Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Masi 2011 Mini Velo Cafe Racer Drop

Japan specific Masi Mini Velo Available in Drop Bar version Cafe Racer 2011 version.

In the Masi Mini Velo series, the gear equipped are called the Cafe Racer, there is the drop bar version and a flat bar version.


Frame:MASI Double Butted Chromoly
Fork: Chromoly
Rear Derailleur: SHIMANO SORA
Shifters:SHIMANO SLR-400
Brakes:TEKTRO R358 Side pull
Crank:ALLOY 40T
Cassette:SHIMANO CS-HG50-8 12/23T
Tires:KENDA 20x1 1/8
Rims:ALEX DA-22 32H
Sizes:440 150CM~165CM / 480 160CM~175CM / 510 170CM~180CM

Shimano RD-6770 Ultegra Di2 Rear Derailleur Compatibility and Specifications

Shimano Ultegra Di2 RD-6770 Rear Derailleur 10 speed 2012 Series Model.

Like the Dura Ace series, the 6770 has a new design is compatible with wider range cog sets, accommodating up to a 27 tooth cog. The unit is driven by a servo motor instead of a cable and spring, so shifts are identical and precise every time as the computer control unit analyzes each shift.
*Prototype pictured
The derailleur has a built in mechanism that will allow the body to move inward under impact to reduce the potential for damage in the case of a crash. Cycling through the shifting a couple of times allows the shifter and rear derailleur to automatically re-synchronize.

Di2 - Digital Integrated Intelligence - electronic shifting
Programmed motion
Outer Plate: Aluminum/Anodized
Inner Plate: Aluminum/Anodized
Estimated weight 289 grams
10 speed compatible
Double Compatible

Note: DOES NOT works with 11-28 cassette.

Compatible ONLY with Shimano following parts: ST-6770, ST-7970, ST-7971, SW-7971, SW-7972

Compatible with Shimano 10 speed cassettes: CS-7900 (not 11/28), CS-7800, CS-6700, CS-6600, CS-5700, CS-5600. (does Not work with 11/28)

Compatible with Shimano Chains: CN-7900, CN-7901, CN-6700, CN-6701, CN-6600, CN-5700, CN-5701, CN-5600.

Require to be used with Shimano; SM-BTR1, EW-7970, Double setting SM-EW79F-E (with SC-7900) or SM-EW79A-E or Time Trial setting SM-EW-79F-I (with SC-7900) or SM-EW79A-I.

Shimano Ultegra Di2 ST-6770 Dual Control Levers Compatibility and Specifications

Shimano Di2 ST-6770 Ultegra Electric Dual Control Levers 2012 model series.

By eliminating all of the mechanical shifter parts, the new Dual Control lever weight is reduced by over 100g over the mechanical version. The ergonomics are slimmed down and further refined for a comfortable grip.

The wiring harness for the shifters is designed to accept the all new FlightDeck computer (SC-7900) featuring heart rate, altitude, grade, cadence, estimated caloric consumption, gear position, and battery life all directly downloadable data via a wireless connection.

Di2 - Digital Integrated Intelligence - shifting
Steel fixing band and bolt
Aluminium brake lever blade
Flight deck compatible
Adjustable reach
Optional satellite switch
Clamp 23.8-24.2mm bar diameter
Published weight 350 grams (pair)
10 speed compatible
Double Compatible

Japan Retail release Autumn 2011

Compatible ONLY with Shimano following parts: RD-7970, RD-6770, FD-7970, FD-6770 derailleurs.

Compatible with all 10 speed Shimano crankset.

Compatible with Shimano Brake Calipers: BR-7900, BR-7800, BR-6700, BR-6600-S/-G, BR-5700, BR-5600-S/-L,

Require to be used with Shimano; SM-BTR1, EW-7970, Double setting wires SM-EW79F-E (with SC-7900) or SM-EW79A-E, SW-7970, SW-7972.

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Great Ocean Road Cycling Classic (Australia)

Have you seen the Rapha video showing the Great Ocean Road?
This is one of the most spectacular road I have ride, it is in Australia, Victoria state (where is Melbourne)


The road is one of Victoria’s major tourist attractions and should be avoided on weekends and major public holidays – especially Christmas and Easter.

If you can avoid these times you will find a tranquil, relatively empty road with stunning ocean and forest views.

To ride this great road, you'll need few days, depending of your riding speed, I did it in 5 days for 403kms, of course you can speed up in much less time, but the whole point is to enjoy local life, deeping in superb sea, enjoy local fish and chips, make friends on the way around good wine.

