Bicycle Blog Cyclelicious

Delta 7 Ascend road bike review Who cares about the bike...you rode with Liz Hatch and didn't get any pictures of that? You stink!!! Here you go, Ghost.

KWC has a better one. According to Delta 7, they performed wind tunnel tests on this frame expecting more wind resistance from all of the surfaces and they wanted to quantify just how bad the turbulence would be. There's indeed more drag because of all the flow through the lattices, but the drag induced by vortices behind the tubes completely disappears, resulting in a net benefit: the IsoTruss design results in less drag than conventional tubes. Thanks for the cover story. This piece about it being superior over conventional tubes as far as aero drag is concerned is all fluff in so far as they don't publish evidence backing up this claim. I have some hard time believing that a TT bike fitted with an Isotruss frame will outperform a top of the line Cervelo in a timed event.

I wrote extensively about this Isotruss structure and some of its advantages and disadvantages, particularly in the context of building a bike with it.

Intro to Isotruss Open Lattice StructureShortcomings Ron: Regarding aero and TT bikes, that's precisely why I weasled out by mentioning "conventional tubes." Still, this bike is much more comfortable to ride than any TT bike.

Thanks for pointing to your earlier articles about Delta 7's application of iso truss structures to bikes. Yes, the bike is a little over the top and I've been skeptical of the design, but then I hopped on the bike and -- wow, what a bike.

Regarding the 'cheese grater' look -- the surface is smooth. You're not going to lose skin or catch clothing on this bike. Anybody who's looked at this bike knows this right away, so I'm puzzled about the 'cheese grater' claim. The Aerodynamic properties of the IsoTruss are directly proportional to the "solidity ratio" of the tube, or the percentage of open space-to-truss. For example, the larger the diameter of an IsoTruss, the less wind drag it has. Also, the distance from peak-to-peak on the IsoTruss will affect the density of the weave, thus affecting the drag coefficient. When you compare the IsoTruss tubes on the road bike to those on the mountain bike, you can see that the mountain tubes were optimized for strength-to-weight without any regard for aerodynamics. The mountain bike has a shorter peak-to-peak distance and some very small diameter IsoTrusses in the rear triangle, while the road bike was designed to strike more of a balance between strength, stiffness, weight, and aerodynamics. The peak-to-peak length is much more elongated and the IsoTruss members are thinner. That's one of the main reasons why the road bike has a "traditional" rear triangle instead of the IsoTruss rear triangle that the mountain bike has. At those small diameters, the IsoTruss would create more drag than the rearward vortex that it eliminates, so no net gain.

The road bike frame was tested at the "A2" wind tunnel in North Carolina, which is a highly respected aerodynamics laboratory both in the cycling industry as well as the NASCAR racing industry. As stated by the author, our hopes were not very high originally. we simply wanted to know how the bike compared to a conventional cylindrical tube frame to see if there was any aerodynamic penalty in the new design. The net result was that the Delta 7 bike had slightly less drag than the classic cylindrical tube frame, but the difference was only by a handfull of grams, so it was a pleasant surprise, but not worthy of a major marketing angle. Surely a frame built with an airfoil shape will be more aerodynamic, but the Delta 7 Ascend is not intended to be a time trial bike, but rather a swift nimble all-around bike with a tilt toward agressive climbing, cornering, and sprinting. IIRC, the Isogrid folks claim that you can take a pickup truck over the frame without breaking it.

