Garmin Edge 510 Team Garmin Bundle

For the Team Garmin fan or someone who simply cannot get enough argyle in their life, Garmin brings us the Edge 510 Team Garmin Bundle.  What's exciting or different from the regular 510 Bundle?  The Argyle.  The price remains the same at $399.00 and delivery is expected May 21st.  Pre-order now on the website- http://www.glorycycles.com/gaed510cycot.html

Photo Courtesy of Garmin

Eddy Merckx EMX-525 Review

As bold and strong as it looks the EMX-525 is designed to be a real race bike. We tested the new 525 and can report it's exactly that and if built up right has the ability to be a lot more than just a race bike. 

Compare the side on profile of almost any 2013 bike to similar bikes 10 years back and the most notable difference to the profile is tube shape and size. Modern bikes have much bigger tubes, if this is the case the 525 is futuristic. It's got tube junctions more aggressive looking and larger than almost anything on the road. It's a look that is pretty much love it or hate it. After a few days with the 525 it's love it for me because the tube shapes translate into a ride quality unlike any other.

525 has the legendary Merckx "Century Geometry" and this proven formula coupled with some modern tube designs makes for possibly the most positive feeling bike on the road and certainly the 525 falls into the superbike class. I had the good fortune of doing a week on the Pinarello Dogma 65.1 Record EPS then a week on the Look 695 Ultegra Di2 Upgraded package and then a few days on the 525 and can speak with confidence of the contrast between these three super machines. 

The 695 is the smoothest ride of the three, it's the most comfortable perhaps because of it's seatpost design but it's not as stiff and responsive as the 525 and the 65.1. The Dogma 65.1 and the 525 share so many similarities it's hard for me to put one before the other but I did feel the 525 had the upper hand in headtube stiffness and out of the saddle snap. 

The 525 could turn out to harsh for some, it's really stiff and designed as a racer but built with Fulcrum Racing 1 wheel and Hutchinson tubeless tires the wheels took a lot of harshness out of the road. If ridden with deep carbon wheels the 525 is for racing only it's not a cruiser but for all of us no matter if you race anymore or not the feeling of speed and exhilaration is well worth a few bumps is the road. I learn a lot about bikes from the people who buy them from me and I know this, "no one wants to buy less speed" 

Electronic only. Not sure why, I am sure there are many who would look at a new bike from Eddy Merckx but don't want a new battery operated group. I am a huge electronic shifting fan, I believe it's simply better but I prefer having the option. Hopefully this changes. 

Colors: Two colors at this time. Black/White and White/Black/Red. After some time up close with both I would do the glossy white before the matt black but have to say the matt black has a stealth bomber look that makes other stealth bikes look like stealth BB guns. 

Buy with confidence but know what you are getting into, this bike might make you want to race again. 

Sold as a frame for $4250 we also offer a Shimano Ultegra package for $6999 and a Super Record bike for $9699. We can build anything in between as well. 

Pinarello Dogma 65.1 2014 Pre-Order

2014 Pinarello Dogma Limited Time Pre-order

The Pinarello Dogma 65.1 2013 has been such a hit that many of the popular sizes and colors were already out of stock as early as March 2013. By special arrangement with Pinarello USA we will have available a select range of the most sought after 2014 colors for early delivery, mid to late June 2013.

Pre-order now. No deposit is required. Orders are only accepted through our web site for late June 2013 delivery.

The 4 colors pictured below are available right now but new colors will be announced soon for September 2013 thru April 2014 delivery.

The rumor mill has Pinrello bringing out a new bike for 2014 but the intel we have it certainly seems this is not true. The Dogma 65.1 will remain unchanged but for the colors. There has been some indication that 2014 Campagnolo EPS will have an internal battery and this will impact frame design in general and most certainly Pinarello frames but as yet there is no word of this from Campagnolo.

Retail price for the frames is $5299 and $5599 for the BOB. 

We offer the Dogma as a frame set or can custom build to your every desire. We also have a few suggested builds for the Dogma. 

Dogma 65.1 2014 Complete Bike Prices. 

Campagnolo Super Record EPS, Shamal Ultra, Deda Zero 100, Most Ocelot Bike $10,899
Campagnolo Record EPS, Shamal Ultra, Deda Zero 100, Most Ocelot Bike $10,199
Campagnolo Athena EPS, Zonda Wheels, Deda Zero 100, Most Ocelot Bike $8,699
Campagnolo Super Record, Shamal Ultra, Deda Zero 100, Most Ocelot Bike $9499
Campagnolo Record, Eurus Wheels, Deda Zero 100, Most Ocelot Bike $8,999
Campagnolo Chorus, Eurus Wheels, Deda Zero 100, Most Ocelot Bike $8,299


Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 9070, Fulcrum Rac. Zero, Deda Zero 100, Most Ocelot Bike $10,249
Shimano Ultegra Di2, Fulcrum Racing 1, Deda Zero 100, Most Ocelot Bike $8,899
Shimano Dura-Ace 9000, Fulcrum Racing 1 Deda Zero 100, Most Ocelot Bike $9,059
Shimano Ultegra 6800 11 Speed, Fulcrum Racing 3, Deda Zero 100, Most Ocelot Bike $7,699

SRAM Red 10sp, Zipp 101, Zipp Service Course, Most Ocelot Bike $9,099
SRAM Red 22 and SRAM Force 22 prices available by request. 