Started the trip by taking the train from Melbourne to Warrnambool, the trip takes about three hours.
If you there between June and September go look over the cliffs at Logan’s Beach for a glimpse of the Southern Right whales that rest there.

From there Warrnambool to Port Campbell, 69km.
If you’re want to see the coast take the side trip to Childers Cove at around the 30km mark otherwise go on untill 12km from Port Campbell you hit the stunning eroded coastline that has made the road famous.
I planned to stay at Port Campbell camp site (never made any booking anyway), but a friendly guy called Paul stopped by with his car and offered to stay at his house, literraly on top of a cliff, facing the ocean at the entrance of Port Campbell.
Great hospitality and local rose made it a memorable night.
Next morning was hard to start riding but plan was to get to Apollo Bay.

Port Campbell to Apollo Bay, 98km.
The toughest day by far but also some of the best riding. Up the short but steep hill out of Port Campbell it’s only 8.5km to the spectacular Loch Ard Gorge and 12km to the 12 Apostles.
Then you will have the increasingly steep climb up to Laver’s Hill where the small store is your last chance to get supplies before Apollo Bay. There’s a couple of steep descents and climbs out of Laver’s Hill as the road head back toward the coast.

The road flattens as it follows the Aire River for an hour or two before suddenly climbing up into the Otway Ranges going into the rainforest. You’ll eventually find your way into Apollo Bay on the long fast descent that leads into town and the famous shark burgers at Nauti-Gals café.
I stayed at the cabin site there, but keep in mind this is very busy place on week-ends, alternative is the camping ground. (I stayed at my friend house Jim & Lisa where I love to spend time with them surfing and cycling in the past)
Apollo Bay to Torquay, 101km
This is the spectacular part, the road gets a little busier out of Apollo Bay but that’s because it hugs the coast, from cliff top to beach level and the views are spectacular. At 45km Lorne is good stop for lunch. After Lorne the road continues to zigzag into Anglesea (68km) from where the last big climb will show you on the way to the famous Surf Coast. If you’ve got the energy take the right to Point Addis at 80km and then immediately left onto the trail that leaves the first car park and follows the cliff top past Bells Beach and into Torquay. Bells Beach got it fame from the movie "Point Break", it is home of Australia famous surfing brands.

Torquay to Queenscliff, 40km.
Follow the coast on the road to Bremlea. The road is quieter than heading into Geelong and there are some beautiful beaches around Barwon Heads. Stay next to the coast and you’ll be in Barwon Heads for morning tea. Across the river the road winds into Ocean Grove. Head out of town and take a right at Shell Road and follow the signs to Queenscliff. Queensliff has elegant architectural buildings – Victorian era hotels, a military fortress guarding the entrance to Port Phillip, old churches and quiet fishermen’s cottages. The town has grown from fishing village to become a fashionable holiday destination for Melbourne’s elite and it is now filled with art galleries, bed and breakfasts and cafes. Take the afternoon off and have a look around. I stayed at a local bed and breakfast. Enjoyed nice talks and beers in local restaurants.
Great place!

Queenscliff to Melbourne (via Sorrento) 95km
The Searoad ferry departs Queenscliff for Sorrento every hour from 7am to 6pm and the trip takes about an hour. You can see dolphins swimming along the ferry.
From there just keep the beach on your left all the way to Melbourne. The route is simple and easy, turn left at Safety Beach (25km) to stay on the coast.
The Mt Martha shops (35km) are a great place for lunch, and then stick to the coast for as long as you can past Mornington.
Take care as you go through Frankston (51km), traffic is getting heavier.
Cruise along Beach Rd into Melbourne; all the way to Station Pier and then take a right along the bikepath to the city.

That's it!
It is a great road for cycling and it is possible to be enjoyed by anybody (as long as you are fit enough to ride 100km on a day)

People are very friendly all the way, weather is great, the views are spectacular, it is relatively cheap and simple.
I never made any booking prior to this ride, just took the train and gone.

Remeber: wearing helmet on a bicycle is COMPULSERY in Australia.

More cycling tours here.

Lonely Planet Cycling Australia

Cold Beer and Crocodiles: A Bicycle Journey into Australia

Bike Australia, Cycling Australia From Perth to Sydney

Australia Team Cycling Jersey

Living and Working in Australia: A Survival Handbook (Living & Working in Australia)

In a Sunburned Country

Lonely Planet Melbourne & Victoria (City Guide)

Some surfing on Christmas day

Most of cities are closed on Christmas day, if it is snowing where you live, then big chances that you are stuck inside.

Here are some cool websites to visit to kill time.

