Category Archives: Product Review

Are Specialized road bike riders the equivalent of middle aged Porche drivers?

Dear Rouleurs,

It has been a while. MMT has been busy with his day job and whilst he’s been cycling plenty, post-YAFV, there hasn’t been must time for blogging. So this post is an instant remedy to that situation. Speaking of remedies, MMT has received his first COVID vaccination, this year’s flu shot and is booked in for the second COVID shot in August. As Victoria is back in Lockdown 4.0 (really…who could be bothered counting these things :-), MMT urges everyone in Australia to get vaccinated…now. Seriously, what could be more important than being vaccinated against a life threatening illness.

MMT digresses. So whilst being out and about, MMT has occasionally crossed paths with an unknown Specialized road cyclist. MMT reckons that he’s seen this rider a few times heading to or from Mordialloc, always wearing Specialized clothing and riding a Specialized roadbike. This rider is reasonably fast, pretty grumpy but not Peter Sagan. MMT couldn’t identify the make of the bike but wonders whether the following applies. See graphic below.

It is interesting what a quick internet search reveals, such as this opinion by https://www.probikecorner.com/is-specialized-bike-overpriced/

“Specialized offers some of the most expensive bikes on the market. While they do go on sale on occasion, even their sale price is going to be more expensive than 99% of bikes from competing manufacturers.”

Or this from Bike Radar – https://www.bikeradar.com/features/why-are-bikes-so-expensive/

Ouch…so really is Specialized the equivalent of Porche or BMW? If so what does that say about individual that buys one? Middle crisis victim or merely appreciating the finer things in life?

Until next, stay safe, get vaccinated and ride lots

MMT

MMT’s gotta a new bike…woo hoo!!

Dear Rouleurs,

After many frustrating hours of window shopping MMT has finally purchased a new bike. Woo hoo!!! MMT has joined the ranks of cyclists that now own something loosely referred to as a gravel bike. MMT will revisit that theme later. The new bike is a 2021 Giant Content AR1. The AR bit stands for ‘All Road’.

Essentially was looking for a better quality commuter road bike that could handle more sedate offroad paths like railtrails. The other key requirement to The Giant Contend provides this via its relaxed geometry aluminium frame that can fit tyres up 38mm on 700c rims. The Contend comes with 32mm tubeless tyres, which MMT is having to get used to. MMT is struggling with the idea of running tyres at 50-65psi and not being able to easily fix punctures.

The other main requirement was for the bike have a drive train compatible with MMT’s Tacx Neo 2 trainer. MMT has Shimano Ultegra (50-34 and 11-32) on his Domane and trainer and wanted similiar groupset for reasons of compatibility. Happily, the Giant Contend is equipped with 105 (50-34 and 11-34) and not the more gravel popular GRX. Its also has hydraulic disc brakes…hooray.

Here’s the spec details plundered from Bikeradar.com

  • Shimano 105 11-speed groupset with a non-series RS510 chainset
  • Shimano 105 hydraulic disc brakes
  • Giant P-R2 Disc wheelset
  • Giant Gavia Fondo 2 32mm tyres
  • Giant D-Fuse carbon seatpost
  • Giant D-Fuse D-shaped handlebars for increased comfort
  • 9.62kg claimed weight (medium)
  • note: that that its also has carbon fibre forks
  • Β£1,499 / $US1,550 / $AUD $2,499

It took MMT a long time to track down this bike. It first appeared on MMT’s radar late last year and has had generally favourable reviews. This one by Dave Rome at CyclingTips was one that convinced MMT, this was the correct choice.

Independant reviewers of the Contend have had consistent gripes.

a) The 105 shifters seem to rattle quite loudly on uneven surfaces – this is completely true. In fact, after riding super quiet and smooth Ultegra, its quite unnerving. MMT felt like that some bit of the bike was going to fall off.

b) The standard Giant tyres are a bit crap – the Gavia Fondo 2 tubeless aren’t very supple/grippy. Not sure about that one, they look more like commuter tyres than out and out gravel. So as long as they last and don’t puncture MMT can live with them.

c) The standard Giant rims are heavy – this is also true, the rims are heavy and the spokes are steel. A quick Google search suggests they weight just over 2.1 kgs. Hopefully this means they are indestructible and if broken cheap and easy to fix.

