Building my Ultimate Spec Time Trial Bike - and why Short Cranks?

[@rudySTi]

I LOVE the threaded BB. Amazing bike

[@jamesjordan3382]

I so agree about getting a mechanic to assist. Just swapping my bars on the Trinity needs two sets of hands.

[@h20s8804]

The little tool to true up the disc mount is rad. I've done it myself just by eye with a file and had success but that thing is rad.

[@johnpeters8880]

Disappointing that it doesn’t come from specialized ready to go

[@AlexDowsettOfficial]

Most bikes come out the factory like this, Brown the mechanic mentioned it in an earlier comment.

[@h20s8804]

Hence the tool. I have encountered some good ones, mostly tweaky.@@AlexDowsettOfficial

[@francodellamura7471]

Nice build Alex. I am glad I am not the only one that prefers conti style brake setup. (Front brake left lever).

[@sail5820]

18:20 that is true for modern ones! Pre 2015 are pretty cool to work on :)

[@MichaelWilliams-iv6dj]

Calling the Shimano 12sp TT group a bodge is an understatement. It’s is just the 12sp derailleurs and battery grafted onto the old 11sp group. Really disappointing Shimano didn’t do new wireless levers. The front end on any Shimano TT bike is a plumber’s nightmare.

[@cyclingfan1981]

Cool detailed video! Also, latest SRAM AXS TT setup still needs a blip box but it's smaller than previous version and "easier to hide". Those Di2 wires & hydro brake cables inside those bars looked wild!

[@bdyer4606]

It doesn't need a blip box anymore if you use the wireless shifters.

[@7metalfingers]

The Avanti that NZ rode might have been the first with a shimmed seatpost. Few more doing it now, or moving to integrated to do away with any slippage. Few direct mount saddles too, because the big riders break them too

[@CarbonRider1]

Beautiful build. Re: SRAM, agreed in gear ratios and it being much easier to set up. I went with a 10/28 and a Drag2Zero 56t 1X chainring, with a 12spd YBN chain so I avoided the SRAM flat top chain. Changing to a non-SRAM chainring allowed me to do this.

[@joeoakins605]

A build video id really like to see is a 12" Raleigh Pop. Getting those brakes to work properly whilst the mudguard is straight, it's worse than your handlebar setup. Any tips @brownsbikes ?

[@brownsbikes]

Lol. Make sure the pivot bolt is tight, then unhook the spring from the side that needs to be more active, lift it up to bend it to a higher natural position (while holding the caliper to make sure it doesnt rotate) then hook it back in place and it should even out the movement.

[@phoenixinthetrees1446]

13:54 Ah, the famous Dowsett Gambit...

[@dakilamoty]

We all love new bike day

[@roadkill_toronto]

Ok when rim vs disc comes up I always hold my tongue because neither is ever brought up. As a former hour record holder you get to hear it. Fuck brakes. I really enjoyed how you kept pointing out why the track version is better. 😅

[@velocybirr]

I'm on the lookout for a 2019 Shiv TT module frame in large. Love the Shiv!

[@robertgreiner4703]

Got the same bike. Absolutely love it. However no one could tell me how to install the 12sp shimano. Is there a workaround?

[@AlexDowsettOfficial]

Ask a Browns Bikes ;)

[@lfoster7601]

When it comes to cranklength, is it really noticeable? AFter 50 years of riding & Racing, I don;t seem to be able to tell. As fashions have chnaged I;ve aquired a suite of lengths, 170, 172.5, 175. All my quickest times were set on the 175s (but also when I were a younger lad), the 172.5s seem to "feel right", and the 170s I ride because I think the shorter ones should be better... Point is, if I can;t really tell the difference over 5mm chnage, what would I gain from going shorter? I'm 5'11" ish (shrinking by the year now...). Or is my ultimate issue one of bike setup?

[@AlexDowsettOfficial]

Great questions and I think it's safe to say the differences are marginal. As a time triallist I'm trying to develop the power with a very closed off hip angle, on it's limit, so for me a shorter crank helps that limit move a bit out further

[@gourami7]

Thought you would have preferred the Hanzo

[@AlexDowsettOfficial]

Both great bikes. Along with the Cervelo I'd say the market leaders at the moment. Shiv undercuts the Hanzo on weight and I really like the way it rides and is put together with a high base bar, somehow it feels like a road bike rather than a TT bike, all things that I can't put into any kind of data-esque proof. Regardless there's some great bikes out there that I'd be more than happy on

[@MM-44-44]

The bottom bracket is still a 2 piece system so not quite as good as a 1-piece. Even with the internal sleeve, it relies on the BSA threads and if they're off alignment there'll still be an issue... Still better than the pushfit shimano by a long way though.

[@tylerbollmann3234]

Because it’s Spinney!!

