Step 1 in the new bike build is done!

I took the the LD806 fork to my LBS this afternoon to have the crown race installed. I don't own the tool, and I was afraid I'd bend it if I tried to jury rig something. It took the guy about 5 seconds. I should have done it myself.

I thought about having them install the headset, too, but since it's an integrated headset, it doesn't need to be pressed into the head tube. I think this is going to be a really easy first build.

Tip

If you're building a bike from scratch, you should have your LBS install the headset. Non-integrated headsets need to be pressed into the head tube with a special tool. Unless you build a lot of bikes, it's probably not necessary to buy this tool.

Building my new Leader 735TT

Ever since I've become a triathlete, I've really had a fascination with bicycles. I've learned to do a lot of maintenance-type work, but I really want to learn how to assemble a bike from scratch. As you miay have gleaned from my last post, the opportunity has arrived with my new Leader 735TT frame, LD-806 carbon fork and Cane Creek IS-6 headset.

This will be my first ever bike building experience, and I wanted to follow my progress in my blog. So, this is the first in a series of posts chronicaling my first bike build. Here are the parameters.

I have an older road bike, a 2002 Trek 2000, which I've been using as my triathlon bike for the last two years. The bike came stock with a mix of Shimano Tiagra and 105 triple ring components. I upgraded to Ultegra and Dura Ace double, but I kept the old components (and some Dura Ace triple components I had purchased but never used).

In order to get "permission" from the wife (or as I like to call her, the voice of sanity) I agreed to buy only a new frameset and move the higher end 9 speed components over to the new bike, and put the older 9 speed equipment back on the old bike. So, here's how the bikes will be re-built:

Components	Trek 2000	Leader 735TT
Fork	OCLV Carbon Classic	Leader I806 Carbon
Headset	STR Aheadset	Cane Creek IS6
Bottom Bracket	Dura Ace Triple	Dura Ace Double
Front Derailleur	Tiagra Triple	Dura Ace Double
Rear Derailleur	105 Triple	Dura Ace Double
Crank Set	Dura Ace 52/42/30	Dura Ace 53/39
Brakes	Alloy dual pivot	Ultegra
Pedals	105 SPD	Ultegra SPD-SL
Shifters	105 Triple	Dura Ace Bar End
Brake Levers	Shimano 105	Dia Compe 188
Seatpost	Bontrager Sport	Aerus Composites Aero

So, what I will do is remove the DA/Ultegra components from the Trek 2000 and replace them with the Tiagra/105 parts listed in the table. Then, I'll clean the DA/Ultegra components and install them on the Leader 735TT.

My Bike Frame Has Arrived!!

My new Leader 735TT bike frame, I806 carbon fork and Cane Creek IS-6 headset came in yesterday. I can't wait to assemble this stuff. Pictures of the frame and fork are at the right of this page.

I unpacked the stuff, and examined it to make sure everything is okay, and that there was no damage cause by UPS. There doesn't appear to be any, except the frame has an indentation on the drive side, directly beneath the part where the front deraileur attaches to the frame. I looked on the Leader Bikes website, and it looks like the frame is supposed to have this indentation, so I'm not going to sweat it. I can't tell if the red & white colored frame (I got the black one) has the same indentation, but it probably does.

So, I read through the stuff that came with the shipment, and it looks like this will be a fairly easy build. That's a good thing, considering I'm a true novice.

The IS-6 headset from Cane Creek is an integrated headset system. Not "pure" or ideal for my tastes, but I'm sure it'll be fine. It does require that the headtube be specially designed to fit Cane Creek integrated headsets. Fortunately, the 735TT has been specifically designed for this type of headset. The head tube comes faced and reamed, and should not require any modification or preparation for installing the headset.

The cool thing about the IS-6 headset is that it doesn't need caps, which means I don't need to use a headset press... good thing, 'cause I don't have one. In addition, the fork crown race looks like it will be installable without a fork crown race tool, because it has a "gap" that should make it possible to seat it properly on the crown of the fork without using the tool. We'll see how that goes.

This should be fun!!!

