Bar End Shifters: SRAM TT900 v SRAM R2C

SRAM TT900 https://www.sram.com/sram/road/products/900-aero-shifter

SRAM R2C https://www.sram.com/sram/road/products/sram-r2c-aero-shifters

I've used the SRAM TT500 and TT900 shifters for years and found them to be excellent.  Lightweight, easy to operate.  The spring in the unit would somehow break but there are easy fixes for that.  When a set of TT500s had a spring issue within the first year, rather than fix it myself I returned them to my LBS (Amlings Cycle and Fitness in Niles, IL).  Joe Reichert, owner of Amlings, returned it to SRAM and SRAM sent me a new set of TT900s as a replacement.  Nice move.

I recently purchased a set of SRAM R2C (return to center) shifters on the recommendation of another LBS.  I was not entirely convinced that these shifters would justify the difference in cost.  Over the past 6 weeks I've been pleased and impressed.  But, still ... the cost benefit issue still grates.

One of the problems I would have with the SRAM TT's is that it would require a small destabilizing of the steering to move up and down the cassette.  What with the local terrain (fast, descending switchbacks) that small element of destabilization troubled me.  In my case I'd have to use the palm of my hand to get the RD shifted the full range.  A problem.
 
The SRAM R2C shifting (friction on front, index in back) feels easier, too.  Not sure why. Less effort to move the derailleurs.  The fact that the lever is always in the same position (center) is another thing I don't have to think about when making fast changes.  (I noticed this yesterday while making quick up and down shifting when taking advantage of some short dips in the road while doing intervals.  I couldn't do this with the TT900s).

The SRAM R2C shifters are twice the cost of the SRAM TT900s.  Now that I have the SRAM R2Cs I can easily rationalize the purchase (washing away the buyer's remorse).  Having to do it over again?  I'd still get the R2Cs but I'd feel the `pain.'

Skull Valley Loop Challenge - 2015 - Strategy and Tactic

I waited until the day of the event to decide to do this year's SVLC. 

The day earlier I completed a 100 mile training ride on Salome Road, where the temperature averaged 105F.  I thought I'd be too beat up to do the SVLC the very next day.  But, apparently, I wasn't. 

In all my previous SVLC events I made it into a `race.'  This year I committed to a nice, pleasant `ride.'  I tend to ignore wisdom on shorter events and get myself sucked into making them all-out efforts.  So I made a PLAN for this year's 2015 Skull Valley Loop Challenge.

• At the start line I stayed well in the back so as not to get sucked into the race pace of the leaders.  I actually wound up chatting with a few folks - which I never do when riding. 
• SVLC starts out with a 6 mile, 1,000 foot climb.  I took my time.
• At the top of the hill there is a screaming 12.2 mile descent to Skull Valley and then a calm, rolling 7 mile descent to Kirkland.  No heroics or maximum efforts, though I did allow myself to hit 50+ mph within the first mile of the descent. 
• I gave it a decent, sub-maximal effort on the 7 miles to Kirkland.
• I allowed myself an `off in the bushes to take care of b'ness' a few miles after that - a rarity.
• And then, from Kirkland Junction, the dreaded 9 mile steady 4 - 7% climb past Wilhoit to Mile Post 298.  Again, I took my time.  To the point where I felt like falling asleep. 

With 13 miles remaining of twisting switchbacks, steep descents and ascents, I decided to let it all out and race.  I chased rabbits.  That is, anything or anybody in front of me would become a `target' for me to catch and pass. 

Those 13 miles were great fun.  I started to recognize the jerseys of so many of the people who passed me on that previous 9 mile climb.  A few took umbrage at a recumbent passing them on the ascents and attempted to `catch' me after I passed them.  If I don't want them to catch me I can make that happen.  (On longer events I may allow that recognizing that I don't want to "burn all my matches"). 

Finally, there is a 3.5 mile steady descent back into Prescott.  There was a stiff cross wind and head wind that kept my speed below 40 mph.  But, again, it was great fun zipping past the intersection police holding traffic. 

Intentionally a `ride' pace, not `race' pace.  But it was fun.  And I felt good energy throughout.  Pleased that I could accomplish a blistering hot flat 100 miles the day before and do fairly well on the Skull Valley Loop Challenge. 