IMHO, that's a better feature to sell me the bike on than aerodynamics.... but I don't claim to be a normal cyclist. :D Wirehead: I remember a video about that from one of the titanium frame builders. It would be cool if Delta 7 has something like that :-) For a road bike, the advantages of iso-truss are moot. For an MTB, this is just a bad application. For the hefty price tag of the bike, it has not bothered to follow the trends in the market. Amateur riders may want to mess around with oil, and dirt all the time. We're in the age of belt drives, trying to slowly rout out the chains. And looks are everything down on the sales floor. Using the Isotruss on a muddy singletrack is going to be a cleaning nightmare. Unless you have your own washman, I don't see how anyone could enjoy wasting time plucking out leaves, flowers and mud from 'trusses', whatever the perceived advantage they may otherwise offer the rider maybe. There are plenty of all-round designs in the market without holes in them that are 'nimble', and aggressive without the price of an arm and a leg. Anything said about the aerodynamics of the bike is to be taken with a pinch of salt unless data is presented showing the effects of air at various angles. Maybe they should supplement their frames with a free cleaning rag and water hose. My brother and I are both former racers. There is a climb near our house that we have done many times, with 6-10 percent grades, and over 2,000 feet of climbing. I got a chance to demo the Ascend today. Despite the fact that we had to ride in the afternoon in 100 degree temps, and didn't have the tail wind we have had lately, I still beat my best time this year by over 1 minute 30 seconds. If I had gone in the morning with cooler temps, I have no doubt I would have gone at least another 30 seconds faster (the heat killed me). This bike is so stiff, it is unbelieveable! You get out of the saddle, and there is a transfer of power to the wheel that is like nothing I have ever felt. After reaching the top, my brother and I switched bikes, and did the last steep sections again. This time I was on his Specialized Rubaix with Dura Ace, and he was on the Ascend. The Rubaix felt like it had a flat tire by comparison. My brother could not believe the difference, and after 2 days of giving me crap for considering upgrading my bike, suddenly was trying to figure out how to afford one too. If you live in the mountains, don't try this bike unless you are ready to buy. It climbs like nothing else. Oh, and my bathroom scale said this incredible stiff bike only weighed 14.5 lbs with water bottle cage :) Yokota, FYI Delta 7 just launched a Facebook and Twitter account. They posted a link to your review. Feel free to post a few comments on the review or upload the video file. This info is really helpful and interesting for people to get a hold of. Also become a fan and suggest it to some friends to keep the conversation going. Cheers!

Reviews tab: http://www.facebook.com/pages/edit/?id=123803596340#/pages/Payson-UT/Delta-7-Sports/123803596340?v=app_6261817190&viewas=537706172 Thank you Allison. Are you with SOAR? I left the comment a few weeks ago where I mention how much faster I was climbing the hill near my house with my brother on the Delta 7. Since writing that comment, I demoed the Cervelo R3 for a weekend as well. I bought the Delta 7 last week! :) I believe that is what they call putting your money where your mouth is.... LOVE this bike! Hi Rich, and thanks for that update. GT Aerostream city bike Outstanding review! I hadn't noticed how much improved the bike made her. But wow!, what a difference! Well done! "Valerie let me ride her bicycle and I can report that it indeed provides a very nice and smooth ride."

I bet she does...

I'd notice the bicycle if the model weren't hot like napalm! You are so funny! I'd better get one of those bikes, I'm looking a bit bedraggled lately.
Seriously, that's a great looking bike, and less parts to rust compared to older 3-speeds. I wonder if the basket can be purchased separately? Huh, what bike?

Oh wait, now I see it. "provides a very nice and smooth ride."

Did you mean a "swoopy" ride? I imagine that comes from the exaggerated fork rake. Wait a minute! Are you saying that if I ride that bike I'll look like Valerie? 'Cause right now I look too much like the other model, you know, the Elvis impersonator in spandex.

Oh, the horror! Knog Bullfrog front light Chafed and sunburned I just got their sample pack in the mail, too. The anti-friction cream is pretty good stuff. We'll be reviewing it for our site in the coming weeks.

Weird that a couple of semi-nerdy, IT bike-commuter types are now in the same testing pool as Mia Hamm, Steve Nash and Amanda Beard...I'm not worthy!! Speak for yourself, semi-nerd! :-) I set myself up for that one, didn't I? The point is, I'm no pro athlete, yet I get to test this stuff. I like that! Bicycle product reviews Yeah, our post to blog isn't working on the live site, but we fixed it for our next release.

It's pretty hard to explain what we do, but you did a really good job so thanks! Monkey Electric wheel lights (and a coupon code) Do the lights affect the ride? I'd think that the weight of the lights would make the wheel unbalanced.

They do look super cool! When you get going fast enough you can notice the wheel bumping up and down a little. I mounted mine as close to the hub as possible to minimize that.

The instructions also note that the lights should be mounted inside the spokes. I ignored that and mounted them outside the spokes, but that results in the battery case brushing up against the chainstay. It's only 5% off your purchase, not 25%. Thanks Anon for that update. The stated offer was made in 2008 and was good "until July 15, 2008" (emphasis added). Princeton Tec Swerve bicycle tail light Welp, some people really dislike fast flashes.