My New TT Bike

I'm getting a new bike! My wife just approved a the purchase of a new bike frame, a new carbon fork and a headset from Leader Bikes, and will use them to build my first TT bike! The picture to the right is from the Leader Bikes website, and will give you an idea of what the bike will look like.

I can't get my better half to approve all new components, so I'll be moving my 9 speed Shimano Ultegra/Dura Ace components over to this bike, and will put the original Shimano 105 triple components back on my road bike (a year 2002 Trek 2000). When I'm finished, the TT bike will have the following components:

• Bottom Bracket - Dura Ace 9 sp double
• Front Derailleur - Dura Ace 9 sp double
• Rear Derailleur - Dura Ace 9 sp double
• Cranks - Ultegra 9 sp double, 53/39
• Cassette - Ultegra 9 sp 12/25
• Chain - Ulegra 9 sp
• Aero bars - Syntace C2
• Handlebars - Profile Design bullhorns
• Stem - Ritchey 90 mm 0 offset
• Shifters - Dura Ace 9 sp bar end
• Pedals - Dura Ace SPD-SL
• Brake Calipers - Ultegra
• Brake lever - Dia Compe 188
• Headset - Cane Creek IS-6
• Seatpost - Aerus Composites aero carbon
• Saddle - Fiz'ik Arione

I've never fully built up a bicycle before, but I've always wanted to try. This will be a great project for me!!!

2005 5430 Half Race Report

Essentially a repeat of the 2005 HalfMax, only there was an added twist. For some weird reason, I think I had a panic attack on the swim. Got 500 meters in, and suddenly felt like my wetsuit was choking me. I couldn't breathe, and had to swim over to a row boat and hang on for a minute to calm myself down. Really weird. I'm a good swimmer, and this has never happened to me.

The bike was a really fast course... but of course, I only got to see half of it. Once again, I had serious back pains, and had to quit after 28 miles. I think it's my bike fit, as I KNOW I was properly hydrated for this race.

2005 5430 Sprint Race Report

This race was terrific! I needed a good day to get over the fiasco that was the HalfMax this year. I like racing a sprint or two, because it's fun to go out and just blitz the course sometimes.

Swim - 0.5 miles

This was a good, fast swim. The results have me down at 13:44, but I think I was a little faster than that. The timing mat was up a ways from the beach, and I looked at my watch as I came out of the water, and it was closer to 13 minutes.

Bike - 17 miles

Fast, fast fast bike course. The first 4 miles or so is a slight uphill, but when you get past that, it's screaming fast. I averaged nearly 22.5 mph on the bike, and came in with a 46 minute split over the 17 miles. I can't wait to see the course for the 5430 Half.

Run - 5k

This is my weakest leg. I've run a 24 minute 5K leg before, but my run training has been crappy this year. I ended up doing an 8:30 pace, for a 26 and-a-half minute 5K run. Not my best, but certainly not my worst either.

Total: 1:29:15

2005 HalfMax Race Report

This was a majorly disappointing race for me. I'm a huge fan of the long course races, and was looking forward to doing three Half IMs after a terrific first Ironman race last year. I did this race in 2004, and it was my best Half IM race yet. After a really good swim, I was able to hold nearly 22 mph on the bike, and I actually PRed my stand alone half marathon time.

This year was exactly the opposite. After moving to Denver in August 2004, I thought the altitude training would have me ready for another PR. But, after good, dedicated winter training, I pretty much lost interest in my workouts starting in April. Although I did most of them, I think my lackluster attention to detail made them mostly "junk" miles, instead of good, focused training.

St. Louis was really hot this year. Although the race was 3 weeks later last, it was a much cooler day in 2004. After a 33 minute 1.2 mile swim, I had a good transition, and jumped on my bike ready to tackle the new 2 loop, 56 mile bike course.

Everything was great until about 20 miles in. Suddenly, I had terrible spasms in my back, and I lost all power in my legs. I managed another 8 miles, and decided to call it a day. No way would I be able to finish the bike, let alone run a half marathon after that.

So, my day ended early, and I watched the other competitors finish their races. I'm glad I didn't push it, but I REALLY hate DNF'ing a race.