Compared to what?

My wife is a geriatric social worker.  She's spent decades helping the elderly and very elderly make it to the end of the day. 

A number of her clients were and are holocaust survivors.  She'd come home describing their sad situations.  She'd tell me of their wisdom.  Despite the adversities that they experience they typically shared a sad comment: "Could be worse!"

Perspective.

One very funny day today. 

On my way to do a 120 mile training ride and got a flat tire 2 miles from home.  Had to cancel the training ride.  Could have been worse: flat tire in the godawful 120F desert.

Subaru 4 wheel drive requires 4 wheels of same size ... a new `shaved' tire would take 6 days to get here.  Could have been worse: 7 days.

The other 3 tires about due for replacement.  Bit the bullet and got them replaced.  Could have been worse: ... I can't think of anything worse.

Every person sincerely providing me service today got it wrong the first three times.  Could have been worse: I could have taken it personally.

People wondering why I was laughing uncontrollably to myself by 9AM.  Could have been worse:  I could have taken life's exigencies gravely. 

I am really glad to be alive and finally coming to a sense of appreciation of problems. 

I have it so dreadfully easy.   

Flat Road Training - Two `Perfect' Courses

Perhaps one of the flattest and safest courses I've ever encountered is the Borrego Springs, CA, 18 mile rectangle.  Borrego Springs, CA.  An average grade of 0.1%, 341 cumulative feet of climbing with only 19 feet of climbing per mile.  Excellent road surface.  Nothing but right turns (eliminates need to stop or cross lanes).  Almost no traffic. 

Recently I've found a nearby (well, 98 miles away) training course that is almost identical.  Even less traffic.  The Vulture Mine - Aguila Road course is south of Wickenburg, AZ, by about 25 miles.  An 18 mile out and back course, an average grade of 0.1%, 356 feet of climbing with the same 19 feet of climbing per mile.  It is an `out and back' course, which would require coming to the equivalent of a full stop every circuit (making it less desirable than the BS course for setting records or competitive events).  Excellent road surface as well. 

What may distinguish these two locations is the wind.  BS is at the base of a sudden 3,211 drop from the coastal mountains.  Such an abrupt change in elevation creates wind - simple as that. 

Yet, the VM-A route has an equal wind problem but for the opposite reason: it is in the middle of hundreds of miles of flat desert basin in Arizona.  The wind can howl to great delight with no protection given to surface dwellers. 

Salome, AZ

The Biblical story of Salome, a girl who agrees to perform the "dance of the seven veils" in return for John the Baptist's head on a silver platter.

Well, I didn't get to see no `dance of the seven veils' (biblical porn). 

But I did nearly lose my head on this ride today.

90 miles.
Burning sun (120 F radiant heat by mile 60).

The Bacchetta CA2 with no special equipment did a good job on the flats. 

Salome, AZ - 90 Miles - 120 F

Vulture Mine Road - Desert Magnificence

It is worth it. 

An hour and a half south of Prescott and about 3,500 feet lower lies a spectacular 80 mile out-and-back training course.  Great road.  Almost no vehicles.  Amazing, mesmerizing desert beauty. 

I did 58 miles.  It was hot (100F+).  Absolutely deserted.  Not a soul.  Almost windless.  Brilliant, pillow clouds.  Saguaros.  Ocotillo.  Cattle roaming.  Vultures soaring above.  Critters scittering across the burning road.  Immensely silent. 

Vulture Mine Road - 58 Miles - August 5 2015

Descent to Skull Valley - Aug 2013

Two years ago this month I conducted this performance run with the CA2. Since then I've modified the bike to be more aerodynamic: switched out the stem, riser and SRAM TT900s, seat recline 20 degrees, 700x23 noname wheels and replaced them with tiller, bullhorn bars and Zipp R2C levers, seat recline to 12 degrees, 700x23 Zipps.

I'll be getting the Garmin Vibe XE shortly and will film the same descent to assess differences in bike handling, performance and speed. The Vibe displays metrics (HR, speed, etc) on the vid. Should be interesting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDmNCAU9tvE