Bikes are complete built in our workshop and 100% customize-able to your needs. 

Pinarello Bolide Time Trial Bike

Expect to see Bradley Wiggens blitz the time trials in the Giro on this incrediable looking machine.

Designed in conjunction with team Sky the Pinarello Bolide Time Trial bike is state of the art aero design and sees Pinarello butt up against almost all the the UCI's rules for bike design.

Frameset includes: Frame/Fork/Headset/Seatpost/stem/handlebar/aero-extensions/brake calipers and levers

No delivery date or price yet but here at Glory we have a close relationship with Pinarello and expect to be of the first to get this machine out on the road. Contact us if you want to be updated on the Bolide.

Pinarello Bolide Rear brake. 

Pinarello Bolide Top Tube in Black/Gold reminiscent of the Rococo paint seems on those little porcelain figurines but no doubt a lot faster and more aerodynamic. 

Pinarello Bolide Time Trial Bike © Pinarello

Looking suspiciously like a faring the front brake cover will no doubt get a lot of attention.

 

Shimano Ultegra 6800 11 Speed Groupset

We knew this was coming but that made it no less exciting when we saw it. Ultegra 6800 11 Speed is on the way and for the most part it's 9000 Dura Ace with a not so flashy finish. The price however is really flashy at only $1250 for the full group we expect this to be the go to group when looking to price vs performance.

Trickle down from the 9000 group in almost every way the new 6800 11 speed has the same ergonomics the same chain and cassette and same crank/chainring dimensions as the 9000 so it's the ideal 2nd bike group for anyone with Dura-Ace 9000 or Dura-Ace Di2 9070 as wheels, chains and chainrings are interchangeable.

The new Ultegra 6800 group comes down in weight even with the extra gear. Total group weight for the 6800 is 2274g which is only 35g down from the 6700 which was 2309g but still a fair weight for the group given the expected reliability we have come to expect form Shimano.

The crank has the same 4 arm 5 bolt pattern as the 9000 and allows for a wide range of chainrings. 53-39, 52-36, 50-34, and now 46-36 gearing for cyclocross, possible on the same crank because of it's universal BCD. 

Two variations of the rear derailleur make for a huge range of possible gear ratios with the Mid cage GS derailleur accommodating up to 32T it now becomes possible to run a 34 x 32 and get close to a 1:1 ratio for the steepest climbs.  Cassettes are available in the following ratios. 11-23(212g), 11-25(232g), 12-25(243g), 11-28(251g) and 11-32 (292g)

Ultegra 6800 brakes feature the same two-axle symmetric pivot design as the 9000. Also available in direct mount which as yet it not very popular but promises to be so in the future. The cable and  housing set which is included with the STI shifters has the same lubricant Shimano introduced with the 9000. We found this to be quite effective. 

The front derailleur shares the longer lever arm of the 9000 and helps reduce front shifting effort by 35% over the previous generation, we reviewed this earlier this year and found it to be super impressive.  

Overall it's looking like the new Ultegra 6800 is going to make it difficult to spend the extra cash on Dura Ace and it's going to be a heated battle between the new SRAM Force 22 and the Ultegra 6800. Look out for upcoming reviews, we are going to do a shootout. 

Here for more details and prices: http://www.glorycycles.com/shul6811sp.html

Expected delivery for the Ultegra 6800 11 speed is mid June 2013 - sign up below or updates and special offers. 


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Ridley Fenix Review

At $1750 for the frameset the Ridley Fenix poses a few questions. What does a $1750 frame ride like and if it's any good then why are we paying over 5K for some frames? 

The Fenix is a full carbon frameset that not only looks great but has all the features of a top of the line frame. PF BB30 Bottom bracket, dual electric/mechanical cable management, tapered fork, HM carbon and some technical looking tube shapes.  Lotto sponsored riders chose the Fenix over the Noah and Helium SL for the spring classics and we saw it achieve some impressive results. 

The Ride: Smooth, stiff and very, very controllable. The Fenix really does give the rider extra confidence because of its excellent handling and smooth ride. It's a great descender and it's predictable nature allowed me to relax on descents and take corners very aggressively.  For climbing the build I tested was not exactly the lightest but with some climbing wheels and perhaps SRAM Red the Fenix could get under 16lbs and be a great allround bike for going both up and down any mountain. The front end of the Fenix is really stout, the tapered headtube and broad legs of the fork are what make it track so straight and consistent yet the rear of the bike is a little more forgiving with what Ridley call "flex areas".

