My Steed

So what bike am I riding?

Nothing overly flash is the answer: A 2019 Trek Emonda ALR5. Aluminum Frame, Shimano (largely) Tiagra groupset. It's a frameset I bought 2nd hand and built up. 

 

Quite a new machine, but fairly bottom end when it comes to race bikes. Tiagra and Aluminium doesn't exactly set many pulses racing. It's a $1500 bike.

That's though also something I'd like to prove on this journey: you don't need a flash high end carbon machine to compete at club level.

Indeed there are quite a few articles that talk about the fact that a new Aluminum/Alloy frame is better than a bottom end carbon frame (such as this one from BikeRadar, written in 2017). Aluminum frames used to be considered harsh rides, and were often heavier than a carbon frame. Not the case anymore. My 2019 Emonda is a nicer ride than my carbon 2013 Focus Cayo (which itself was highly regarded).

Compact crankset, 170mm cranks, 28mm tyres, rim brakes. Being Tiagra, it's 10 speed not 11. Probably the only three differences of note from what one would consider factory standard:

• I've added a Wolftooth derailleur extender
• I'm running a DT Swiss wheelset
• I use shimano MTB pedals
  

The Wooftooth is pretty cool. I can run an 11-36 cassette, where I'd usually be limited to 11-32 with a mid cage derailleur. And those extra 4 teeth make a massive difference to my climbing. Castle Hill is pretty much the only decent climb in Townsville, and the last km of Castle sits over 10% gradient. Not an easy climb, especially when you consider I'm weighting in over the ton.

 

The wheelset is nice but unremarkable. DT Swisse Allroads were considered a solid smooth wheelset. Nice high spokecount. Good for a Clydesdale like me. They've been well maintained and still run nicely.

MTB pedals? I took to them when I started riding cleats. Easier to clip into, the cleats don't wear out, the shoes are easier to walk in, and the pedals can cope with a bit of muck on them. 

Coming into the race next year, I'd toy with the idea of a new wheelset, and perhaps dropping the Wolftooth and going back to an 11-32 cassette. It shifts quite well with the Wolftooth, but I think it would be sharper without it. Depends on how well I'm climbing coming into the Great Northern Tour - hopefully I won't need the 36 tooth any more by then. I also think I'll swap out my Maxxis Refuse tyres for a set of GP5000s.