2012 Colnago Master X Light. A magic carpet ride ... made of steel.


Ask any road cycling enthusiast and you will know that carbon fiber is now the de-facto material of choice when it comes to bike frames.  With its stiff, ultra-lightweight, and completely moldable characteristics, no wonder why cyclists and frame designers alike love the stuff.  Get into a crash, however, and you can pretty much kiss the frame goodbye.  People wanting a non-exploding alternative are resorting to aluminum and titanium as their frame choice.  Both metals are fairly lightweight and are more resilient to damage unlike carbon fiber.
Steel, on the other hand, are found in older bikes, big box (aka Walmart) bikes, and high priced custom boutique bike shops ... usually with a waiting list.  A lot of them are downright heavy tanks and a cheap choice for those on a tight budget. But if you have the means, a wonderfully crafted steel bike will give you a ride quality as well as classy good looks not found on the other bikes.  Let me explain ...

Love at first sight



It was a beautiful autumn afternoon last August of 2012.  I was picking up my then 2008 Orbea Orca from the bike shop after a bottom bracket overhaul.  As I passed through the window, I couldn't help but catch this beautiful red bike on the corner of my eye.  No, it wasn't some carbon fiber, aerodynamic racing machine, but a beautifully crafted steel Colnago Master Extra Light with a gorgeous chrome plated fork and a cherry red paint scheme (PR82) that is reminiscent of the classic Ferrari 250 GT from "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" (Oooh Yeeaaahhh).  All decked out with Super Record 11 and a set of Zipp 101 (gunmetal gray ... not the black one), it was gorgeous!  The tubes were star shaped instead of round.  This was to prevent twisting (according to Colnago), which in turn increased overall stiffness without adding weight.  The chrome plated lugs were artfully crafted with almost museum-like quality.  This bike was indeed a sight to see!  I fell in love with the bike so much, I scored a deal on the exact same frame on eBay a week later and I jumped on it.  I moved over my Super Record 11 group from my titanium bike and got a pair of the Zipp 101s like the one in the showroom.

The ride ... oh the RIDE!

When the shop owner let me throw my legs over the showroom model, I knew there was something special with the bike.  Just like a European car, there is a sense of solidity.  When I took it out for a spin, I knew I was in for a treat.  One word describes the ride ... SMOOTH!  The short ride around the parking lot can be a bit subjective, but when I purchased my own, the ride of my own personal Colnago Master validated the smoothness over and over on the road.  Granted, on my own personal bike, I have set it up on road tubeless setup with tire pressures set at 95psi.  Riding it on the road does not give it that muted feeling you get on a carbon bike.  Instead, it gives you a unique sense of road feel that is quite pleasing and not harsh at all.  When I got this bike up to speed above 20mph, the magic happens.  I don't know if it is the weight of the steel, but I can hold the top speed better than my super-light SuperSix EVO!  The Colnago surprisingly gave me a better overall average speed than any of the bikes I have ever owned!  I can only hypothesize that it could have been inertia of steel versus carbon.  Don't get me wrong, my Colnago Master, with pedals and cages, weighs a respectable 18.6lbs.  It is about the weight of a mid-range aluminum bike or an entry level carbon bike.  My bike also includes the Colnago Precisa all-steel fork!  I have seen other Colnago Masters with a carbon fork running 2013 SRAM Red on tubular tires that weighs less than 16lbs!  Not too shabby for "Extra Light" in my opinion!

Is steel for you?

That depends.  If you are a racer that requires instant acceleration or a mountain goat who loves tackling the steep stuff at high speed, you may be put off by its weight (unless you get SRAM Red and the carbon fork or got the engine to match).  If you are an endurance/century rider that demands comfort and appreciate a solid and smooth road feel over long distances or a racer who wants a bike that can easily survive a major crash, then you will probably love steel.  Remember, not all steel bikes are created equal!  Trying to compare a high-end steel bike like the Colnago Master to a big-box Walmart steel bike is like comparing a classic Ferrari to a boring Ford sedan.  Sure both cars will take you from point A to point B, but only one of them will give you the performance as well as style that turns heads.  As a matter of fact, I got far more compliments on my Colnago Master than my SuperSix EVO ever did in terms of sheer looks.  You be the judge ...

- James Lee

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Bicycle Riding for Health

These days, one of the hardest things for many of us to do is to stay active and healthy. With work commitments, family, friends, and life in general, getting the proper amount of exercise can be daunting to say the least. But, there is a silver lining. Many people are now jumping on the health bandwagon by bicycle riding to stay fit. Bicycle riding is great for the obvious fitness benefits as well as perfect for staying active and vital. The best aspect about riding a bicycle for health is that you can do it alone, as a couple, with your kids, or even in a big group. There are no stipulations to a bicycle riding workout. Go on a bike ride at the beach, ride your bicycle down to the park, or simply run your errands while on a bicycle. You will be able to do double duty by staying healthy as well as helping the environment by lowering your toxic footprint. The reality is that sitting in a car all day is not the best way to stay active and healthy or to help the environment. Bicycle riding can easily take the place of vehicles by providing a wonderful alternative transportation to vehicles. And the best part, a bicycle requires no gasoline! Bicycle riding has been shown to help as a cardiovascular exercise as well as a way to build muscles all throughout the body. Bicycle riding is optimal for strengthening the legs, buttocks, mid-section, and arms. It truly is the perfect workout because it gives resistance to the areas that many people need most while also contributing to cardiovascular health that is extremely beneficial for the heart. So, next time you are looking for a fun and easy way to stay active and look great, invest a small amount in a bicycle. Your body and heart will thank you.

