Does not compute

Not an upgrade as such, but every mile I’ve ridden on the Wilier has been measured and logged using Garmin’s normally excellent Edge 305 GPS-based computer with heart rate monitor.

Garmin control centre

This picture, though, shows the unit in ‘Circuit of the Cotswolds’ mode. Having charged it all night in the vain hope that I’d get eight hours out of it (the batteries are rated at 12, but the best I’ve managed is seven and a half…) and having painstakingly entered the course details by hand into the navigation function, the thing was as dead as a dodo when I fitted it at the start line. As handlebar ballast goes it’s quite sexy looking – especially with the cable ties in Palmer Park Velo club colours…

Blazing saddles

The main reason for fitting the SLR was weight – although I do find it incredibly comfortable, even on long rides (even more so coupled with my new Pearl Izumi Microsensor 3D Pro bibshorts). The main reason for getting the limited edition Fuoca version was that they’re being heavily discounted at the moment, although it does look reasonably good with the Wilier’s copper coloured detailing.

Blazing saddles

A new use for Ma Frisbee’s Pie plates

The 29 tooth chain ring is huge, but I love it. Campagnolo’s website says the medium cage rear mech will work with it; RJ Chicken said not and recommended the long cage version, which does work and, let’s be honest, has more carbon…

Triple gear mech 29T sprocket

Black Bling

…but not as much carbon as the front end. The carbon Chorus CT chainset was painfully expensive, but does look good coupled with the carbon CT front mech and Look’s Carbon-Ti pedals. I did have a conversation with Pete at Cyclezone in Winnersh about the high modulus Keos – which are the same weight and £100 more expensive. The HM carbon is allegedly stiffer but given that the power is being transmitted through a (relatively) flimsy plastic cleat, it’s hard to see the justification. Another customer, overhearing our discussion about the specs asked, not unreasonably ‘Who on earth would buy those?’ ‘Triathletes’ Pete and I responded, simultaneously and instantly – before either of us had noticed the Ironman logo… The yellow Conti Attack/Force tyres were supposed to go with the copper stripe, too. They were supposed to have been the much more orange Conti yellow, rather than lemon but, I suspect, they wouldn’t have been a much better match.

Compact relief…

Team RCUK

The two Team RCUK Wilier’s loaded and ready to go off to the Circuit of the Cotswolds – the first test for the near final configuration. All I need to do is arrange to pick up the Race XXX-Lites I’ve been loaned for the Etape and the weight saving will be complete. Unfortunately, I didn’t weight the bike before mods, but today – if my bathroom scales are to be believed – it weighs around 7kg. The wheels should take that down to around 6.5kg. Even allowing for the scales being reasonably inaccurate, it should be close it the UCI limit.