My Shimano Ultegra shifters jammed after 2 years of use. I found out the new ones would set me back by at least US$300, so I decided to look for alternatives. I saw a pretty good deal on EuroBikeParts - a pair of 2008 Campagnolo 10-speed shifters is only US$110! I had it for about a month now, and I'm very happy with it. I don't think I'll go back to Shimano's anymore.
I decided to tilt my stem upward like a mountain bike, so I can use the drops more often. Some purist might think it is unsightly, but I don't care as long as I feel comfortable and can generate more power. But this comes with a problem - I can't see the readout of my PowerTap computer if I mount it on the stem, and I hate putting things on the handlebar adjacent to the stem. I tried ViewPoint OS Spacebar and Minoura Swing Grip, but they loosen up very easily when hitting a bump. Finally, I found the Winwood Carbon Accessory Bar, which suits my need perfectly. I have the little guy mounted in the way that the PowerTap computer is in line with the stem, and the Garmin Etrex GPS device is slightly on the left side.
One thing I always feel uncomfortable on bike is the inability to see things in the back when I am hammering down a road. I could sit up and look behind, but then I'd have to slow down a bit. I found two products which solve my problem: the Sprintech Dropbar Mirror and the Italian Road Bike Mirror. I do have a complaint about the Sprintech one, though. The ball-and-socket design is too adjustable, and road bumps cause it to go out of alignment. So I cut a piece of foam and stuff it around around the joint to make it more stable. I think I'll give the Italian Road Bike Mirror a try next time.
One major problem of mating Campagnolo shifters with Shimano drivetrain is that the cable pull ratios are different on two systems. There are ways to get around this (please see this article), but I like the use of Jtek adapters the best. It is very easy to install - you just need to take the shift cable out from the rear derailer, trim the outer cable a little bit shorter, thread the shift cable into the adapter and then the rear derailer.
I always think that if a cheaper component works almost as good as the big-brand-name one, I'll take the cheaper one. Here's one example: the Microshift front derailer sold by Nashbar.
My Rosetta originally came with FSA Versa 53/39 crankset. I wanted to try compact cranksets to deal with the steep hills in Pittsburgh, and I thought I could save money by using the same model but with 50/34 chainrings. Because I could use the same bottom bracket, and swap out the compact crankset with the regular one when I need it. However, I noticed later that the square tapered bottom bracket is getting harder to get, and the size I need - 68/110 - is even rarer. I also don't use 53/39 crankset that often. So, I may switch to the newer one-piece crankset in the future.
Another example: the Nashbar F1 saddle. I like a saddle that comes with a center cutout, and the cutout has to extend all the way to where it supports the sit bones. Otherwise, it will feel like as if something is pinching my gentleman's luggage when riding.^_^
I wanted to get a power-measuring device ever since I read about how it could help me with my training. I originally planned to get a PowerTap after saving for a year, but when I saw CTS's advertisement about a 12-month payment plan for a PowerTap 2.4 SL, I couldn't resist.
