直到去年，在另一個損友的介紹下，認識了一班騎車非常認真的損友。除了騎車，玩車也很認真。其中幾人家裡擁有超過10部公路車。在他們的感染下，我的速度和技術都有了很大的進步。今年終於下定決心買一部新車！原本四月時想買Cadel Evans贏環法的BMC SLR 01, 但由於代理商有變動，遲遲都沒貨。在另一名損友介紹下，終於在上個月買了TIME RXRS ULTEAM Black Label.
由於沒時間去單車店開箱，店家用iPhone拍了一張開箱照給我。隔天就組裝好叫我去拿車。
配託2011 SRAM RED BLACK!
大盤要黑！
就是要黑！
剎車器也要黑！
踏板也要黑！
幹嘛不是黑？
買TIME當然要用回TIME的水壺架。
把手龍頭通通都要TIME。
沒法子。我的屁股就是要坐Fizik Arione。
法國車當然要配回法國輪圈， Mavic Cosmic Carbone SR。
評論我也寫了。懶得翻譯成中文。去Roadbikereview.com看吧。
Being an amateur cyclist, money and time is the biggest constraint. I need to work and earn cold hard cash for living and my bike. I have been riding for 4 years. On average I only cycle 80km per week. Upgrading from my previous BH Connect, I want something stiff, comfortable, good climber and descent to tackle the hilly terrain in my area. While looking for a top end frameset, I don't have the luxury to test any of them as all my friend is at least 10cm shorter than me. My initial plan was BMC SLR01 back in April 2011, but the supplier lost it's distributorship. A friend of mine who is riding TIME RXRS White convince me on the bike. It's aero shape, transformer styling, and to my liking I choose Black Label paint scheme, and this is where the dream and nightmare starts.
Compare to my previous BH Connect, TIME is a dream machine. Previously at the back while climbing, I am now in the top three league. Descent is the same story. It's rock stable! I am now the fastest descent, except occasionally overtake by my friend who's in the same bike. Power transfer wise it's very efficient. I can only notice minimal flex for the most extreme sprinting. Of course SRAM RED plays a huge part in excellent power transfer. To my surprise, it's also a very comfortable and easy to master, despite it's stiffness. It absorbs vibration very well. The only thing I can complain is it's not a sprinter bike. Pick up still takes a bit of effort compare to the stiffest bikes in market, e.g. Pinarello Dogma. Yet, I am not a sprinter and in a hilly terrain and occasionally club rides I opt for something more comfortable. I would say TIME RXRS is a good all rounder bike.
Now comes the nightmare. Black Label paint scheme is matte finish. I never have a matte finish bike and didn't realize it's pain in the ass to take care one. Not say that it's easier to scratch compare to gloss finish, but once scratch there's no rescue. Even cycling gloves is rough enough to scratch the handlebar top. I will probably wrap the whole thing when the condition is bad enough. A wet road ensures a wash after ride, even if the chains and rings are still clean. Wiping with a damp microfiber is a must after every ride. My advice is don't get matte unless you really like the Black Label color scheme. Get the gloss finish instead.
Strengths:
Stiff, excellent power transfer, good climber, comfortable, corner like a dream, downhill speed machine.
Weaknesses:
Integrated seatpost with minimal (15mm) adjustment only. Matte black paint (Black Label model) is not easy to take care. The dual bolt seat post not easy to adjust.
很神奇的，買了車不多久，網絡竟然有雜誌評論了和我90%相似的車。
按這裡檢視網頁 Time RXRS Video Review from MovePress, LLC on Vimeo.
