I am narrowing down my search for a triathlon bike in the <$3000 range. I am almost certain I am going to go with the Airborne Spectre, as my team gets a considerable discount with them. I have a few concerns:
1. Which front fork to buy? I have read rave reviews about products from Reynolds and Alpha Q. Are they worth the extra cash? Does anybody know about the quality/performance of the stock piece from Airborne? The Reynolds Ouzo Pro Aero and Alpha Q SUB3 forks cost $241 and $244 more than the Airborne Aileron fork. There is also the Kestrel EMS Pro OS and various other Reynolds forks. Keep in mind that I am more interested in price and aerodynamics than weight.
2. Which headset to buy? The stock piece is an FSA Orbit MX. I can upgrade to a Campy Record for $106 or a Chris King for $126. Spending an extra 100+ dollars for a negligible weight difference (-2 grams for the Campy, +2 grams for the King) seems like a bit much. I've heard the Chris King headset regarded as "Nothing short of a technical marvel". What makes it so great? And, more importantly, is it worth the green?
3. Handlebars. I am planning on using the set of Syntace C2 clip-ons that I already own. What I do need, however, is a bullhorn bar on which to mount them. At this point, I am probably going to go with a Syntace Stratos bar, since my aerobars are from Syntace as well. The question that I am left with is: what drop angle should I get? They offer the bar in 0, 5, 15, and 40 degree drop angles. I assume that the only reason for the increase in angle is to get lower on the bike, thus aiding in aerodynamics. Am I wrong? Is it more based on personal fit than aerodynamics?
Here are the rest of the bike specs if anybody is interested:
Frame: 58 cm 3AL/2.5V Titanium
Crankset, bottom bracket, derailleurs, brakes, cassette (11-23), bar end shifters: All Campagnolo Chorus
Wheels: Zipp 404 Clinchers
Seat post: Thompson Elite, 330mm length
Saddle: Selle San Marco Aspide Triathlon
Pedals: Shimano SPD Dura Ace
Brake levers: Syntace (not available through Airborne) Are the Profile Quick Stop levers any good?
Stem: ITM millenium (not available through Airborne)
Thanks in advance for any help! I am open to any suggestions, even if it isn't something I mentioned.
1. Which front fork to buy? I have read rave reviews about products from Reynolds and Alpha Q. Are they worth the extra cash? Does anybody know about the quality/performance of the stock piece from Airborne? The Reynolds Ouzo Pro Aero and Alpha Q SUB3 forks cost $241 and $244 more than the Airborne Aileron fork. There is also the Kestrel EMS Pro OS and various other Reynolds forks. Keep in mind that I am more interested in price and aerodynamics than weight.
2. Which headset to buy? The stock piece is an FSA Orbit MX. I can upgrade to a Campy Record for $106 or a Chris King for $126. Spending an extra 100+ dollars for a negligible weight difference (-2 grams for the Campy, +2 grams for the King) seems like a bit much. I've heard the Chris King headset regarded as "Nothing short of a technical marvel". What makes it so great? And, more importantly, is it worth the green?
3. Handlebars. I am planning on using the set of Syntace C2 clip-ons that I already own. What I do need, however, is a bullhorn bar on which to mount them. At this point, I am probably going to go with a Syntace Stratos bar, since my aerobars are from Syntace as well. The question that I am left with is: what drop angle should I get? They offer the bar in 0, 5, 15, and 40 degree drop angles. I assume that the only reason for the increase in angle is to get lower on the bike, thus aiding in aerodynamics. Am I wrong? Is it more based on personal fit than aerodynamics?
Here are the rest of the bike specs if anybody is interested:
Frame: 58 cm 3AL/2.5V Titanium
Crankset, bottom bracket, derailleurs, brakes, cassette (11-23), bar end shifters: All Campagnolo Chorus
Wheels: Zipp 404 Clinchers
Seat post: Thompson Elite, 330mm length
Saddle: Selle San Marco Aspide Triathlon
Pedals: Shimano SPD Dura Ace
Brake levers: Syntace (not available through Airborne) Are the Profile Quick Stop levers any good?
Stem: ITM millenium (not available through Airborne)
Thanks in advance for any help! I am open to any suggestions, even if it isn't something I mentioned.