Articles by Slowman

Industry

The final Slice

As many Slowtwitchers know, I and the Slice I rode in the Tour of California time trial did not deliver each other safely to the finish line. Nevertheless, I did promise readers a recap of that Slice.

by Slowman, June 1, 2010

Industry

The Slice is built (sort of)

As the late senator Moynihan put it, "Everyone is entitled to his own opinions, but not his own math." Okay, he said facts, not math, but the idea is the same. But now on to that Cannondale Slice.

News

Spartacus, Tornado Tom, and Chrissie?

The Amgen Tour of California will feature cyclists versus triathletes on its stage-7 time trial. Downtown L.A. will host three (and a half) triathletes alongside the world's best TTers.

Industry

Two notable goggles

I'm an agnostic about goggles, like a guy who goes to an Anglican church one week and a Presbyterian the next. I have no firm conviction, or, I had no firm conviction. I do now.

Industry

52cm sizing comparison

At about 51cm or 52cm you enter a size range where just about everybody's bikes are built with 700c wheels. Here, there's a convergence of geometry, but a divergence in handling.

Industry

58cm sizing comparison

When you get to the 58cm size, tri bikes diverge geometrically. Why? Because they can. The height of these bikes is similar, one to the next. But in reach, there's more of a divergence.

Industry

Inputs and outputs: Volume 2

What is important? What ought to matter? The answers depend on who you are and what are you're trying to achieve. You are a tri bike's designer, for the purpose here; good steering geometry the goal.

Industry

Small bike sizing comparison

Are you 5'6" or shorter, or have an interest in one who is? Here is an assortment of small tri bikes, and where they fall along the geometric gradient of long, short, tall and narrow.

Industry

Graphing geometric themes

The exercise here is in the understanding of a tri bike's frame geometry. There are several things worth noting, and this ought to impact, or at least inform, your buying decisions.

Industry

Inputs and Outputs: Volume 1

In about a month, I'll have two bikes in my garage: a P3 and a Slice. The P3 was an output, that is, it was the result of a process. The Slice was an input: It commenced a process. Confused? Let me explain.

Triathlon

Scott Plasma 30 (2010)

This Plasma is the longest in the tooth of the three Plasma framesets. It's still got plenty of life and relevance. Even so, it would benefit from a couple of design and spec upgrades.

Triathlon

Trek Equinox TTX 9.0 (2010)

Is this bike the last of an era? The bike aboard which Levi, Lance and Alberto won so many grand tour TTs prepares, perhaps, to slide off into history. The Equinox TTX 9.0 is part of that lineage.

Cycling

Transition Comp for 2010

After 20 years of ambivalence toward tri bikes and the tri market, Specialized has finally made a world class timed race bike. The Transition is, with some exceptions, a bike worthy of its headbadge.