Anyone tried/got a TimeMachine TMR02?
Discussion
I've got a case of upgradeitis. I currently ride a CAAD8 with some upgradey bits (Fulcrum Quattros, 105) and, while it's served me incredibly well, I'm keen to start thinking about the next level of bike. So, this Saturday, I went into Evans to abuse their bike trial thing. Tried a SuperSix Evo - they only had the base build in stock with R500s and a mostly Tiagra gruppo. I think I expected all the angels to sing and the clouds to part, but on my (admittedly short) test ride, it simply didn't feel different enough to the CAAD. I guess the wheels didn't help, and the fact it wasn't set up right, etc etc, but my flabber remained steadfastly un-gasted. I tried the boss' Specialized Tarmac SL2 too, as a point of comparison - it felt more aggressive, but then he had slammed the stem and fitted narrow bars, so it may well have been down to that.
Then he showed me a picture of the BMC TimeMachine TMR02 and I fell in love. It looks like a spaceship. I have totally and irrationally fallen for it. But there's only one left in Evans and it's in York. Even if they get it into Cheltenham so I can have a go on it, I'm not going to be able to tell much from a spin around the block. So, has anyone got one, or a similar aero road bike? Is it going to shatter my spine the first time I go over a bump? Given my "powerful build", I'm never going to be Quintana, but am I going to die on the first hill? Will it be comfortable enough to handle the odd sportive? I know the pros ride the TMR01 with a similar lay-up for hours on end, but I've not got a trained masseuse waiting for me!
A bit more background - the build I'm looking at is basically a RaceBase version, with a 105 gruppo and R500 wheels (which would be replaced with my Quattros in the interim and something Oriental and carbon in the long run). It retails for £1900.
In terms of my riding style - I have been doing longer rides this year but now want to concentrate on improving my speed over 20-40 mile training rides, targetting a 24-minute 10 on my local circuit by the end of the year.
So - what do you reckon? Is my lust justified? Is there something else I should look at instead? Or am I barking not only up the wrong tree, but in the wrong garden?
Then he showed me a picture of the BMC TimeMachine TMR02 and I fell in love. It looks like a spaceship. I have totally and irrationally fallen for it. But there's only one left in Evans and it's in York. Even if they get it into Cheltenham so I can have a go on it, I'm not going to be able to tell much from a spin around the block. So, has anyone got one, or a similar aero road bike? Is it going to shatter my spine the first time I go over a bump? Given my "powerful build", I'm never going to be Quintana, but am I going to die on the first hill? Will it be comfortable enough to handle the odd sportive? I know the pros ride the TMR01 with a similar lay-up for hours on end, but I've not got a trained masseuse waiting for me!
A bit more background - the build I'm looking at is basically a RaceBase version, with a 105 gruppo and R500 wheels (which would be replaced with my Quattros in the interim and something Oriental and carbon in the long run). It retails for £1900.
In terms of my riding style - I have been doing longer rides this year but now want to concentrate on improving my speed over 20-40 mile training rides, targetting a 24-minute 10 on my local circuit by the end of the year.
So - what do you reckon? Is my lust justified? Is there something else I should look at instead? Or am I barking not only up the wrong tree, but in the wrong garden?
yellowjack said:
I proper fancy one of those!!!
And I fancy Kaya Scodelario, and to be honest I'm not sure which one is more likely! £4k is rather a lot of money for a relatively poor relatively fat bloke who is never going to win a race...Looks ace though. Fast standing still.
Back to the BMC - nammynake, the point is that while I would love a TT bike, I'm already at S-1. Any future acquisitions must be on a strictly one-in, one-out basis, and I'm not prepared to sacrifice my ability to do sportives and weekend social rides just to do the odd TT that I might stand a chance of coming top third in. So this bike appealed to me as a kind of pedal powered M135i. Jack of all trades and master of most of them. The other options in this category (dogma, Venge, S5, that Giant, probably others I'm not aware of) seem significantly more expensive. Hence my question to see if anyone had owned one, so they could say "I wish I hadn't bothered because of x" or "it's the best thing since the minty fresh feeling of Assos bum cream!"
MadDad said:
Can I suggest a different approach? Get a bike fitting first, then decide on the bike. 
Although you might be a 56/M (or whatever) every bikes geometry is different, so a 56cm Cannondale frame might be A-OK for you, but a 56cm BMC might be a terrible fit......
If you have a decent shop near you they will probably charge you £100 for a full bike fit and then be able to provide you with a list of suitable bikes based on your fitting and cycling objectives. The charge for a fitting is usually refundable against the purchase of a bike.....
