K-nats H-ardcore S-uperbike… KHS Team Flite Review
While the Specialized beauty is awol… I’ve taken it upon myself.. which some help from my friends of course, to build up my own super bike to tide me through. It’s taken some time and excitement to put together. A big part of getting it going is that Sean has is real super bike (look to left), and I don’t want to be out done…
So far it’s 1 for 1, winning fastest bike split of it’s only race.
As you know I’m a bike dork. But also because I’m just getting back into triathlon, I don’t have any real sponsorship. I don’t have a huge affinity for paying retail, so I have managed to call in favors, and get deals, but I have actually paid for everything. And if I am paying for stuff you can bet that I am going to be getting items that truly believe in, and am really stoked on.
So without further adue… I give you Knats Hardcore Superbike. a.k.a. the KHS-uperbike
Here’s the Breakdown.
Frame: KHS Team Flite
-I have owned a lot of KHS bikes. They truly are great bikes, but because they don’t spend millions sponsoring super doped cyclists they can pass on some legit savings. It also came with a really light Alpha Q fork & FSA headset.
Wheels: HED. Carbon 3-Spoke & Disc
The 3 spoke front wheel is faster than anything else. Lance bought them to win the tour - he wasn’t leaving things to chance. Wire spokes just aren’t faster in a side wind, you need the airfoil.
Handlebars: HED. Aerobar
Again HED. makes faster lighter products. The competitors weight more (in the handlebar category) and are not adjustable… these really are superior. Not to mention the HED. pioneered these handlebars in the first place.
Brakeset: Zero Gravity
I bought these for my ‘fat old man’ bike I was building last year. But the breakset is about was far as I got. Yes they’re spendy, but they’re something light (bling) that actually works.
Cranks, Bottom Bracket, and Pedals: Shimano Dura Ace
They work, reliable, I had them already. Standard 53×39 chainrings
Shifters, Rear Derailleur, Cassette: SRAM
Red, Force, and Rival respectively. The shifters are lighter then others. Their 1:1 ratio means that A) they only work with each other, and B) ‘better shifting’ in adverse conditions.
The Cassette is 11×26. Why? because I have a run coming up at the end and I want to conserve my legs on the hills. Also other makers don’t offer this option oddly.
Front derailleur - Shimano Ultegra. cheap, and they’re all the same up here
Bottle Cage - Bontrager plastic. Light cheap (others might be lighter but don’t include the alloy hardware)
Saddle - Specialized Tri-Tip Gel I was suprized at how much it cost, but comfort matters here.
Seatpost - Easton Aluminum. Nothing special. Somehow it’s been on almost every bike I’ve ridden, so it made the cut again.
Skewers - bontrager Ti. Reliable, light. I have a lot of the still from the team trek days.
Tires - Continental GP Tubular on the front. 22mm. I believe that these are the best tubular. The rear is a Vittoria one. I bought this disc from Kurt, and that’s what he had on it. I don’t believe that tubulars ride better, and somewhere I read that the rolling resistance is equal. Tub’s are more hassle, and spendier, less aero (oh Steve) but weigh less…
It won the KOM prize on the group ride last weekend as well, and now is getting boxed up for the flight to California, and the Oceanside Tri.
