That’s an impressive level of self control. My last NBD I was out riding in cold rain within minutes.
1 Like
Nice! Which frame?! Where did you see it it with such a discount?
Did you tell us yet what it is?
No… In the rare chance my wife stumbles upon this thread I’d like to maintain a small level of deniability. 
2 Likes
I can ship you my daughter’s bike that we no longer need. You can use that as a decoy and hide your real bike behind it … 
2 Likes
The decoy bike… brilliant!
5 Likes
“I did it because I was so upset about [thing spouse did wrong]. You didn’t even say sorry / Your apology didn’t even seem genuine!”
9 Likes
As I said, it’s an S-Works SL7. It was on ebay at $2k off retail. It arrived safely and is beautiful.
Now I’m feeling second thoughts. I’ve wanted a Tarmac forever. Between being perpetually out of stock in my size due to covid and Specialized price increases over the last few years I never found one in any color I loved nor could I even put my leg over one at a bike shop.
All my stuff is rim brake - multiple sets of wheels - lots of spare parts - even a spare groupset.
To build this bike the way I want it, I need all new parts. None of my wheels will work. I’m not sure which direction to go.
To complicate things I’ve been riding Campagnolo for like 40+ years and would love to stay. Campagnolo though only has mechanical 12 speed or their new wireless $5000 groupset which is out of my budget. Now I’m looking at all the other options for this build - Rival axs, ultegra di2, dura ace plus I want a good power meter to match.
Honestly, I could just punt and sell this frame for what I paid and still ride my old bike for the foreseeable future. I feel like it’s going to be winter before I even got this new frame built anyway.
Decisions, decisions…
BTW, I told my wife. She was supportive!
7 Likes
Nice buy and great deal for it!
Unless you’re planning to actively resist disc brakes they’re going to make their way into your fleet sooner or later. You might find better deals by waiting another couple of years but you also might not (at least for new rather than secondhand stuff). And the frameset deal seems good enough that you almost definitely won’t see another opportunity like that for a while!
If you’re thinking Shimano then this would probably also be a good time to buy into that ecosystem. 12s road groupsets are 1st generation and only about a year old. If they continue the pattern of 2 generations of cross-compatibility then it’s going to be the best part of a decade before any 12s Shimano road components become obsolete.
Not a SRAM guy so no clue how we’re positioned in their timeline though.
I’m not actively resisting disc brakes. I already have them on my gravel and mountain bikes. I know they are future.
I really wanted an SL7 because I was doing very competitive group rides the last four years so I wanted a full on aero race bike. Where I lived also had rough roads and I really wanted like 30mm GP5000 tubeless tires on the bike.
Now we also just moved to a smaller town and the riding is flat and the roads are smooth. And there are no local bike clubs that are active and I haven’t found a group ride. They stopped during covid and simply never restarted. I see people riding on Strava so I may have to start my own club or find the right people to reinvigorate one of the existing clubs.
As you can see, my need for an aero race bike with wider tires is severely diminished right now.
The various power meter options are also holding me back a little. Shimano power meters sound like they suck. I’m currently using a Stages but wanted to get on a better crank based unit with the new bike. Power2max and others make Shimano options if you can live with mis-matched chainrings. 3rd party 12 speed chainrings seem slim to none so far. Rotor hasn’t updated a lot of their chainrings to 12 speed.
Sram honestly seems like the best overall solution for price, 12 speed, and good power meters. I don’t love their gearing though.
I think Rival shifters are at the top of my list. They are dirt cheap and I could live ok with 50/37 and the 10-33. The stock Rival power meter is only $240 (left only though but probably very reliable).
1 Like
The other option I’m mulling over is the Juin Tech mechanical/hydraulic disc calipers on the SL7. Then I could install any mechanical groupset including the spare one I already own and my current Stages. All I would need is a set of wheels and those calipers and I’d be riding this frame in short order.
This just might be the best wrong answer yet!
3 Likes
My recommendation: SRAM eTap AXS - I’m super satisfied with Rival (although I REALLY like the way the Red crankset looks), so I think you’d be well served by any of their wireless levels. Zip 303S or Envelope Foundation wheels. Assioma DUO power meter pedals.
Why buy a Ferrari and put a cheap transmission in it? That makes no sense to me. You bought a top-of-the-line bike and IMHO you should use a suitable drivetrain.
You will have to make the jump at one point or another, and in my experience, mechanical (even hybrid mechanical/hydraulic) disc brakes are a significant step down. I have SRAM Force eTap and am super happy with it. Rival shifts identically because AFAIK the mechanical parts are identical. You can save some weight and get a better power meter if you opt for a Force or Red crank. On the other hand, the Rival power meter is super cheap.
2 Likes
It’s easy for you to spend my money. What cheap transmission are you talking about?
I researched the Juin Tech brakes and they are a premium product. I’ve read nothing to suggest that they would not perform well. Do you have any actual experience with them?
Yes, but isn’t that what we do on the forum half of the time?
Here: cheap transmission = mechanical disc brakes.
I’d rather get e. g. 11-speed 105 mechanical with hydraulic brakes than Di2 with mechanical brakes. SRAM 11-speed 2x groupsets are also sometimes still found online. Those might be an option, too.
That’s great news. Next level is getting the green light for a Campy groupset.
Merlin has a few disc brake options 15-33% off.
And Starbike has a decent price on WT0 45’s to match.
1 Like
I think I’m at the end of the line with Campagnolo. With their $5k wireless groupset, they seem to want to go the Louis Vuitton / Rolex route. Really, I’m only holding on for nostalgia at this point when the best in the world are racing on Shimano/Sram.
Campagnolo disc is more complicated on the SL7. The hoses normally route from the bottom up through the fork, headset, stem, bars and then terminated at the levers. Campy hydro hoses have a banjo fitting at the levers which mean that it cannot be threaded it through the frame so you have to build it backwards from the bars down to the caliper. It’s doable but a PITA.
Despite that I am tempted by Chorus or Record disc but my power meter options are another issue. They still suck on Campagnolo and I don’t want an ugly Rotor or other 3rd party crankset on Campagnolo.
I can’t reuse my 11 speed Stages left arm because Campagnolo reversed the side with the threads on the 12 speed crankset. why? A new Stages is like $900 and or a Power2Max is $1600.
The more I look at it, a Rival etap makes a lot of sense for the drivetrain and I could add the Rival power meter for another $240 or a Power2Max or a Quarq.
Have you thought about Ekar? If it didn’t come with thumb shifters and something like DoubleTap my current bike would now run a Campag groupset. With the exception of the power meter, this seems like a great and versatile groupset with good gearing options.
Looks aside, which are personal, Rotor makes great kit. Their cranks are well loved for good reason.