FLASH-POINT BLOG ARCHIVE: Feb 2006

hello everybody
yes, i'm living again. now 1 month passed after my big crash. since 2 weeks i can do something. it's only train on the spinningbike. so, nothing to ride with the fp's. but better then nothing. at the end of mars i can do my first ride outside. i'm looking forward for this time....

Sorry to those of you still house-bound by the weather, but here in the
UK it is still giving me enough chances to get out on the wheels.
Depsite some mid-week snow things eased for the weekend so I managed to
get two rides in.
I had my first problem with the valve extensions yesterday. It was only
a minor thing but the front valve didn't seem to want to open and
acccept any air. Eventually I had to unscrew the valve extension
while it was still on the tyre and press the valve down with an allen
key to loosen it. Once I had done this and replaced the extension
it all worked fine. This might just have been a dodgy valve on
the tube but I've never had this problem before.
It's been really gusty here recently and out on the road yesterday I
had a few quite hairy moments in the wind. The ride was an up and
down route through the local hills taking in some of the nastier
slopes. When I say nasty I mean steep, long climbs are non-existent in
this part of the UK. The FP-60s are not climbing wheels but they
are by no means a hindrance on the sort of climbs we get round
here. I have been unable to get any brake rub or noticeable flex
from them when climbing out of the saddle, something which I have
experienced with Mavic Ksyriums. Sadly, yesterdays ride was cut short
by a fairly serious problem with the new headset on my bike, so I was
forced to head back earlier than planned to catch the bike shop before
they closed. Luckily I made it home in time and the guys down the
shop were kind enough to replace the headset there and then.
Todays ride was a flatter route but the conditions were worse, between
0-2 ℃ all ride with the occasional sleet shower. Now
the winter is mostly behind us I am getting better as the rides get
more frequent. Once I get into some more consistent riding I will start
swapping wheels with other pairs to see if there are some more
noticeable differences between them.

Can somebody please stop this winter? I wanna ride!!! Now!

Brrrr--it's cold today. The low is a frigid 15 degrees!!! Yesterday it was 63 and sunny. Something is just not right about that. I spent today training indoors. Call me a wimp, but I just don't look good with frostbite. But yesterday... yesterday was a different story.
I spent the majority of my day at work planning an early escape. I was fidgeting, twitching and gazing out the office window with lust in my eyes.  Around 3:00 the beckoning of the warm sun became too great to ignore.  So, when no one was looking, I shut down my computer and snuck out the basement door. (I'm in a position to kind-of play hookey as long as I don't abuse the option too often. As such if you attempt the same and get fired, don't blame me for the idea). Within an hour I was on my bike.
My last blog entry involved me hammering it all out on a partially closed course. It was basically a TT ride because that's what you do when you get a new set of race wheels. But on this ride I took my bike out for an easy, 90 minute spin through some heavily congested roads. 
A word about Pennsylvania roads: Each year truckers put out a poll judging which states have the worst roads in the union. You won't find Pennsylvania on this poll. It is not because our roads are smooth and pothole free. OH NO. Pa is not on the list because the Keystone state is barred is barred from the poll!! The roads here are so pockmarked and destroyed that there are more tarstrips and car-swallowing craters on the freeways than ashphalt. Since no other state comes close to being this bad, the state is now exempt from the polling and the vote now finds out which state in the country has the 2nd worst roads.
Anyways, it was nice to take it slow on the bike and work on my aerobic system. Pittsburgh gets a bad rep as an anti-bike town. And while that might be true of the city proper, I found commuters in the suburbs to be quite friendly to cyclists. One red minivan passed a little close for comfort, but other than that I melted right into the rush hour traffic. It's always a blast to fly though a busy intersection surrounded by two ton vehicles.  My flashpoints felt good throughout the ride. I have sometimes been accused of riding "heavy", in that I really like to push the crank hard up short hills. The FP60's never showed any sign of flex or distortion. I'm not sure what the suggested weight limit is on these wheels but I know they feel solid as a rock under my 160lbs. That said: I made a concerted effort to avoid the potholes.  My car got a flat from one less than a week ago. The tar strips, however, just can't be avoided.
I have read that carbon wheels soak up some rough road vibrations. If that's true it is by a marginal amount that I could not feel. Now don't get me wrong. The FP60's are not harsh by any means. But I did not notice any difference between them and my training wheels. Bumps still felt like bumps.  If comfort is really an issue for you I suggest the following: increase the width of your tires, decrease your tire presssure to 100psi. 
Near the end of my ride I was pleasantly beat. I figure about 31-33 miles total. My water bottle was completely drained and the sun was starting to set. I rolled my bike into the garage and am still surprised by how well the FP's spin.  I can not stress enough how much of an improvement these hubs are over stock wheels. 
But now it's cold outside. Single digits tommorrow. I'll keep you updated.  

...Cupid brought us 50 degree weather to celebrate valentines day!!!!!!