I've had a fit on the Cannondale with my not-actually-very-L BS and they said that my ideal bike size is a 55cm. Typically awkward bAlthough you might be a 56/M (or whatever) every bikes geometry is different, so a 56cm Cannondale frame might be A-OK for you, but a 56cm BMC might be a terrible fit......
If you have a decent shop near you they will probably charge you £100 for a full bike fit and then be able to provide you with a list of suitable bikes based on your fitting and cycling objectives. The charge for a fitting is usually refundable against the purchase of a bike.....
d. I've got stumpy legs and a long body, so a more TT-esque geo may actually suit me. You make a good point though - I might give them a shout and see what they think.That N2A looks good and I'm sure it's lightning fast... but somehow doesn't tickle my fancy.
Thanks for all the thoughts. TeamMachine would be a lovely bike but I rather have my heart set on aero. I am a rider of larger stature, shall we say, and aero is going to make more of a difference to the riding that I do than weight is.
I'm test-riding the TMR02 on Friday, and a 2013 Scott Foil 40 on Friday. I'm intrigued by the Scott - they do a build which is £9k on a frame which is the same design and only 200g lighter! This, in my head, means the el cheapo build must be worth a look.
Decision time on Monday then.
I'm test-riding the TMR02 on Friday, and a 2013 Scott Foil 40 on Friday. I'm intrigued by the Scott - they do a build which is £9k on a frame which is the same design and only 200g lighter! This, in my head, means the el cheapo build must be worth a look.
Decision time on Monday then.
So, my weekend.
Tested the TMR.
Positives: FAST, not as uncomfortable as I'd feared, fast, fairly chuckable, did I mention fast? I took my Garmin on the test-ride, just to see the speed difference from the Cannondale over a similar piece of road, and accidentally got a P2/550 on a Strava segment!
Negatives: Wheels, saddle, bar-tape and bars would all need to be changed. Bars were the sort which end 3/4 of the way around their radius, and I don't get on with them as I normally lean on the flat bit of the drops.
Didn't test the Scott. Weather was biblical and, as I wouldn't want someone test-riding my bike in a monsoon, I thought I'd give the seller a break, so binned it off. I've told him that I'll come back to him on Saturday if I haven't bought something else in the meantime.
Then I found a 2011 Cervelo S2 in budget with Mavic Kyrsyium Elites and full 7800 Dura Ace. Heart has to rule head, and if he provides me with proof of ownership and it's not riddled with cracks, I'm going to end up buying that when I view it on Tuesday. If either of those things are amiss, then I'll probably end up buying the BMC.
Question to the masses - I've got a full 105 groupset (5800, 11 speed) in the post which should arrive next week (pre-ordered in April with the intent of upgrading the CAAD). Would it make sense to swap out the 7800 group for 5800, gain another rear sprocket, probably make my money back selling the 7800 and actually be able to afford to maintain it? Or is this sacrilege and I should keep the 7800 and cancel the 5800 order?
Tested the TMR.
Positives: FAST, not as uncomfortable as I'd feared, fast, fairly chuckable, did I mention fast? I took my Garmin on the test-ride, just to see the speed difference from the Cannondale over a similar piece of road, and accidentally got a P2/550 on a Strava segment!
Negatives: Wheels, saddle, bar-tape and bars would all need to be changed. Bars were the sort which end 3/4 of the way around their radius, and I don't get on with them as I normally lean on the flat bit of the drops.
Didn't test the Scott. Weather was biblical and, as I wouldn't want someone test-riding my bike in a monsoon, I thought I'd give the seller a break, so binned it off. I've told him that I'll come back to him on Saturday if I haven't bought something else in the meantime.
Then I found a 2011 Cervelo S2 in budget with Mavic Kyrsyium Elites and full 7800 Dura Ace. Heart has to rule head, and if he provides me with proof of ownership and it's not riddled with cracks, I'm going to end up buying that when I view it on Tuesday. If either of those things are amiss, then I'll probably end up buying the BMC.
Question to the masses - I've got a full 105 groupset (5800, 11 speed) in the post which should arrive next week (pre-ordered in April with the intent of upgrading the CAAD). Would it make sense to swap out the 7800 group for 5800, gain another rear sprocket, probably make my money back selling the 7800 and actually be able to afford to maintain it? Or is this sacrilege and I should keep the 7800 and cancel the 5800 order?
pablo said:
Buy the S2, it will really ps off Edd! 
I know, I genuinely did check that he wouldn't throw a hissy fit about it!s off Edd! He was, in fairness, surprisingly calm, which I would imagine means he's now got an S5 on order.
okgo said:
7800 probably one of the best mechanical groupsets Shimano have made
Can't argue with that - ta. I was concerned that they only made up to a 11-23 or something silly, but it would appear you can get an 11-27 so I won't have to get taxis up everything.Eddh said:
Usget said:
pablo said:
Buy the S2, it will really ps off Edd!
