I must apologize. For all you readers who keep in touch with us, I’m sorry it’s been so long. People having babies, going on vacation, taking longer summer rides than usual – you know how it is. It’s summer, and thanks to you, we’ve been very busy. But enough about that, let’s get on to the sweet new product.
Shimano Ultegra 6700
First is the availability of 6700… finally. We’ve had it ordered forever and it’s finally here and ready for purchase. Some things are still on the way, so check back often. All we can say is wow. It looks as good as Dura Ace, if not better, and actually works better. I say works better because they fixed the 2-gear shift limit found on the DA shifters. Now you can shift down 3 gears at a time again. This is also the first ever Ultegra with carbon fiber. The lever blades are now made of the prominent material and boy are they sexy! Check out our these pics:
The increased ergonomics of the new hoods is a welcome change
Ultegra 6750 Crank
Everyone here is in agreement that the new crank looks amazing. But what you can’t see is even better. Hollowglide technology, or Shimano’s hollow chain ring, increases the stiffness of the big ring considerably. You can really feel it when you stand on the pedals for a sprint, it simply feels faster because all your power is going right to the rear wheel. Shifting force has been decreased, making front ring changes totally fluid. Check out artscyclery.com to see the rest.
Prologo TR Saddles
I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again. Prologo has taken the Pro Peloton by storm. How? Simple. Make a saddle really comfortable first, then make it light and people will like it. Seems obvious but so far, with the exception of Specialized’s Body Geometry saddles and the few random wacky saddle companies, other saddle companies have focused on weight and/or looks to get you to buy the saddle. I say weight because there are some ridiculously light saddles out there and we all know they aren’t comfortable (that’s why they make XP or extra padding versions) of them. I say looks because it seems like everyone and their mother thinks if a saddle has a hole in it that automatically means it’s better. Large companies have caught on and now you can get
almost two versions of the same saddle, a holy one and a “medically defunct” one, pun intended. The only problem is an uncomfortable saddle with a hole in it is still an uncomfortable saddle. What’s nice about Prologo, and also Fizik for that matter, is their commitment to correct saddle position, which ultimately determines saddle comfort. Prologo designs it’s saddles to be comfortable, which is why they weigh a little more than most. After 30 miles when your butt’s sore, does it really matter how light your saddle is? Padding and base design are also two incredibly overlooked variables to the Perineal comfort equation. All bases without carbon in them will eventually sag, forcing the rider into one position. All saddles without the proper padding will make you saddle sore. Prologo TR bases have ample amounts of carbon in them and are designed to work in conjunction with the padding. Prologo designed AD456 or Active Density padding to make their saddles ultimately comfortable no matter where you sit on them and the increased amount of carbon in the base guarantees that all those positions will be available to you for years to come. TR stands for Team Replica which is also pretty cool because you’re riding the same saddles as the Schleck brothers, Sparticus, Carlos Sastre (before his sponsor changed to Fizik – he now rides an Antares) and Filippo Pozzatto. Check out the new Prologo TR saddles here. I’ll be testing each one soon, so check back for reviews on these professional level saddles.
Until then
Hammer On