Alright, after three weeks of rest for mind, body and soul it's time to write about the wheels.Apart from 2 very cold weeks in December, the winter has been good to us in Chicago so far. In January, we even had days in the forties, almost fifties!
The Flash-Points look awesome, and I couldn't wait to check them out - outside.Before I forget: I ran into the same problems as some fellow bloggers with the valve holes and the valve extenders. No need to repeat what has been said previously. I don't think it's anything major. One more thing: The edges of the spoke holes seem to be quite sharp. Be careful with the alignment of your rim tape, otherwise you will get flats!
The wheels are not necessaryly the lightest, but still - they are fast, sleek and very smooth.
I was curious how they would handle the always present wind in Chicago on the lakefront and was very surprised how well the handling turned out to be.
As far as speed is concerned, I can't really compare yet. Let's wait for spring and summer, but I have a feeling they are FAST.
Hope to post some pictures soon.

After a week of fine sunny weather it was inevitable the weekend
would be pretty dull and grey. But, at least the weather here in the UK
is mild enough to allow me to get out on the wheels, unlike some of the
other fanatics living in areas where winter really means winter.A
quick pre-ride check over the bike and wheels showed no problems and I
had to put only a few shots of air back into the tyres. The valve
extenders seem to be doing a decent job. I must admit I was as
sceptical as some of the other testers about the valve setup, but I
have had no problems so far. It will be interesting to see how the
setup holds up during a mid-ride tube change, especially how my
mini-pump handles the extenders. Hopefully I won't be testing this too
often.There was a fairly strong wind out on the route.
Thankfully the outrun was into a headwind so I could enjoy the return
run with a strong breeze on my back. It wasn't gusty though so I didn't
have to worry about the handling this time round. I was more confident
of the wheels this time out so the familiar downhills were taken at the
usual speed. The wheels handled really well on the faster downhills and
I am now sure the front end of the bike is more stable with the new
wheels.Back home I took quick look at the wheels to check
everything over. They are perfectly true so no problems there then. I
also had a look over the hubs, again no need for adjustment. They are very conventional looking with
standard spoke setup. The black hub body and quick release both bear
the Flash-Point name (pictured). The finish is good and looks like it
will be hard wearing. One other thing I noticed, Richard N is absolutely right, they are super smooth. I hope they stay that way.Photos - Hub body, Quick release.

Well, for the first month of this year, I thought maybe I had gone crazy... Indiana was not...well...Indiana.  We had a whole string of 50+ degree days and I think I rode in SHORTS in JANUARY at least 3-4 times.
The FPs held up well during this month of relatively intense training - racing season is looming ahead in the oh-so-very-near future, my first two races being in a mere 9 days.  AHHHHH.
I've had a few of the same issues my fellow fanatics have had with the wheels; ironically, all centering on the part that isn't there - the tube valve hole.  It seems that my tube, or maybe my tire, has shifted a little bit while riding the wheels, and the hole is no longer directly aligned over the valve.  Further, I also have problems with the valve extenders - they are causing the screw part of the valve to close which prevents air from getting into the tube.  Thus, I have to remove the valve extender and work to unscrew the cap each time before I pump up my tires (and if you know me at all, you realize I like about 300 psi (kidding) in my tires - so this is quite often :) )
Other than that, the wheels are great!  Smooth, sleek, fast...I am impressed. 
But then came February first.  D-day for us Indiana cyclists.  Snow, rain, ice, and all-around just bitter cold.  Granted, I'm typically busy during the warmest part of the day - but even then it's rarely been above 30 for the past week and a half.   I'm a "ride outside at all costs" kinda girl, likely motivated by my intense dislike for the trainer - but at this time of the year it's just impossible to get the workouts I need in 20-25 degree weather.
Thus, the flashpoints have been sadly put on "vacation" for the time being and I've been relegated to the dreaded indoor trainer.  Ugh.  Watching me ride the trainer is an event in and of itself.  Remember when you were back in college and the week your huge paper was due you suddenly seemed to be moved by an intense need to clean your room, do your laundry, balance your checkbook, etc.  I suffer from this "anything but this" disease while on the trainer.  From refilling my waterbottle to checking my email to playing with the dog to changing the TV...anything to refrain from continuing with the torture of going nowhere fast...
...but I'm trying to change.  And a week and a half and several new workouts later, I'm making an improvement!  If only they had a "patch" for procrastination - I'd be set!
I'll let you know how it goes :)

  The big game is over and the Black and Gold came home with the trophy. Now that the excitment is out of the air, the weather in steeltown has taken a turn for the worse. (Think horizontal snow, icy roads, and single digit wind chills) But in the prior week we had a couple of days in the mid 40s and I used this time to try out my new FP 60's. And I'll admit it. I was pumped. Really pumped. More so than for any bowl game that is super. Blasphemy? No, just reality.
 For in the techno-nerd world of cycling we often admire the moisture-whisking lycra shorts more than the fit body part that it covers. We live for speed, a flawless gear shift, and deep muscle burns raging away in the marrows of our quadriceps. Less weight equals freedom. Fast is sexy. And deep-rimmed carbon race wheels are like a young Pam Anderson in a skintight leather jumpsuit.
 When my flashpoints arrived at my doorstep I tore into the box like a ten year old opening presents on Christmas morning.  And these wheels are a pair of beauts. The aluminum rims trim the carbon like chrome on a 1955 cadillac. Image wise they are beyond compare. But I do have two tiny nitpicks.
As before mentioned by another blogger, the hole for the tube valve is poorly drilled. Sure it's straight and of the proper size, but it filled with carbon shavings. As this is my first set of carbon race wheels, I do not know if this is a common problem. I do know that it makes pushing the valve through the hole a bit agitating.
My second problem is not with the wheel at all, but with the supplied valve extenders. I just didn't trust them. Do what I did and grab some tubes with 80mm stems. It just makes life easier.
Now onto the road test. This gave me a BIG smile.
In western PA hills are the name of the game. So there are lots of ups and downs. The key is to find a long ride that won't murder your heart and legs in the first 30 minutes of riding. Luckily there is a park near my house with a rolling 5 mile path. With a long downhill, some steep inclines and one sharp bend, it's the perfect place to spin a new wheelset.
And four laps later that is what immediately caught my attention. The hubs on these wheels just want to spin. Compared to my training wheels these babies roll forever. It felt like I could coast a mile. A truly superior performance compared to the wheelsets that came stock on my two bikes.
The day itself, while warm for February, was quite windy--gusts around 25mph. I was riding the FPs on my triathlon bike (a P2k) and noticed absolutely ZERO problems with handling. In fact they handled no differently than my conventional non-aero wheels. I weigh 160 pounds and am a less than stellar bike handler.
So onto the big question: Are the FP 60's fast?
Yes. Absolutely. But the issue of how fast may not be truly settled until the weather warms up another 20 degrees compared to the day that I rode. For my test run took place with me garbed in some warm, but decidedly un-aero clothing. I also haven't been on my tri bike since October. Despite that, over 20 miles, I was within ten seconds of my fastest time ever for that course. Nuff said.
Peace out. Next post: The feel of the road

Two weeks ago i had my first ride with the new wheels. And this ride was bring me directly to the hospital with heavy internal bleeding. Now i'm very happy to be at home again after two weeks.
A car shoot me from the street. I had really blessing in disguise, the end was near. The next 8-10 weeks i can't ride outside. But after this time i'm sure that i can blog again about this wheels.
Not forget to say, that the wheels are completly undamaged. The first crashtest they survived with excellent notes. And how you can see at the picture, the wheels looks also very good on the bike.

I would just like to wish Thomas R a speedy recovery, it sounds like it was a pretty nasty accident.I got the chance to ride the FP-60s for the first time today, and despite my own efforts being distinctly average the wheels performed very well on their first run. Leaving the house I thought I might need to tweak the gearing a little after the change of hub but everything worked smoothly. Incidentally the bike I am testing on is a Wilier Alpe d'Huez with Campagnolo Chorus chainset.The ride took me out and about the undulations of the Surrey Hills, the weather was pretty good today with clear skies and temperature of 4 ℃. Recently I have been riding Campagnolo Neutrons and Mavic Ksyriums so my first impressions are through comparison with these. The wheels felt nice and rigid climbing out of town and the weight is comparable to the Mavics. Once I got out onto the open roads I got the wheels up to a decent speed. They went really well on the first stretch of smooth flat tarmac and there did seem to be an improvement in the stability of the front end. One other thing I noticed immediately is the noise these types of wheels make. It's only a little thing but it's really satisfying to hear the hum of the wheels as you pick up speed, something you don't get with conventional rims.Not long after had I picked up speed the wheels got their second test, braking for some changing lights. I had to put in a fair squeeze to slow the bike, but this was to be expected from the new rims and the braking improved considerably during the ride. Just to note, the guidance for the wheels does not recommend Campag's own brake block as they contain an abrasive which can damage the rims.The rest of the ride passed without any surprises and there were no teething problems at all with the new kit. Understandably I didn't go all out on the downhills but the wheels handled well and they felt laterally more rigid than my other wheels when riding out of the saddle.I wasn't at my best today, but I enjoyed the ride all the same because of the new wheels.

I received my FP-60s two weeks ago, just before heading off on holiday, so I've been itching to get the wheels on the bike and head out. Thomas R has already detailed the weights.
Once I had got hold of some new tubes with standard valves I set to work fitting the tyres. The valve hole in both rims needed a bit of clearing as there was some flash, if that's the right word, left from the manufacturing process. Once that was cleared, I put on a few rounds of rim tape and the Continental tyres went on no problem. The wheels come with two tube valve adaptors (pictured) which screw on to extend it above the rim. No problem with fitting these but my track pump had a few difficulties forming a seal around the adaptor. I suspect this was more down to a worn pump seal than the adaptors. So all set and ready to go! First ride tomorrow, I'll let you know how I get on.