[@primalinstinct1000]

Where is part 2 😂

[@mstrasser]

Looking good! (and nothing wrong with vanity on our bikes - they deserve them!) I just switched my new Aeroad to 165 (from 175.5) very excited to try it when winter ends 😢

[@GazRadCycling]

I’ve just switched 170mm cranks to 155 after 1 year racing. I’m nervous as hell so just dropped more money on 165’s. A fool and his money 😂

[@ScottWaltonDev]

20:20 I know what the problem is right here: your mechanics didn’t drop enough F-bombs while trying to feed the wires through.

[@brownsbikes]

Just wait for part 2 😂.........

[@johnnyboy4711]

saddle choice ?

[@AlexDowsettOfficial]

Wove V8 ☺️

[@adamholliday3391]

What do you think of the Giant Trinity

[@AlexDowsettOfficial]

Great bike, they haven't had to update it because it still stacks up

[@samglover8125]

What saddle are you running Alex?

[@AlexDowsettOfficial]

Wove v8

[@andreasdoulappas7214]

Alex, whats your experience with that saddle? anything significant?

[@AlexDowsettOfficial]

I like it. Really ticks a lot of boxes for TT'ing

[@samglover8125]

What is the saddle?

[@AlexDowsettOfficial]

Wove V8

[@BreakawayB]

75% of a things up! 😂jk jk, looks great.

[@federicomurero]

Doing it myself. That would have been a mess 😂

[@MxCrab]

What a cliff hanger! Part 2 awaits, I guess

[@AlexDowsettOfficial]

This time tomorrow :)

[@95TegSE]

I just got the Wattshop basebar for my Shiv TT (disc) and the difference in width is laughable. 32cm vs 40cm.

[@AlexDowsettOfficial]

Be interested to know height and weight differences also?

[@95TegSE]

@@AlexDowsettOfficial once I get everything off I'll do some comparison measurements.

[@mrwhiteshorts]

Wow. Not one but TWO mechanics @ £7 + coffees an hour. Very flush there man,

[@PatrickJohannes-os5bv]

It's really disheartening to see a USD $6K frameset with clear QC missteps (e.g. rear brake mounts needing to be shaved). Not shaming Specialized alone but the bike industry in general. Great bike build vid though!

[@brownsbikes]

Very few bikes have them spot on.

[@pantster9855]

Should have got a Hanzo

[@AlexDowsettOfficial]

A great bike, I was very happy on either

[@pantster9855]

@@AlexDowsettOfficial I still can't believe with almost 2 years in the British Champs jersey they couldn't make you a National Champs paintscheme

[@AlexDowsettOfficial]

Only Sky/Ineos created a custom bike for me over the years to be honest, it was a shame given I was in the jersey for 7 or 8 years

[@Trimate02]

Alex could you write down which bb is that. Thanks

[@CharlieCarbsandCycling]

@@Trimate02sn vitae

[@tommybrozoski9418]

Honestly I think its kind of embarrassing that Specialized charge what they do for these bikes and push it through QC without the brake mount being aligned. If you're spending that kind of money, it should be as perfect as they can get it, out of the box.

[@krisbowditch827]

No power meter, no pacing strategy 🙈

[@10ktube]

Hambini BB would probably save you 47 watts easily. Plus it comes with a pen. Shame.

[@AlexDowsettOfficial]

Ah yes, Hambini...

[@sempi8159]

Worst fans on the Internet... ​@@AlexDowsettOfficial

[@thepatternforms859]

160 cranks are even better

[@thepatternforms859]

I think the P5 disc is a better bike

[@ollyole4560]

Quite ridiculous that you pay £6,500 for the frame and the brake mounting surfaces are wonky!

[@AlexDowsettOfficial]

As Brown said in a comment earlier, very few bikes come with this spot on in the first place

[@ollyole4560]

@AlexDowsettOfficial That doesn't make it any less ridiculous.

[@AlexDowsettOfficial]

Agreed :)

[@jonpoon3896]

If you go 165, then I should be 155 or 160

[@IverKnackerov]

I guess this video proves big brands are still supporting the LBS …. By making stuff that’s impossible for home mechanics to work on 😉

[@AlexDowsettOfficial]

I'd have got there in the end I reckon, just it'd have been in time for the 2025 season

[@Shadowboost]

Shiv is probably the slowest of them all

[@AlexDowsettOfficial]

the award for most unhelpful and unsubstantiated comment of the day is proudly presented tooooooo.... another anonymous account just here

[@Shadowboost]

@@AlexDowsettOfficial Specialized themselves state that the new Shiv is no faster than the previous Shiv, with the added caveat that you now need to use this specific rear wheel to even match the old bike. You look at every other TT/pursuit/track design and not a single one is doing this Specialized seat tube design. That didn't make you stop and think why? ps, the old Shiv TT wasn't the fastest TT bike either, especially not someone at your speed and average yaw

[@barmouthbridge8772]

MCR monocoque from Mike Burrows was more aerodynamic than that load of pants.

[@AlexDowsettOfficial]

This bike is far from pants. And anything Mike Burrows did was class also