Time Edge Pulse/Dura Ace Complete Bike

The Time Edge Pulse is the bike I trust will perform for my Pedros/Svelte Cycles Road Team I am sponsoring this year. This is all the machine anyone needs to race and ride competitively and when fitted with perhaps a higher end wheelset, this bike will give you the same advantages as 99.9% of the bikes you see in today's PRO peleton if not more.


The only difference between the Edge Pulse and the Times highest end non-ISP module the VXR Proteam are that the Edge employs more round tubes as opposed to elaborately shaped tubes and has an aluminum bottom bracket shell instead of carbon. Will you feel these differences when out riding? No. Will these differences effect negatively the integrity or longevity of the bike? No. Do these differences allow Time to produce a handmade frame at a lower cost? Yes. Oh I almost forget, the Edge requires you use a clamp-on front derailleur as opposed to a braze on. Again, a difference you only feel in your wallet.


Everything else is the same... Handmade if France, identical production methods, identical materials, identical finish qualities, nearly identical geometries. Don't forget, Time has been producing carbon fiber frames longer than any other major manufacturer. By virtue of their void-less lugs and tubing, intricate production methods and materials Time represents the gold standard in modern lugged carbon fiber frames. These bikes ride like true race bikes. No dull, woodlike sensations, no wavering on technical, demanding descents, very light, very stiff in all the right places, absolutely gorgeous finishes and they come with perhaps the nicest, most highly acclaimed fork available the Safe + Fork.


Though not as streamlined as the new 7900 Dura Ace STIs, the 7800s offer all the comfort and light action precision shifting Shimano is known for.


The FSA OS 150 Stem paired with the FSA Gossamer Double Butted Handlebar offers a stiff and light cockpit. (note horrendously long steerer tube... this bike has yet to be fitted to it's owner)


I was very pleasantly surprised by the FSA Energy brakes. They offer a smooth and strong retention, use a nice quick release cam, have a bold and sturdy design and hone replaceable brake pad holders in addition looking very nice indeed.


Though not Michelins flagship tire, the Lithions are very dependable and puncture resistant. These come with a kevlar bead so they are light and I noticed they are also very round and mount straight... you would be surprised how many tires don't!


The wheels... The Edge Pulse comes with Fulcrum R7s which are perhaps the most awful wheel ever. The quick releases are even worse. I trashed them and fitted a nice set of DT Swiss hubbed/32H/3x wheels.




See that little target on the top tube? Drop a plum line down from the tip of your saddle to the top of the top tube and measure over to the center of the target. Voila. You have just performed the easiest and most accurate set back measurement ever.


Light action and so smooth. Some prefer Campy and SRAM but you simply can't beat the smoothness of a Shimano Drivetrain. Like butter. This is why you see most SRAM Pro-Tour teams secretly riding Shimano chains and cassettes.


A very simple, basic carbon seatpost from FSA. Nothing special but it is strong, light, has setback and is easy to adjust.


So I was not crazy about this bike coming spec'd with a generic Time saddle featuring a big hole in the middle but hey... if you are into that sort of thing you are all set. If not, saddles are cheap and I can offer you a wide array of Fizik, San Marco and Selle Italia goods.


I adore Times wishbone seatstay. So clean and tasteful. It reminds me of the stays on the Pinarello Operas of yore. Keeps the rear wheel on the ground with authority.


So compact cranks... To be honest I have never ridden one. What is the selling point? For me it's more time you can stay in the big ring ie: less front shifting. If you live in a mountainous area and don't average 400 watts at threshold you may be psyched to have one of these... I know I would be!


Take note this is the FSA SLK Light... a very, very nice crank worthy of replacing a standard Dura Ace setup, not some price point piece. I love the carbon cap that comes with these and the voluptuous pearl carbon undertone.


An FSA compact specific front derailleur comes standard for accurate, crisp shifts.


Check out the boldly shaped seat-tube. This guy means business.


Lugs...



To purchase a Time Edge Pulse Complete Bicycle for $3185 email me at justin@sveltecycles.com or just pick up the phone and dial 603 943-4202. To purchase from the Svelte Cycles Website click here.

Cheers,
Justin

*Note: Click on images for full size!

16,032 Words.

Lew ProVT-1/Pillar Hidden Nipples/Sapim CX-Ray/DT Swiss 190 Ceramics
Edge 1.68/Pillar Hidden Nipples/DT Swiss Competition/DT Swiss 240
Lew Pro-VT1/Pillar Hidden Nipple/DT Swiss Revolution-Competiton Mix/White Industries H2
Built by Hand - Justin Spinelli

Continental Competition 22 Tubular Tires

Consider the Continental Competition 22s the staple of ProTour level tubulars. They are not the lightest, they are not the most supple, you may even consider their all black appearance leaves something to be desired (personally I love the full black look). Where the Continentals lack in uber-featheryness and silky plushness , they make up ten fold in durability, resistance to punctures and low rolling resistance.

By no means do 22s ride harsh, but are they as silky smooth as a Dugast? No they are not. Will you be out $150 everytime you flat? No you will not! And much unlike Dugast's these are always in stock and you don't need a buddy in Belgium smuggling them over on a boat. At 260g each the 22s are by no means heavy and fall well within the normal weight range of a high end tubular tire.