THink they'll make turn signals? :D :) Those do look like some nice mounting pieces. I had a heck of a time getting a light onto the rack on my wife's bike. One of those would have been great:) Bicycle iPod speakers review Richard,

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/29/nyregion/29bikes.html Thanks, Johnny St. Vrain. I like the bikes, the bikes that go "boom!" Reelight bicycle light review great idea but not enough dazzle for me :) :) Sure they're not all that bright, but Sue, they *flash*! ;-) Hey SueJ - i've found that in the city they're bright enough for every day use. Just as long as you don't need to find your way with them! In UK, the law required rear lights must be at least 35cm high from the ground.

If any one install this reelights on a 26 inch wheels normal bike, the back lights are less than 35cm from the ground, therefore is illegal.

Anything happened on road, other side lawyer will rise the question about the lights

Other country may have same law. Good point, Mark. Reelight claims their lights comply with the 35 cm height requirement on everything except bikes with very small tires, but 26 inch mountain bike tires are, in reality, more like 25 inches or about 63 to 64 centimeters, so axle mounted lights are indeed below the 35 cm minimum height. I'll have to remember to measure this tonight when I get home.

700c/29" tires should be fine, though. Raleigh Coasting review A bottle opener but no fenders? How many times have I been out on my bike in the Seattle area -- 155 days of rain/year -- and said, "Man, if I just had a bottle opener!" I think I'd opt for fenders, but I'm not their target audience. I *am* quite accustomed to coaster brakes - I usually get a thousand miles or so on my Schwinn Racer - they're still a nuisance. The drum brakes on my Gazelle (and now the Xtra) are much sweeter and simpler to deal with.
I do think this is misguided marketing by people who don't "get" cycling. Did the folks who dreamed this up get out and ride ... more than once?
I saw the cute little presentation the Trek prez gave in Taipei. Had to wonder; he gets on a soapbox about getting the bike companies to invest more into advocacy (hooray! great idea!) ... and cites all kinds of practical cycling evidence (that we should have more folks riding to work, etc) ... but then look on the Trek site for evidence that they're promoting that... where's my magifying class? Oh, and I forget who made the point that people dont' say "I would ride my bike but I don't understand gears." They say "I'd ride my bike but an SUV will cream me." (Then they get in their SUV and ...) On a national scale, Trek gives a big chunk of change to Bikes Belong, which is the industry trade group. I've read also about some significant things they're doing in Madison, WI, leading and paying for a lot of the effort that's needed to be recognized as a LAB "Bicycle Friendly Community."

Trek execs have also managed to get their neighbors at Pacific Cycles involved in advocacy, which I think is a pretty big win.

I thought the fenders were a pretty big drawback too at first, but then if you think about the target market of "latent cyclists," they're not going to be out riding in the rain. To uncork the latent cyclists will require non-bike related issues to be addressed... a coaster can never replace road safety. As long as parking is virtually free and abundant, no amount of simplification features will be sufficient. However gas at $10/gallon would may help simplify certain decisions...

Jack Funny how I keep seeing exactly that comment about gas prices... except that the tipping price keeps getting higher. Once it was two bucks a gallon that would get people on their bikes; then three, then five... as long as it's gradual, I don't think prices will do it for most folks.
The right rah-rah "Do it for the red white and blue," I think, could do it. Gas prices are one of the key ingredients in deciding how we live. We have embedded the cost of fuel into virtually every product. Trouble is fuel prices are still too low and now just approaching the prices paid over 30 years ago.

From an individual's perspective, when they reach a level that when filling up the SUV every month is more than the mortgage payment, much will change. Either Iraq is the 51st state or most SUVs will be sitting in back yards as a club house for the kiddies.

What's funny is how over 30 years ago, President Carter (as did his predecessors) said this over-dependence was a serious problem that needed swift and effective governmental action. This national security issue has yet to be addressed.

Jack Oops, correction: successors v. predecessors.

Thanks for the tip to the speech. The issue of whether the TREK web site should also be used as the source of advocacy is debatable. He probably feels the need to build critical mass first before too many resources of the company are used to support others.

Anyway, as the president of TREK explains, advocacy has been overlooked and underfunded for too long. Without a friendly road environment, no manner of bike reconfiguration will be sufficient to increase bike use. The potential benefits to society are enormous.... I agree.

