It's Time, or how French Carbon will Save the Forum

Good morning all,

This is the latest instalment of James’ descent into full blown retro grouch. For previous incarnations see:

I’ve had a lovely time riding my 2011 Caad 10 these past few years. It’s an outstanding example of what aluminium can do, and the importance of thoughtful and uncomplicated geo and design. Recently however it developed a devastating creak. Serviced my bb about a trillion (4) times, and eliminated every other possible source (skewers, chainring bolts, shoes, my knees etc). In the end realised the BB30 sleeve thing was shifting slightly under load. Bashed out the sleeve and re-bonded it in a fairly agricultural manner, but it did the job. Well, it did the job insofar as I got the sleeve out and back in again. It didn’t do the job insofar as the creak was still there. Briefly considered seppuku, but decided that was a bit extreme. I’d just do what I do best and quit bikes again. Creaks are unacceptable. These are the facts.

In an extremely unexpected turn of events, I was talking to Sean (The Man) Hurley the other day, who mentioned he had a Time VX Special Pro in a 54. In a fit of hysterical tears, I immediately purchased this frame, the only conditions being that Sean had first dibs to buy it back. Sean, being a Time aficionado, said he bought this bike in Belgium where he repressed the fact it was far too small for him. He didn’t really ride it for this reason, and it’s been sitting forlorn since then (he has about 20 bikes, like four of which are Times).

By way of slight backstory. This Time is from around 2004-5, an era in which I think bike design peaked. It’s also when I had begun to really obsess about bikes, racing, and the various personalities involved. You don’t see Time around much anymore and in the face of relentless “progress” they have given in to the dark gods (compact geo, aero frames and the disc stoppy things). But in the mid 2000s, Time was just THE bike at the time, if you get my drift. Traditional geo, lugged construction, intelligent and beautiful design. These bikes were wicked light and strong. Hazy images of Tom Boonen riding these beautiful horizontal top tubed, carbon lugged beasts with square taper cranks made me want to cry (with happiness). Exhibit A, B, C:

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Tom-Boonen-Time-VXRS-2005-1340x754

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Anyway, I took this bike and put all the stuff from the Caad on it. Wouldn’t be a bike build without a late night incident involving a 10mm (not 8mm Rolu), a possibly broken finger, and various tears (unhappy ones) as I shrieked into the night.

The end result here is that I have replaced a fairly old frame with an even older one. Some small adjustments are needed. Due to the 55cm top tube, I need to go from a 140 to a 130 stem. My gf has bought me a 130 NOS Time stem for my bday. She only did this once I explained what a stem was, and why the bit that holds the handlebars cost as much as her bike. She remained unconvinced but I managed to convince her of the absolute necessity of owning this bicycle part.

Even with the fit not dialled, this is easily the nicest bike I have ever ridden. The design and engineering choices they have made are very obvious. The rear triangle is even shorter than the Caad, and the head tube/fork is stiff as fuck. But the rest of the bike is really supple. It’s not the stiffest bike I have ever ridden (that would be the Scott addict and the Giant TCR) but it’s stiff in all the right places, and forgiving in the right ones. Sean said it rode like a steel bike and I wrote this off as mystical nonsense, but he’s right. As he said, Time literally weave their own carbon. If they wanted to make it stiffer, they would. In short, it’s the most balanced and interesting bike I’ve ever ridden. It’s designed to be ridden and raced.

I still pinch myself when I look down at the HORIZONTAL top tube and see “Time”, It’s not everyone’s cup of tea I’m sure, but it sure as hell is mine. It’s the fulfilment of a teenage fantasy and I am shocked and awed that the universe has seen fit for it to happen (similar sensations to dogs flag 2016, never forget). I realise this post is bordering on the hysterical, but I’m trying to mirror my current emotional state.

Anyway, here it is, the ultimate Euro chariot. It’s Time!

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I was there in real time as this was unfolding and was just as hysterical about it (maybe not quite, but a shared sense anyway). Amazingly fortunate. Unbelievable.

French lugged carbon. Custom woven. Stiff in all the right places, supple in the others. Racing heritage. Looks and sounds pretty familiar to me and I love it

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The story almost eclipses the bike. And it’s a very nice bike.

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Very good

Wait. You have a girlfriend?

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ten year anniversary in a few months, keep up Pinzo. I reckon she finds me more handsome now that I own a Time.

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Probably Time for something else then. Took me eight years and I still get ribbed for it.

Pffft. You’ve got a long way to go, talk to me when you install down tube shifters.

(Snide comments aside, that’s a really nice bike and I’d love to be hammering out the k’s on the peninsula with that bad boy.)

I said retro-grouch not full blown nostalgia lunatic.

Come join me on a peninsula pootle.

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FOA BOTY 2022. Calling it

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DljKH19XgAE78ql

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Now make mid-2000s pro kit cool again… Quick Step Cycling Team 2008 UCI Pro Tour ,S Vermarc shirt jersey | eBay

I actually do have a Quick-Step long sleeve jersey, my only piece of pro kit. Oh boy!

This hits me with all the feels!
Sean The Man
True euro carbon
Tommy B
Time (#atacsforeva)

But best of all… James getting excited about bikes!

Chapeau!

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People sure going to extreme lengths to brag about girlfriends around here.

That’s a nice bike Jamesy. I saw it on the bike riding social media website but hadn’t yet seen this thread, so assumed you were just drooling over someone else’s bike.

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thanks Jono, I like it a lot. I also like being friends on riding social media.

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The read made me want to get into eurocycling 20yrs ago.
Now you need the matching toy

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Good lord!

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Yes, God lives.

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Hawt! But for some reason mine looks like its loading from 64k dialup…

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Still waiting for the bottom half to load. Does it have pants on?

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