Is there a mightier bike out there? Well, only in that our greatest bike will always be the next masterpiece we create. Without question, though, this is the greatest TIME we have created or seen. (Although the Night Rider is on its way!)
Building a bike like this takes us quite a bit of time, no pun intended. And since this is my bike, I prefer to build it on my own, after hours, so that I am not distracted and can be very slow and deliberate. This is, in fact, how we build all of our bikes. With machines of this caliber, you really don't want to hurry and take shortcuts. And I can assure you that I would not want to have any other place build my bike than Pista Palace. Why settle for Budweiser when you can have Arrogant Bastard?
The first picture displays pretty much the pile of ammunition that was used to create this weapon. Some components are a matter of preference, others are essentially obligatory. We choose components that most importantly are race proven and have no weight limits or seem delicate. Sure, parts like Zero Gravity brakes and Lightweight wheels are weight weenie, but they are also race proven. Go back and watch the 2002 tour, you will see a stage in which Jalabert, Beloki, Ulrich, and even Lance are all riding Lightweights on the same stage. And that was 7 years ago! These wheels are not the latest Reynolds/Lew "lets cross our fingers and hope this wheel doesn't self destruct" Lightweight knockoff project. Lightweights are simply the best road race wheel created to date.
I went with the 20/24 spoke set up not because I feel like my legs can deliver even 500 watts in a sprint, but simply because I thought it would be a little different. Super Record is obligatory. German rubber on German wheels. I prefer the Contintental Competition in front and the Continental GP4000 in the rear. Of course you gotta go with Carbon-Ti TIME pedals on the Kraken. Power Cordz for braking suppleness and Selle San Marco lorica bar tape because even though it cost $50, I enjoy the luxurious feel and utility of being able to throw it in the washing machine.
Some people may question not necessarily the Zero Gravity brakes and Nokon housing, but the gold hue that is presents itself in. You know what, gotta have a little bling, baby. You are only gonna be seeing the rear brake anyways and that wont be for long. Also, first instinct is to look at the Selle Italia C64 saddle and think, wow....even testicles of my puny size will certainly suffer on a saddle such as this. In fact, you can actually demo this saddle at Pista Palace for free. And this was even a shocker for me. I did my 120 mile Wednesday ride on this saddle and it was no more uncomfortable than the Fizik Aliante I usually ride. When it comes to saddles, shape is the most important thing. It usually takes everyone a few saddles before they find one that pleases the genitalia. We have over a dozen saddles for demo from both Selle Italia and Fizik if you wanna narrow that decision.
In building the Kraken, you will notice that we make sure to be delicate with the translink. That is actually a piece of my old plaid pants there. And since the TIME RXR ULTEAM VIP comes with the handlebar, we threw that on there instantly. After that, the BB cups are installed. The boys at Campagnolo suggest using Loctite during installation. Does Pista Palace? Maybe, maybe not. ;)
Campagnolo Super Record cranks and front derailleur are then installed. The Kraken can only have a 53-39 with an 11-23. I know I usually run a 52, but when presenting your adversaries with ultimate crushment, I feel that while a 53 may be excessive, total annihilation is the objective.
I am always eager to put on that Super Record rear derailleur. That thing is a museum piece. So damn beautiful. A little grease is used. And hey, while we got the grease out, lets just throw on those TIME RXS Carbon Ti pedals. Boo yah!!!! And I know that the Selle Italia C60quattro does look a bit oblong it its shape, but in person it looks very nice. I guess the C64 isn't that photogenic, just like me.
Patience, patience, patience, my patients. Creating the Kraken is truly surgery. And in this case, the Milwaukee drill made it to the operating room in order to fit the Nokon cables. We effectively bored out the shifter cable housing slots. Do not try this at home! We are not advocating this technique, but this is like Nascar, brother, and all isn't as it appears under the hood (or Super Record hoods). Our goal is simply to win at all cost. To live off the land. To eat things that would make a billygoat puke......wait....OK...maybe the fact I am watching Rambo is affecting this fine writing.
The Campagnolo 11 speed chain. You got no other chain choice nor any other tool choice to use. You must use the 11 speed chain tool made by Campagnolo to install the pin. The design appears to be stolen from Rohloff, and maybe that chain tool would work. We dont know. But I think that chain tool is even more expensive than the insanely high priced Campy 11 speed chain tool is. Push pin in. Break pin. Deform pin. Yes...the Campagnolo chain instruction manual actually instructs you to deform. Bitchin'.
Yeah, so we took a razor to those warning stickers that came on the fork. We do the same thing to any sticker of that nature. Look, I just blew a buttload of money on the best bike in the world, I DON'T NEED REFLECTORS!!! It still bothers me when I see pros like Ballan on Boras with those freddy stickers still on 'em. And they are orange! What matches orange? Well, maybe those new Orange Michelins on Lightweight clinchers...OK...and maybe that carbon railed argyle Fizik saddle, and well, OK...maybe an EPS in Molteni. Wait! Could it be??!!! YES!!!! PUMPKINHEAD!!! PUMKINHEAD III, in fact. It pains me to have to build a bike around a saddle. But it simply must be done!
The only way to route the cabling on the VIP TIME bar is one on the outside and one on the inside. It is up to you whether you want to bartape over the super cool TIME logos on the bar. And the VIP bar logos are oh so pretty. Besides, who wants all that extra bar tape weight? Oh yeah, and while we are in the area, maybe you all don't know that all TIME stems run 5mm longer than stated. Thus, a 110mm is actually a 115mm. And being that the top tube on the RXR is longer than that of the legendary VXRS family, I went with the 110mm instead of the 120mm I usually run.
In the end, this is what you get. BOOBS! Yes, these are the podium girls that are awaiting your infinite coffee shop sprint podiums. Both girls are included with every TIME RXR ULTEAM VIP purchase. Exclusively at the biggest TIME dealer in the world and yes, the universe, Pista Palace.
