The following is an exchange that took place between an nameless friend and myself earlier today. No, it's not serious... I just saw the Sports Illustrated mag with Lance on the cover. Take a look at the cover and check out the shape of his DA STI levers. My 2 pairs are now TOTALLY obsolete!!!!!!!
Tom Replied: Buy the new ones right away! Remove and re-box the out-moded sets, and archive them. They will be "almost NOS vintage 1st gen 9-spd STI Dura Ace Shimano Rare" in the next five years!
I will do that. The big problem is how am I even going to ride this weekend with my retro levers?
Tom replied: I've given this dire situation considerable thought, as is appropriate in such situations. I don't think that your ride is necessarily in jeparody, if you redifine your objectives. Normally you ride as a recreational cyclist, though certainly as one of the more advanced sort. This weekend you must think, "vintage lightweight enthusiast," and go out and do a recreation of a circa 2001 training ride. Be absolutely certain that all of your equipment is no newer than that available in the 2001 cycling season. You can go back to old issues of Cyclesport to confirm that your helmet, shoes, glasses, and of course your bike, are all period correct. If you have any equipment predating the 2001 cycling season it is not a huge problem, since sometimes even the pros use gear that is a year or more old. This practice is becoming less common however, so the most correct suite of gear would include only 2001 kit. I think you would be seen as arrogant to attempt such retro-cool touches as Shimano-badged Campy aero bottles or DA AX calipers, but I'm not going to tell you how to live your life! Good luck and godspeed.
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