Good speech:
http://quickrelease.tv/?p=31

Jack I met sheldon at Interbike. We were having a "private party" in our booth and one of my co-workers didn't know who he was and kicked him out. It was hilarious. I can imagine. I've crashed a couple of private parties at trade shows. I'd love to hear the details some time. Does anyone know where can I get one of those nifty front mini-racks without having to buy the Raleigh Coasting attached to it? Okay peeps, this bike is designed for me and people like me that could care less about a 1600 dollar bike, and would rather not walk around in bike shorts and those ridiculous bike shoes that go clickety clack in starbucks. Reading your posts makes me realize that the previous opinion I had about CYCLISTS and their superior demeanor was actually alittle kind. I'll buy this bike, sit on my porch with a PBR, throwing pinecones at all you "real" bicyclists. And I'm stoked about the bottle opener. Well, I know how to ride a coaster bike since that is what I grew up with. I am researching which kind to buy and am excited about reading about the raleigh...my first 5-speed was a raleigh that I paid $126 for wayyyyy back in the 70's. I never quite got the hang of handle brakes and can't wait to get back to a 'real' bike! I bought a Schwinn cruiser style thing with Coasting. It's really nice and all my friends love it. The shifts are really smooth.. there's a little bzzt and suddenly you're pedaling slower. It's really great for cities and places with stop and go. I'm kind of worried about the coaster brake wearing out.. I don't know much about them, but I do know that a mechanism 1cm thick and maybe 6cm in diameter isn't much when it comes to slowing 100kg down from 40km/h. It gets hot fast and takes a long time to cool off.

Added bonus: you can easily wire a flashlight or something to the dynamo, just for fun :)

I've gone for a few long, hard rides and it has served me well, although I wish 3rd gear was higher. I would change the cog but I'm a bit of a purist XD

Oh, and the ride on mine is jittery and stiff due to ridiculously high tire pressures and no frame flex or anything. The springs in my seat haven't softened up yet.

I'd recommend it though. I don't know who they were marketing the bike to but its like it was made for me. due to an accident I was in I have little to no use of my left hand/arm so I had to ride a beach cruiser all the time try to keep up with a family on modern bikes .I need to ride in an upright position and it was hard for me to use hand brakes and feel safe so the coaster brakes are great and to have some gears to help keep up is great also. it is nice to ride again feeling more safe. Raleigh Coasting bicycle Symbiot Sportback Review Hartwell Lane? Looks like they are in Mt. Airy, maybe 4 miles from my house. Looks like a good product, not really my cup of Kool-Aid though. I think they should rename it to "The Reverse Dolly" Hey Fixedgear and Warren t: This is one of the designers of this product. Mt. Airy is correct. Actually the coordinates will take you to a very cool spot called Devils Pool. If you enjoy hiking, I recommend the trip. Thanks for your feedback and be sure to check out our website: www.symbiotdesign.com. Thanks Cyclelicious for posting this review. It's 200 cubic inches. I truly LOVE the design, but my pannier, at 450 cubic inches, is already restrictively small. Danielo, 200ci is relatively small, so you have to pack the sportback creatively. It's smaller size also reduces the risk of accidental over-packing (which creates that pack flopping affect we're all familiar with). Feel free to leave more comments on our site: www.symbiotdesign.com. As we continue our journey, we hope to collect as many comments as we can to build more products for adventurers like yourself. Thanks again Cyclelicious, your review is becoming very helpful. Cheers. Product review: 2007 Princeton Tec Switchback LED bicycle light Great blog, great info! If you're not already a member of the www.bikeforums.net community, please stop by and have a look. It's free, and there are plenty of members that share your enthusiasm. Many bike shops should be able to get the lights. I work at two and both have recieved ordering info, and a co-worker and I have just ordered a set. Try the local bike shops first! Socks: SmartWool vs Bridgedale my vote: wigwam ultmax.. they're not wool but they act a lot like it. I have some Wigwam socks also, though not the Ultimax. yeah they're very similar although the ultmax are a little thinner while retaining all the same qualities of the super-warm and cushy wool ones. I don't know--from the picture I think that the problem might be that this person has two right feet. I doubt that Smartwool socks are designed for being worn by mutants. Those are actually THREE right feet that you see in the image. The Bridgedales seem to work fine on my mutant feet.

Speaking of mutant feet, here's the archive of an old website of mine. i wear both. smartwool liner sock, bridgedale outer. works like a charm. Serfas I've seen comments regarding the quality of Serfas lights. But I went ahead and tried both their handlebar tape and some tires - Seca blackwalls in 700x28 - and they seem to be decent quality. I've had the tires for about 6 months. Most tires last a year or so on my commuter because the UV light eats them long before they wear out. I'll let you know how long these last. They're not as stiff and my Continental Top Tourings, but then again, they cost much, much less.