Catlike Whisper Plus Helmet Review Reviewed by Ian Buchanan Description: The Catlike Whisper Plus is a top of the line road helmet made by Catlike, a specialty helmet company out of Spain. Some of the design intentions include lightweight, maximal cooling, fit/comfort, safety, style and functionality/design. Let’s break it down by each item: Weight: The…
Road Tubeless Clincher Tires By Jim Weaver, Service Manager Fit Werx, Vermont Traditionally there have been two choices of wheel/tire combinations: tubular or clincher. Tubular tires and wheels provide superior ride quality and lighter weight than clincher wheels, however, tubulars were not as easy to mount or change as clinchers as they require glue (TUFO…
REVL, by the Hive, Brakeset Reviewed by Jim Weaver Service Manager, Fit Werx in Vermont REVL brakes are manufactured by The Hive (www.bythehive.com), a relatively local company to us in Massachusetts. These brakes feature full carbon calipers, with 7075 aluminum and titanium hardware. The single pivot design saves weight, and The Hive says that the…
Rear Derailleur Adjustment Fundamentals Adjusting the rear derailleur on a bicycle can be a daunting task. However, armed with an understanding of what the primary adjustments control, basic derailleur adjustments are not as complicated as they seem. Required Tools: Philips screwdriver #2 or 2.5mm hex (SRAM RED) 5mm Hex wrench Overview – The two primary…
HAWK RACING BOTTOM BRACKETS By Jim Weaver Service Manager, Fit Werx, Vermont Sometimes the best products show up out of the blue and from previously unknown sources – all it takes is someone to realize that something can be done better. Sven Folmer of Hawk Racing did just that when he realized that many of…
FELT Z5 Felt Bicycles “Z” series is Fit Werx’s most popular line of Felt road bicycles. The geometry of the “Z” series makes it a good choice for all-around versatility, whether for the serious racer, or recreational use, for many riders. The Felt Z5 is constructed with a full carbon fiber frame and fork and…
Q) It seems like the in-the-drops shifting position of SRAM shifters can’t be beat due to the flexibility of the shifter itself. For crit racing, this is obviously a huge advantage and I’ve been thinking about trying to ditch my Shimano equipment for a SRAM group. Plus, you can’t beat the price point on SRAM…
Q) I have a question about the rear derailleur on my road bike. It is an Ultegra 6600 that has a squeak in it as you pedal. It appears to be the lower pulley wheel. I have replaced the lower pulley once and it solved the problem for a while – less than a season. …
’11 Cervelo R Series Bikes – What is New Overview: For the first time in five years, Cervelo revamped their R series offerings significantly in 2011. The R5 (which replaces the R3 SL) and the R3 utilize redesigned framesets, incorporating technology and design from the limited production R5ca, while the RS has been given a new…
Q) This could be very abstract sounding, but is it preferable for a rider between sizes to select the smaller size with a longer stem, or a larger size frame with a shorter stem? Is power lost in the smaller frame that is otherwise better distributed or better applied in the larger frame? – Christopher…
Cable Lubrication Cable friction is one of the leading causes of sluggish shifting. To lubricate your cables, simply apply a Teflon based lubricant to any exposed cable where it enters into a cable housing. Good access points for lubrication are often located at the shift lever, where the cables enter the derailleurs and under the…
Shimano Di2 Electronic Shifting (Digital Integrated Intelligence) By Geoff Hull Fitter and Product Consultant Fit Werx, MA While Shimano was not the first company to attempt an electronic drivetrain, Di2 is the first to prove just how good the concept is. Before I get started on Shimano’s electronics, let’s take a quick look at how…