Weekly Picks, Promos & Premes presents some of the new products that amateur racers like us will either lust after, or at least be able to afford. Designed to be a good mix of the rational and the aspirational, it will help you save money on gear - and then show you where to spend those savings.
Hollywood Racks Buzz Rack
The Buzz Rack is a roof rack that holds 2 bikes in fork mounts, and also cradles a 1.5 cubic foot weatherproof padded bag (included). What I like about it is its open platform - it will work on Yakima, Thule or the factory crossbars already on your car (even the flat wide ones). Sometimes using the OEM bars is a problem with an aftermarket carrier because the OEM bars are often on an arc, not perfectly horizontal. So unless a bike is in the dead center of the rack, it will tip to one side. I'm anxious enough about my carbon bling when I'm racing. I don't want to worry about it on the way home as well. The Buzz Rack solves that problem because it's a full system that attaches on both sides of the crossbars. Even if your OEM bars arc, the bikes remain level. Plus it comes with racks for 2 bikes, encouraging you to carpool. You ought to, you know.
MSRP $359.95
More at www.hollywoodracks.com
Neuvation C50 Carbon Tubular Wheelset
"If you can't afford to replace it, don't race on it." Words to live by, especially this year. Guess that means no carbon tubbies for you. Or does it? Right now, Neuvation C50 Carbon Tubulars are $599 a pair. A pair. At 50mm depth they're a hair shallower than the Zipp 404s at 58mm. And their 1480 gram weight is 250 grams heavier. If that difference is worth over $1100 more to you, keep saving for the Zipps. But if you want the aero lift of deep carbon and inimitable feel of tubulars, there is no better buy in all of cycling. And if you have a 24-hole Power Tap hub already, Neuvation tells me they will build a C50 around it for $250.
MSRP $599 (normally $1000)
More at www.neuvationcycling.com
2009 Blue Triad
We're moving off the "value" theme for this one (but not entirely - keep reading). But it's worth it, because this bike is ineffably beautiful. The new Triad from Blue is their top-of-the-line TT machine. It's full carbon with the rear brake (included) tucked behind the bottom bracket, internal cable routing, an adjustable seatpost that allows the seat angle to move between 76 and 80 degrees, and curved chain stays that shield the rear derailleur from that pesky wind resistance. As with all Blue bikes, the paint scheme is at once aggressive and classy. At $2500 MSRP it's about half the price of the 2009 Cervelo P4, though I recognize the difference between an absolute value and a relative one. But the Triad comes with a gift-with-purchase: once you return the Warranty card to Blue, they'll give you one free hour at the A2 Wind Tunnel in Charlotte, NC to fine tune your position on your sleek new ride. Ask Pete Cannell if the trip to A2 is worthwhile.
MSRP $2500
More at www.rideblue.com
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