Do you know Lynn Pops?
It is a girl in USA that do a lot of modelling, the guys from Halfanese digitalized her, eally cool, see more on their website here. And more about Lynn Pops here.
Lynn Pops pausing with her fixed bike. Cool hey?

Season greeting from gear 11

Merry Christmas and Happy 2011

Friday, December 24, 2010

Paris-Roubaix Challenge 2011, Welcome to Hell

A.S.O. is busy at marketing and retailing the famous bicycle races to individual bicycle lovers, after l'Etape du Tour, now it is the turn of the most challenging Paris-Roubaix event.

In France this type of event is called a "Cylosportive" which you might translate it as a Century ride or a Gran Fondo, this means it is for fit riders.

Just in case you don't know it, this is the one that features cobblestones sections.

The race is mythical and it is the chance to ride as a pro classic racer, the fantastic event is held on 1 day, the course feature 18 cobblestones sections, 31.6km of cobblestones
Mythic cobblestones sections covered: Chemins des Prières, Mons en Pévèle, Carrefour de l’Arbre…
3 aid stations set up along the course (+ 1 at the finish), 3 technical assistance points by Mavic
Best of all, 147 km timed on closed roads (only 15 km not timed on open traffic roads)

Of course, the finish line is on the Roubaix Velodrome, like the pros!
The race start at Saint-Quentin and Finish at Roubaix – Vélodrome on April 9th 2011.
Be careful here, the start of the race is at Saint-Quentin, this town is 80 miles (130kms) away from Paris!

To get there the closest major airport is Lille Airport (LIL / LFQQ). This airport is in Lille (France) and is about 81 km from the center of Saint-Quentin.
Another major airport is Charles De Gaulle International Airport (CDG / LFPG), which is in Paris (France) and is 107 km from Saint-Quentin.
Another international Airport is Brussels Airport (BRU / EBBR) is in Brussels (Belgium) and is 145 km from Saint-Quentin.

The best is to rent a car and book yourself an hotel in Saint-Quentin.
From Saint-Quantin, there will be shuttle service to the start and from the end of the race (end of Roubaix finish is 2 hour drive to Saint-Quentin).
You MUST book your seat on the shuttle bus (if you need it) which cost 34 Euros.

Book your car rental and hotel online ahead of the event, it will be cheaper and be assured to get it.

The event website here.

One last important advice if you plan to ride this event, use tubular wheels and tubular tires, alternatively, mount your clincher wheels with the Tufo C S33 Pro tubular clincher it is tubular that can be mounted on a clincher rim. Add some Tufo sealant in your pocket just in case and there you go.
The idea is to avoid "snake bite" caused by the coblestones (pinching the inner tube between the rim wall and the tire/stone)

Paris-Roubaix: A Journey Through Hell

2010 PARIS-ROUBAIX SPRING CYCLING CLASSIC

The Spring Classics: Cycling's Greatest One-Day Races

ACTION TIRE TUBULAR 700-27 CHALLENGE PARIS-ROUBAIX

Lonely Planet French Phrasebook: and Audio CD

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Masi Speciale Strada 2011 Classic Style Steel road bike

Masi is keeping rolling out classic themed bikes and frames.

The current big trend in the bicycle market is no gear and fixed it, what came nest was the appearance of derailleur, as fashion is cyclical, it is obvious that the derailleur is the next "big thing".

For 2011 they launch a truely classic (read 70-80's era) road bike with gear shifters on the down tube, yes! It got gears, oh, only 9 of them on the rear and Double front crankset.
Only the threadless stem is making it a fail to be a real classic replica, probably for the sake of cost.
The only thing that makes the bike original is it comes with MKS Sylvan (Made in Japan) pedals and Steel toe clips.

The saddle is a Brev.M model.

This bike is simply an assembling of the parts that are distributed by the Japan based Distributor of Masi, Brev.M, Shimano and MKS parts.

Technically, the frame is TIG welded Double Butted Chromoly frame in Taiwan, lugged chromoly steel fork, Shimano Tiagra front and rear derailleur, Shimano HG-50 9 speed 12-25, Shimano HG-73, Dura Ace 7700 down tube shifters, Tektro 510A alloy dual pivot calipers, DiaCompe DC204N brake levers, FSA Tempo 50/34 crankset, Weinmann LP18 Wheelset, Kenda Kontender 23c wire bead tires, Brev. M Perforated saddle, Masi Alloy,27.2x300mm seat post, MKS sylvan w/MKS steel toe clips w/leather accents & nylon straps.

Color is Sasparilla (kind of brownish metallic red)

The rear brake cable is installed on top of the top tube with steel clamps.
Yellow outer cable ad to the nostalgic touch.
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