lug on the Time Edge Racer. In the aluminum BB shell I feel no difference in stiffness or in weight compared to the carbon bottom bracket on the VXR Proteam I test rode last fall.


Looking down and seeing this brings me joy. The Time Quikset allows you to have a clean finished top cap... no finicky bolts, no headsets coming loose. In my opinion this is a key feature of Times that is often overlooked.


The water bottle bosses are low on these bikes and some cages may not work. I originally wanted to install a set of Arundel Mandibles on this bike but had to go with the Arundel Stainless Steel model instead. After two rides I am very happy to have metal hugging my bottles.


These simple, no nonsense dropouts allow for lightning quick wheel changes. An important feature for any racer or mechanic.


My Edge Racer came with the amazingly stiff Time Pro Carbon Seatpost... these precision frame accessories retail for $270!


Note the 3rd eye chain-watcher. Everyone should have one of these on their bikes regardless if they race or not. Why drop and chain and mar your bottom bracket shell if you don't have to?


Time still uses downtube shift cable bosses. At first this kind of irked me but I have grown to like the ease of cable adjustment on the fly. On my bike I fitted a nice pair of Campagnolo stops. Note: Time frames do not come included with these Campanolo frame fittings.


A nice shot of the Time Quickset... Ahhhh.


I just may have the nicest training tires in New Hampshire. 25mm Vredesteins Fortezzas. For craggy, rough roads it is great to have a set of 25s mounted. In my opinion anything more is unnecessary. Click on the image to see just how nice this tread pattern is.


Times wishbone seatstay oozes class and keeps the rear wheel planted firmly on the ground over the most non-compliant vertical and horizontal forces.


Black sidewalls and prominent but non-offensive logos make the Vredesteins a tasteful compliment to any wheelset.


Arundel is producing the best bottle cages by far. Who cares? If you are asking this question you need only lose a bottle on a sweltering hot day to understand. Why suffer more than necessary?


To purchase a Time Edge Racer contact me at "justin@sveltecycles.com" or call 603 943-4202.

Cheers,
Justin