MMT’s other two gripes are that:

d) The Approach saddle just feels weird. Its quite hard and wide compared to the Selle C2 or quite firm Trek Montrose that MMT has placed his posterior on recently. If MMT could find a replacement Selle that was sub-$150 he would have bought it by now, and

e) The Shimano 105 shifter hoods are significantly bigger than the Ultegra hoods and feel quite bulbous to grip.

However this is all part and parcel of deciding which compromises you can live with on a sub-$2,500 bike. Coming back to Dave Rome’s review, fundamentally the bike is sound, has great quality running gear, a few minor quirks and is a bit heavy. It also only comes in a single colour…midnight blue. That sounds like a fair trade to MMT.

Until next time, ride safe, stay safe

MMT

Product Review: Loffi Cycling Gloves

Dear Rouleurs,

Melbourne’s seemingly endless run of cool sunny days has continued well in June. MMT has been out and about on his beloved Domane, most days, cruising around the bayside suburbs. Melbourne hasn’t returned to pre-COVID 19 normal yet, but it is noticeable that traffic has increased. So with that in mind its been with some pleasure that MMT has been riding around in Loffi gloves.

MMT thinks he first saw Loffi gloves in an edition of Treadlie, one of the more enjoyable Gen-Y/Hipster magazines available in Australia. Treadlie has a reputation for being a ‘cool hunter’ magazine for cycling afficiandos in Radelaide. MMT has even visited the original shop back in 2010. MMT digresses.

So back to Loffi gloves. The supplier Loffi, is based in the UK, which means that if you live in somewhere like Australia, the exchange rate doesn’t work in your favour. MMT purchased one pair of the Glove 2.0 for 35 UK quid. The picture shows what the gloves are like. So quite apart from being ‘cute’ they are also extremely warm and comfortable. They are perfect for cool winter rides and seem to handle bad weather very well. So far MMT rates them πŸ™‚ πŸ™‚ πŸ™‚ πŸ™‚ out of five smiliey marvs.

Happy, happy clappy gloves that are warm and soft on the hands.

They took a few weeks to arrive not helped by Fedex needing MMT’s mobile number in Australia. MMT received a somewhat embarassed email from the owner of Loffi, Jack Hudspith. Personal email from the owner…whoah that did happen ;-)!!! The owner included a pair of thermal inners at no extra expense to make up for the slight shipping SNAFU.

The origin story for the goves can be found here in the company’s mission statement. here’s a chunk of it liberated for your edification and education:

And so the idea for Glove was born – with the hope that a friendly, human interaction such as a simple wave could be the answer – and a step in the right direction at least. Ever since, our aim has been to help prevent negative interactions, spread some goodwill and encourage more people to cycle and create a friendlier environment on the roads.

The wave and the smile on our gloves are basic and positive tools for social interaction, have no language barriers and are universally understood, which we think has made them so popular around the world – we’re up to 43 countries and counting!

MMT is seriously considering buying a second pair and hopes that Loffi is working on a fingerless version of the glove for the warmer months.

Until next time, ride safe and be safe

MMT

Product Review: Fausto Coppi Mug

Dear Rouleurs,

It has been a long, long, long time since MMT did a product review. However, something special popped up, that was just too cool. MMT felt compelled to share with all those digital citizens, who quite sensibly, pay no attention to this blog.

Originally, MMT found it on the https://shop.rouleur.cc/collections/mugs-coffee, where, distressingly, it was sold out. MMT then googled the maker and found it available at https://thehandmadecyclist.com/collections/mugs. A few weeks later MMT was drinking coffee out of his new favourite mug. Sadly, they are, now, out of stock.

This bit of blurb is stolen directly from the ‘Handmade Cyclist’ website.

“Fausto Coppi ‘Il Campionissimo’ is one of the true legends of cycling. Idolised in Italy, his reputation lives on as one of the classiest riders of all time. Twice winner of the Tour de France and five-time winner of the Giro d’Italia, Coppi was famed for his effortless pedaling style and climbing ability. But Coppi was also a master of cycling’s dark arts, never more succinctly put than in this classic quote.”

“The design pays homage to the classic Bianchi jersey Coppi wore in his heyday – when jerseys and bikes were simple and beautiful.”

Now due to the current state of the UK Pound vs Aussie Dollar, roughly $AUD30 + freight, this was a rather expensive mug. But just look at it. Its sooooo….beautiful. Also, MMT secretly hopes that when he reappears back at work post-COVID-19 planning, that the quote will freak out the FIGJAM Gen Y, MMT works with.