In the Competition 22s, Continental uses its Vectran Breaker Technology as well as its Black Chili Compound. To put it as simply as I can, the VBT is a layer of Vectran underneath the tires tread. The Vectran material is five times stronger than steel as well as lighter and more flexible than 2 layers of nylon... This is the only Liquid Crystal Polymer in the world. So needless to say you don't have to worry about flatting, which is a great feature because it is so hard to go fast with a flat tire! Real world technology ladies and gentlemen... there is a reason why most PROs race on the 22s when it's an option. Also included with the 22s is the ever popular Black Chili Compound. Continental shrinks individual black carbon particles to an ultra-fine level creating nano-technology for when mixed with butyl rubber. How will this affect me you ask yourself? 30% better adhesion, 26% less rolling resistance, 5% improved mileage over Continental tires without this compound. The Continental Competiton 22s are a real world performance product that you can rely on to be there when it counts. For frou-frou-shi-shi call your up your buddy in Bruges.
Clean and simple graphics. Bold yet not offensive.
This is my most favourite salient feature of the 22s. Micro file tread. In my opinion this tread offers the best water and dirt shedding capabilities and makes the coolest of noises when you put your hand down to skim-clean your tires. "zzztttt!" "zzztttt!"
Here is a side profile of the all-black 22s. Pure class in my opinion.
Love that clean, tough, fast look of the micro file tread... it makes other treads look overkill and a tad cliche.
Another pic. At this point I am just showing off the old Campagnolo Record Alloy Bits.
This too can be yours. Or at least the wheels and tires!

To order a set of Contintal Competition 22's click here.

ps: Yours truly trains on these tires and wheels everyday on craggy New England roads. Saving your carbon tubular wheels for special occasions is soooo 2007.

Cheers,
Justin

The New Style.

There have been some interesting things in the works since my last update (see Time VXR Proteam). When it came time to streamline things the fall, I originally set out at only doing wheels and wheel-goods seeing as how it was my primary interest point in all things bike related. This approach changed after my first ride on the Time VXR Proteam as I was absolutely smitten. Upon sealing the deal with my regional Time man in charge aka Steve Pucci, it became my mission to re-create Svelte Cycles into place where cyclists could come, hang-out and get that signature complete bike they always wanted... perhaps a nice handbuilt wheelset equiped with tires, skewers, cork brake pads and cassettes's ready-to-go right out of the box... or even something as honest and useful as a handful of Michelin tubes.

As my focus is shifting to complete bike sales and handbuilt wheels in 2009, you will notice a very select offering of goods consisting of items, which I strongly believe, are the best possible choices both performance and value wise. The carbon fiber brakes, the 90 gram seatposts, the 20 grams skewers I previously offered were all really neat stuff don't get me wrong, but when it comes down to it... that stuff is for show and are not intended to be pounded on for years on end. So if you are looking for a 12 pound, $15,000 show bike perhaps you are in the wrong spot. If you are looking for a bike that fits, is reliable, performs, is Pro-Tour level and backed by companies with legitimate warranty policies and smooth customer service you have certainly come to the right spot.

Svelte Cycles is now stocking many of it's items listed in an effort to expedite delivery time and improve customer satisfaction. Over the next month I will be bringing in many items including but not limited to Continental Competiton 22's, Fizik Microtex Bar Tape, 3T Rotundo Handlebars and ARX Stems, DT Swiss Hubs, Rims and Spokes, White Industries Hubs, Lew ProVT-1 Rims, Edge 1.68 Tubular Rims, Arundel H20 Cages and Saddle Bags, Pillar Hidden Nipples, Michelin Laytex and Butyl Tubes, Cork Brake Pads, Campagnolo Wheel Bags... Items not in stock but on short order include but are not limited to Time Frames and Bicycles, Campagnolo, SRAM and Shimano Gruppo's and of course the odd special order for a set of Lightweights.

Here are some snap shots of recently ordered product to keep your palette wet. Until next time...

Cool graphics on the new 3T Rotundo.
You will never have to worry about one lever being lower than the other again!
Here I am comparing -17 to -6 degree angled stems.
Not to frumpy aye?
Another side by side comparison. Can you pick the more streamlined stem?
Love that classic bend. Here I am comparing the 3T's to the shallow drop Oval Concepts. The angle of this pic favours in terms of vanity the Oval's but you can tell that the 3T's have a slightly deeper drop.
Lightweights come complete with a DT Swiss Lockring.
Here is a piece of tape with German Code written on it. These were a show model I sourced for a customer on the "cheap".
Aside from the bits of glue residue, these could pass as new.
Ta Da! Is there anything sexier than a set of Lightweights? Too bad they are so friggin expensive and needy. But hey... if you have the cash and the time, I say go for it!
Rain, rain go away. To bad the lighting was awful this morning. Here is a shot of the gorgeous wishbone stay on the Time Edge Pulse.
I couldn't believe how similar the tubes and lugs on the Edge were to the one's the Time VXR Proteam!
Same fork.... FYI these forks retail for around $600 alone!
Same Quick-Set technology.
This baby will be built up with all my select 2009 items and will be featured in my 2009 Collection Catalogue. Jeff Weir (photographer extrordinaire), here I come!