The Look: The demo bike I had was plain black with white logos. Not a bad finish but nothing out of the ordinary. This might well be a big part of the pricing of the Fenix. It's no Dogma or custom Italian paint job but as we all know time is money when it comes to manufacturing and some simple decals and a single color make for finish that has little depth but gets the Fenix in at an agreeable price. The frame shapes are very bold and aggressive so much like the Damocles before it the Fenix has an attention catching stance that many find appealing. 

Who gets the Fenix: In my opinion there are two groups of cyclist who should consider the Ridley Fenix. 
1: The rider who already has a super bike and is looking for a second bike. Its pedigree and ride quality are sufficient to satisfy the most picky rider as a second bike but its looks and status appeal might fall a little short as the only bike. 
2: The second is the cost conscious rider looking to step up from that first Specialized or Trek to something just a little spicer and nicer to ride. In both cases the Fenix is an ideal all rounder, it covers all the bases and will not disappoint in a crit, hilly road race or century. 

Colors: for 2013 the USA has only the black with white logo or white with red logo but not the "Fenix Classic" scheme you may have seen in the euro press. Worth mentioning is the black bike is about 100g lighter than the white because of the weight of white paint. 

Weight: 1200g for the frame - this is for many a deal breaker when it comes to buying a new frame. Most of us like to see weight under 1000g but weigh the price vs weight of the Fenix and in most cases you can make the 200g back in wheels, cockpit or seatpost combos yet keep the ride quality and stiffness of the Fenix. 

In our books the Fenix is a sure winner buy with confidence and expect more miles to the $$ than anything you have ever ridden. 

http://www.glorycycles.com/ridleyfenix.html

Hand Built Road Wheels - We rate these as the very best available

Here at Glory we believe nothing tops handbuilt wheels, most pro riders feel the same and if you look carefully you will notice some of the top pro's ride wheels that are in some way customized for them. 

Handbuilt 2 cross (2x) and 3 cross (3x) just seem to offer more control and comfort than factory built wheels and the ability to customize spoke pattern, spoke type and color to match your ride gives them the edge over mass produced factory wheels. With this in mind we created this set for everyday use, fast riding and some racing. The combination of the Hed rim and the King hub with the best spoke available the Sapim CX-Ray makes for a wheel that's reasonably light, has some aero qualities and is totally bombproof. To top it off this build has numerous variables that allow you to customise for your weight and intended use. 

We see this wheelset as the beginning of any wheel collection, it's maybe not the set you would use for ultra fast or ultra climbing races but it is the set you will use for everything else. Add to this something like the Enve 3.4 or Zipp 404 tubulars and you have wheels for every occasion. 
Hand built here in the Glory Cycles Greenville workshop but Clive who has over 25 years off wheel building experience the wheels take on average 9-12 days before they ship out and every wheels is guaranteed for 2 years. Hed and King warranties still apply to the individual components. 

We offer the wheels in 4 build options we find to cover most riders but for anything else connect with us and we can put it together. 

The Allrounder - 32 rear build 3x and 28 front built 2x - this wheelset is a great combination of weight, aero and reliability. Ideal for riders 150-200 lbs and intended for everyday use and racing. 

The Workhourse - 32 front and rear built 3x - intended for years of long miles. Ideal for riders 150-240 lbs. You cannot break these and they stay true for years. 

The Sprint Racer - 28 front and rear built 2x - intended for daily use and racing. Ideal for crits and anything where you need to rail the corners and get out of the saddle during the week on a fast ride and also on the weekend in a race. Ideal for riders 150-180lbs 

The Light Racer - 28 Rear built 2x and radial front - intended for racing and breaking away from the field. Ideal for the rider 150-165lbs 

Al the builds are done using: 

Rims: Hed Belgium C2 clincher or tubular 

Spokes: Sapim CX-Ray bladed 

Nipples: Sapim Hex Loc Alloy

Hubs: Chris King R45 Stainless or Ceramic 

Skewers & rim tape are optional extras. 

Weight: 1550 grams for the Allrounder set and 1528 for the light racer the handbuilts are aroud the same weight as the Fulcrum Racing 1 or Mavic Ksyrium Elite but they are considerably faster because of the Hed rim's aero qualities.

Control & comfort: The 23mm wide Hed rims combined with the Sapim spokes built at a high tension create a ride quality unlike any other, the spokes brace each other at the contact point of the cross and this makes the rims stiffer then most factory built radial wheels yet the manner in which the wheels are laced makes them more comfortable to ride.

Tubeless & other tire options: We offer the Stan's road tubeless conversion for these wheels and we recomend this is the ultimate tire choice for speed, reliability and comfort. Many of our clients are reporting no flats for the entire life of the tire. The Hutchinson Fusion 3 is a perfect  all-rounder and the new Schwalbe Ultremo ZX promises to be the fastest most reliable tire on the road.  Veloflex handmade cotton open clinchers are a nice option as well or if you are going for the tubulars the Vittoria EVO SC brings back memories of old-school fast. 

Hed C2 Belgium Chris King R45 Custom Wheelset