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Shimano Dura-Ace 7970 Di2. Realities of Electronic Shifting.

Being a tech geek in a world of IT, I am amazed with all the current technologies that are available to us.  Smartphones, GPS cycling computers, Google Glass ... just to name a few.  When Shimano introduced the new Dura-Ace 7970 groupset back in 2008 ... aka Di2, I knew I need to have it.  However, due to the initial sticker shock, I waited until December 2011 to get it.  Now that I had a good 1.5 years with the group (as of this review), I can safely share my thoughts on it.

Installation

I'll admit it ... I had the bike shop do the installation for me.  With such an expensive group, I didn't want to mess it up and I am glad I paid the pros to do it for me.  First when I had the groupset on my 2008 Orbea Orca, it had the external wiring set.  Luckily the downtube was black carbon on the underbelly so the wiring housings camouflaged well with black electrical tape.  However, it looked a bit messy near the drive-side bottom bracket, but you couldn't see it because it was hidden behind the crankset.  About 10 months later when I upgraded my bike to a 2012 Cannondale SuperSix EVO, I unhesitatingly asked for the internal wiring upgrade ... and I am so glad I did.  Internal wiring is SO MUCH cleaner and well worth the extra money.  There are no wires or brake cables on outside of the top tube, downtube, and chainstays.  If you plan on getting an electronic groupset like the Di2, do yourself a favor and make sure your frame supports internal wiring for electronic groupsets.  It is worth the extra price.

Maintenance

This is where the group shines!  Gone are the days of cable stretch or even a cable replacement because ... well ... there are no cables!  If you need to swap wheels or cassettes, simply put the bike in the middle 5th gear and press and hold the button on the junction box near the shifters until the light turns red.  Then each shift on the right shifter will move in 12 steps in each direction.  Keep shifting up (going to a harder gear) until you hear a slight noise coming from the cassette.  Then simply downshift four times and you are set.  Press and hold the button again until the light goes off.  Done!  The Di2 shifts perfectly on day one to day 500+!

Battery life is amazing.  Ever since I purchased this group in 2011, I charged it only three times.  At this rate, the battery can literally outlive me!  From a fully dead battery, Shimano claims that the battery can charge to full in 1.5 hours.  While I never really timed the charges, I believe it.  Most of the time, the battery will be charged with some charge left in it.  Just don't forget the battery if you plan on loading your bike to your car on a long road trip.

Usage

Using the group is a dream.  Like a button on a mouse, a simple click will shift the derailleurs up and down.  No need to worry about rusty or snapped shifter cables.  I really love the autotrim feature.  Shift the rear up and down the cassette and you can hear the front derailleur making minor adjustment shifts depending on where the gearing is at.  The autotrim was designed to eliminate front derailleur rub.  This feature is something a mechanical feature can never do.

Front derailleur shifting is amazing!  I thought the mechanical Dura-Ace 7900 was fast and awesome, but Di2 front shifting is a technical marvel!  I can hammer out of the saddle and shift the front without any worry.  It is that good!  Even though Shimano claims that dropping the chain is almost impossible during a downshift on the front derailleur when cross-chaining (not recommended by any means), I did put a K-Edge chain catcher for a piece of mind and I suggest everyone do the same ... regardless if you have mechanical or electronic shifting.

Worry about getting the system wet?  Don't fret!  The way the wiring junctions are connected, I can see how the system is water tight.  I rode my Di2 bike in the rain several times (not by choice).  No ill effects on shifting or shifting performance whatsoever.

Unlike a mechanical system, though, the first generation Di2 can't perform multishifts.  You can't "dump the cassette" by holding down the shifter button like the Campy mechanical group.  Campy EPS as well as the new Dura-Ace 9070 Di2 do support multishifts in a way of holding down the shifter button.  I thought I would miss this feature, but knowing how quickly Di2 shifts in general, I do not miss that feature.

Shimano also "recommends" using their own brakes, crankset, and chain.  I run a set of PraxisWorks compact chainrings (50/34) on a BB30 Cannondale SiSL crankset with a KMC SL 10-speed chain (with a master link).  It works wonderfully with the Di2 shifting group!  I have people who have aftermarket brakes on their Di2 bike.  As long as they are Shimano-compatible, the aftermarket brakes should work no differently than if installed on a mechanical groupset.  Shimano's "recommendation" to use all Dura-Ace 7900 "drive and brake" components is all a part of their marketing ploy, at least to me.

Verdict

To me, Di2 just works and works VERY well ... period!  I am intrigued with the new Dura-Ace 9070 Di2 with the multishift capability as well as 11 speeds and lighter weight, but I am happy and content with my Di2 7970 groupset.  It hasn't given me any problems and the only issue is that the electronic spare parts are expensive if needed to be replaced due to damage or malfunction.  Prices should go down as time goes by, but may never come down to prices that of their mechanical counterparts.

If you had any reservations about electronic shifting, don't.  It is real and here to stay.  It can only get better from here on out.

- James Lee

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