The Bike

I really think I got a good deal on my bike. It’s decent for the intermediate-beginner and leaves me with no desire to upgrade any of the components. I know some of you out there will tell me that the wheelset could be improved or that the pedals are too heavy but, honestly, this bike is perfect for me right now and that’s what counts.

Here are the details:

• KHS Flite 700 frame – aluminum frame with carbon fork and partial carbon back thing
• Generic carbon fiber seat post (second hand)
• Fizik Arione seat
• Turbolite stem
• Turbolite handlebar
• Shimano 105 grouppo
• FSA 52/39 carbon fiber crank
• Shimano 105 clip-type pedals
• Shimano 105 wheelset
• Hutchison kevlar reinforced tires
• rear reflector
• cheap bottle holder
• portable tire pump
• saddlebag
• Cateye Astrale bike computer with cadence

This setup was recommended by Edmund over at the All Terra bike shop in Libis. His explanations for why he recommended some of these components really made practical sense and I’d like to point those out here:

• Carbon fiber is a rider’s friend. The more carbon fiber your bike has the lighter it is (obviously) but it also sends less vibration down the arms of the rider. This means less fatigue and that it’s easier to spend more time on the bike. I spent for some carbon fiber parts that I could have gone without but that might have made the ride more jarring. As you know the roads in Manila, even in Ayala Alabang, aren’t smooth like butter and every little vibration-reducing part helps. Having said that I also wasn’t about to spend the big bucks on an all-carbon frame.
• Edmund recommended the Fizik Arione seat, it’s the one he uses and he finds that it really works well for him. It’s longer than the the usual bike seat so you can actually sit on the tip (mountain bike style) while chugging uphill. It’s also designed to spread out and support the buttockal area without squeezing the family jewels. Sounded good to me. So far it’s proven itself well as I haven’t had any saddle sores or aching groin.
• The Turbolite stem and handlebar, while not carbon fiber, are still lightweight and “cheap”. Good enough to keep the weight of the bike down without breaking the bank.
• I chose the Shimano 105 grouppo as it is the bottom of the upper-end Shimano groups. I missed a chance on an Ultegra group that I could have bought for the same price as the 105 but otherwise the price difference between the two is too high. Also I don’t think I’m at a level yet where the group will make a difference to how I ride. If that’s the case then why didn’t I just go for an even cheaper Tiagra? Well, the reviews online all say not to waste time with the Tiagra if you can afford the 105. So that’s where that came from.
• The FSA crank is the only component of the grouppo that I changed. Edmund gave me a killer deal for it that I couldn’t pass up.
• I went for the Shimano pedals instead of the Look Keos because of the price.
• The original recommendation for the wheelset that I got from Jingo at Cycle Zone was for a pair of American Classics. Again the online reviews for these wheels consistenly mentioned that these were lightweight but easily broken. Considering the road around here the fragility of the wheels concerned me. The Shimano 105 wheelsets, while not as flashy or light as the American Classics, were routinely described as robust. Also they were more than ten thousand Pesos cheaper.
• The Hutchison tires were another thing that Edmund recommended over the Kenda Kalientes. Again the Kalientes were lighter but also more prone to punctures. Edmund showed me the Hutchisons on his bike to prove his point. The things weren’t just scratched but gouged, torn, and ripped but still protected the inner tube. For these roads and the fact that I didn’t want to change tubes or replace tires that often the Hutchisons won hands down.
• “A rear reflector,” I can hear you saying to yourself. “This guy isn’t a serious biker.” well, serious or not I’d rather be safe than sorry. This is the minimum I would need to go around biking at twilight (usually the only time I can bike is after work). For any time later than this I would have gone for the dorky-looking flashing red light. Safety first, my friend.
• A cheap bottle holder works just as well as the fancy carbon fiber ones and is just about as light and considerably cheaper.
• The portable tire pump is one of those things you don’t really think about needing as a biker but that proves to be a lifesaver when you most need it. The first pump I got was a Turbolite clip on but within three weeks it disappeared from my frame. I still don’t know if it fell off while I was riding or if one of my kids stashed it away somewhere. Needless to say I’ve replaced it, this time with a Zefal pump with a clip that also has a rubber band catch thing. That pump is staying on this time.
• A saddlebag works for me because I keep my extra inner tubes (2) and tire latches in there. I’ll never forget them because they’re always on the bike. Also I haven’t yet bought a proper bike jersey so I don’t have any pockets to keep things in while I’m riding.
• The coolest thing on the bike is the bike computer. I bought this at Christie’s by Cartimar and it’s the best training tool you could get. Maintaining cadence is key to getting the right workout for me so I really rely on this thing.

Edmund really hooked me up with this bike. Great service and good technicians. I’d recommend his shop any day. As for my decisioin to choose this bike and these components price and practicality won over flash. I was able to stay within my budget (well, I didn’t go too far outside of it) and feel good about what I brought home.

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