I know, I genuinely did check that he wouldn't throw a hissy fit about it!s off Edd! He was, in fairness, surprisingly calm, which I would imagine means he's now got an S5 on order.
With butler.
A purchase has been made.
Obviously I bought the silly Canadian superbike, didn't I. I might take it to bed and cuddle it this evening. Pics to follow, me and it are on a train at the moment and I'm glaring at anyone who dares to even look at it.
Very happy bunny. Sorry BMC, you were great, but not as sexy.
Obviously I bought the silly Canadian superbike, didn't I. I might take it to bed and cuddle it this evening. Pics to follow, me and it are on a train at the moment and I'm glaring at anyone who dares to even look at it.
Very happy bunny. Sorry BMC, you were great, but not as sexy.
Edited by Usget on Wednesday 13th August 00:10
fk off. Awful spec indeed.
It's even got the shifters in the most aero place - on the downtube. The guy said this was the latest kit, even Team Sky aren't using it yet. Not that you'd know about that kind of innovation.
No, in all seriousness, it's a 2011-spec not-even-slightly-Italian Cervélo S2, with 7900 Dura Ace everything except a 53/39 Rotor crankset. The crankset is bloody gorgeous, but I don't think I'm man enough to push it, so I might have to swap it for a compact. Wheels are Mavic Krysium Elite clinchers with some life left in them. Bars are 3T carbon, stem is 3T alloy (he'd swapped it for a 90mm and didn't have the original which I presume would have been carbon).
The frame is in good condition. I did the best inspection of it that I could and it is in as good condition as the brand-new BMC, with the exception of a couple of tiny chips around the bottom bracket. The paint finish is exceptional.
Known issues:
Front derailleur not set up properly, needs to be re-tightened and set up.
Rear derailleur needs fine tuning
Brakes are set up for a cack-hander (which I assume is down to it being US-spec? It also has the federal bumpers, orange indicators and smog kit which saps all the power
)
Fizik saddle does not suit my arse.
k off. Awful spec indeed.It's even got the shifters in the most aero place - on the downtube. The guy said this was the latest kit, even Team Sky aren't using it yet. Not that you'd know about that kind of innovation.
No, in all seriousness, it's a 2011-spec not-even-slightly-Italian Cervélo S2, with 7900 Dura Ace everything except a 53/39 Rotor crankset. The crankset is bloody gorgeous, but I don't think I'm man enough to push it, so I might have to swap it for a compact. Wheels are Mavic Krysium Elite clinchers with some life left in them. Bars are 3T carbon, stem is 3T alloy (he'd swapped it for a 90mm and didn't have the original which I presume would have been carbon).
The frame is in good condition. I did the best inspection of it that I could and it is in as good condition as the brand-new BMC, with the exception of a couple of tiny chips around the bottom bracket. The paint finish is exceptional.
Known issues:
Front derailleur not set up properly, needs to be re-tightened and set up.
Rear derailleur needs fine tuning
Brakes are set up for a cack-hander (which I assume is down to it being US-spec? It also has the federal bumpers, orange indicators and smog kit which saps all the power
)Fizik saddle does not suit my arse.
Edited by Usget on Wednesday 13th August 10:15
Craivold said:
Oh, and also, PICTURES!
Well, since you ask.
Yes, yes, broken rules, saddle on the slant etc etc.
I have bought an Ultegra 6750 crankset which is being fitted on Saturday. Being obsolete technology, it was very good value. This means the crankset is going up for sale, if anyone wants it/knows what it's worth? Does £250ish sound reasonable or miles out?
Happily, I found a bike shop which specialises in
Wheels are getting sold too, I'm sure they're great but they look gash. I'm thinking of putting some of 2011cycling's finest 50mm clinchers on there instead.
Edited by Usget on Thursday 14th August 12:49
okgo said:
Right, listen up, some urgent mods that you need to make.
New stem (twice as long, and flipped)
180mm stem might be pushing it but I certainly think it needs a 110 on there.New stem (twice as long, and flipped)
okgo said:
New Saddle
Charge Spoon going on to annoy Pablo okgo said:
New Pedals
What pedals do I require?pablo said:
I like that a lot, you have done well! are you selling the rotor chainset? can i have first dibs?
Yes and yes, if you can tell me what it's worth (bids of 10p and a packet of Smarties will be rejected, although make it a Boost bar and you might tempt me)pablo said:
assume its GXP, 172.5mm crank length and 53/39?
It's 175mm, 53/39, and it's the same spindle size as Shimano stuff (I get confused by bottom brackets but it's an FSA external cup thing)If you fancy a beer with me and Edd soonish, I could bring it up to you, and you can tell me if you want it or not.
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff