700c Wheel and Rim Actual Weights - Mavic, Shimano etc.

These figures are from actual weigh ins off of a digital scale from new stock from an authorised Mavic and Shimano dealers  (Chain Reaction and Duke's Cycle both in Toronto, Canada):
2014:
RS 21 rear rim weight alone: 506g ! Heavy! But strong, solid and asymmetrical w a generous brake track.

2013:
Dura Ace 9000 C24 (WH-9000?) f/r: 620/840g

Ultegra 6700 Alloy f/r: 740/971g

RS80/C50 f/r: 835/1060g

Older Mavic Aksium Race Rear Rim, silver 20h eyeleted and heavily USED/worn: 493g

2013 Shimano Dura Ace 9000 11 speed Ribbed Polymer Cables to 2012 Dura Ace 7900 10 speed Shifters

At last, we can make our 10 speed Dura Ace 7900 shifters work as good as it should...thanks to the newer Dura Ace 9000 polymer coated and ribbed cables, right??Theortetically, yes. But, what about the extra clamping force that Shimano says is needed for these cables because they are sooo slippery?

Well, let's find out....when I install em later this month....possibly tomorrow Tuesday 16th...

You know these cables are good when they're packed like this.

Be back in a bit...

We're back!

Yes, they worked as expected. Marked improvement over stock 7900 setup to the point where it's excellent. 

What I did:

Used new Dura Ace 9000 polymer, ribbed cables with my stock new average housings on 7900 shifter + 6700 r.d. + 11-32 XT cassette on Rocky Mountain Prestige carbon road bike (typical external cable routing).

 

Friggin awesome!  Of course, not as quick/shorter-throwing or light as the current 9000 shifters BUT, pretty darn close and way better than any stock 7900 setup due to the 9000 cables alone.  They do make that much of a difference just as Shimano claimed (20-27%? reduction in friction). So far no issues with the cable clamping but if so, I figure one could simply remove the coating by abrading it off.

Also, big money saved as I avoided approx. $800 to fully upgrade to 9000. While I got the biggest benefit of the 9000 group (super slick shifting via polymer cables) for about $20. But, I got em by getting the complete pair of 9000 shifters.  I still do not know if these cables are available for sale alone. I know they are not available through any of our suppliers. However, I have not checked Shimano Canada...

2013 Paris-to-Ancaster Race: My First!

First time doing this: 
Placed 30/80 in my age group/field or 123 out of 567 total with an un-rideable bike - derailleur broke off and jammed in wheel - on last km.
Excellent challenge, well-organised, very popular with great people = great experience to have under your belt. 
I highly recommend! But, it is not easy. There are sections where even an intermediate mountain bike rider would consider "unride-able" due to ridiculously deep n narrow mud trails at worst and at best soft, muddy and super-irregular grassy fields.
Yeah, thanks Tim! ;)
[Tim Farrar is one of the race organisers]
More
BIG THANKS:
The 2007 Norco VFR bike is a phenomenal cross bike.
Geax Mezcal tires also phenomenal thnx to Paul Greene of Chain Reaction Toronto.
Nike Sphere Dry shirt for the absoluate best in comfort/sweat management.
Gatorade twistspout water bottle for superlight, big capacity, reliable spout, all you want/need.
Shimano Dura Ace 7800 shifters for mindlessly fast n easy 10 speed shifting
My girlfriend Ms. M and pro photographer Ivan R. for the photos!

The State of Pro Cycling - Post-USADA Dope Scandal

2 words for you: UNITED KINGDOM.

Or Great Britain, British Isles, heck even England.
THIS is where the BEST action in protour ROAD CYCLING is at.

Another 2 for you:  Bradley Wiggins & Chris Froome!

And finally, 1 bomb to drop on ya:  They have already slated the 2014 Tour de France is not starting in France. It will begin in...you guessed it, the UK!

But, alas, this upcoming Tour will be in boring old France :P...!...Corsica to be exact but fear not!
This 2013 Tour de France is....the 100th one!  Sweet!  This centennial cycling sweetness will get a record number of people all over this sick globe watchin', cheerin', bettin' and...travelling? To France to actually see n feel n smell the sweat o these sick, sexy(?) super cyclists of the world??  Oh yeah, I'll go, Lord and finances - willing!  Sigh....we shall see....we shall see indeed...at least on the tele on ch98 or at least on steephill.tv ;)

Ride On!

Thanks Yuri H. for the steephill.tv tip!