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Any EN Specialized Transition owners?

Cary BlancoCary Blanco
in General Training Discussions

I took delivery of a 2009 Transition Comp (new, old stock) on Wednesday night.

I've got a few questions for anyone that has a Specialized Transition Comp or greater 2008 or later (i.e. the "new" carbon framed transitions).

  1. Hydration, it's got space for 1 bottle cage. which is fine for a race when combined with a bar mounted hydration system. What about training when you want to carry lots of fluids I'd rather not put a seat mounted hydration system on this. Anyone doing anything creative?
  2. Bento box - the frame with it's cable entry right behind the headset doesn't look like it's bento box friendly. I guess I can Rube Goldberg a box on there, is there a brand or model that fits nicely?
  3. Rear Wheel Changing - it's got back facing horizontal drop outs for the rear wheel. Is there a secret to getting the wheel off without having to remove the skewer or grabbing the chain with your fingers? I want to get very good a getting the wheel on an off quickly.

Looking for any pointers here. I'm totally psyched about my new bike . I have not gotten a chance to ride it outside yet as the weather here in the northeast has been ... well lets just say the 60MPH gusts from the nor'easter blew a portion of my back yard fence down earlier today.

Comments

  • David AmbroseDavid Ambrose
    I use a bar hydration system and have been fine in races since water is only about 15 - 20 miles a part; in addition to downtube bottle. I have water in the bar hydration for easy refill at aid stations and sport drink mix in other bottle. I guess if you wanted more sport drink mix you may have to revert to a seat post system.

    I have been able to get a bento box right behind those cables by using another strip of Velcro to reach around the stem to secure.

    I have been able to get the wheel off and on rather quickly, small front ring and smallest cassette ring for the chain before trying,.... but I grab the chain with two fingers and pull it over the skewer end. I cannot think of another way without touching the chain.
  • manconamancona
    My bike last year had the cables in the same spot and a bento box still worked. I like the Fuel Belt Aero Box, it has a zipper instead of velcro top so it doesn't cut my knees up and the velcro straps are very long. I just put it behind the cables and it reached around the steerer tube still without problem.

    For race hydration on that bike, pick up the specialized aero bottle for the downtube, it fits perfect and makes the bike more aero. Then go with a aero bottle or normal bottle on the bars. For training rides, put a normal cage on the down tube, normal cage on the handle bars and stick a third bottle in you jersey pocket. I used this setup for rides up to 7 hours last year. The three bottles get me through about 2-3 hours and then I stop and refill all three.

    My rear wheel tip is to use an allen key. As Dave says I shift to the smallest ring and cog, then pull the wheel all the way out. Slide the allen key inside the chain and hook it with the right angle part of the key. Then turn the wheel while pulling the allen key away from the cassette and it will come off. Put it back on is slightly more challenging but can still be done with out ever touching the chain.

    The other trick is that you can use a hand to push the derallieur and that will give you a ton of extra chain to work with and no resistance...but then you only have one hand to get the wheel in and out.
  • Barbara SpitlerBarbara Spitler
    I have the 2009 Specialized Transition Comp. Still trying to figure out the hydration for it! I've only ridden it on the road a couple of times, and used on the trainer a few times this winter. Have been wondering how I was gonna set up for IM. Thanks for the discussion! Gives me good options! By the way, mine is the black and yellow, which I named Queen B. What flavor of bike are yours, and do guys name their bikes too? I know some do!!
  • DocHoffartDocHoffart
    Allen Key or keep rubber gloves around (I buy them at Costco by the box). I use the gloves to work on the bikes all the time (we have 9 bikes with the kids).

    Vince
  • Cary BlancoCary Blanco

    Thanks for the replies folks.

    FYI - over at slowtwich there's a thread about changing the rear wheel on a P2C (same architecture) and they link to a short vid on the Cervélo site: http://www.cervelo.com/en_us/company/support/ the video is at the bottom of the page and it very quickly shows a guy changing the rear wheel without touching the chain.

  • Cary BlancoCary Blanco
    @Barbra, I've got the same color scheme - no name though.
  • danshanahandanshanahan
    I have been riding a 2008 Transition Comp, also black and yellow, since Dec. 08. I call mine Lightening Wasp. Check out the Speedfil system for hydration - http://www.invisciddesign.com/home.htm. I have used it for over a year and love it. Holds about 40 oz. I haven't figured out how to put my old bento box on the Transition, so I have just gone to gel flasks in jersey pockets instead. Changing the rear tire does take some wiggling and I have never figured out how to do it without touching the chain, but the allen key trick above sounds good. Enjoy the bike!

    Dan
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