Conference noted::bicycle

    Hi Bert,
    
    I think you'll like Grip Shift.  It takes a little getting used to
    twisting instead of pushing and pulling, but I found myself shifting
    more often because I didn't need to take my hands of my bars.
    
    I also found it was easy to correct an overshift.
    
    You want to be careful to keep it greased internally, since it's not
    metal and will wear better if you do (I suppose any material is like
    that, but in Grip Shift's case I think it's especially important).
    
    Justin

    	Bert,
    
    	John Ellis (IOSG::ELLISJ), has a Kestrel and is riding it
    	in England while he's doing some work over there. You might
    	direct some questions at him.
    
    	Scott

    
    Scott is right ... I have not yet responded to this note because
    I only have a "lowly" 200SC, rather than an EMS frame. :-)
    
    But fire away...!  (questions, that is)
    
    -john

    Ref.2194.3
    John,
    
    	BTW,I don't think that an 200SC frame is,as you cal it,"lowly".
    
        For the time being I have "only" 6 questions for which you
        might have an answer.
    
    1)  Is the frame as stiff as they promise during Climbing,Descending
        Sprinting etc....
    
    2)  Is it really true the frame is more comfortable rather than a
        metal(Crmo or Titanium) frame.
    
    3)  What kind of Rim's did you use (Roval,Araya,Campy,Mavic,other)
    
    4)  Is it possible to mount DELTA brakes of Campy on the frame
    	whitout loosing to much braking power.
    
    5)  Was it possible for you to insure your bike for a reasonable
        price ?
    
    6)  What kind of group did you mount on your bike and are you
        satisfied with it, or do you want to change some things already.
    
        You see the questions are not so hard.
    
    Thanks in advance.
    Bert. 

    
         Bert,
    
>    	 BTW,I don't think that an 200SC frame is,as you cal it,"lowly".
    
         Thanks.  I'm pleased with it.
    
>        For the time being I have "only" 6 questions for which you
>        might have an answer.
    
>    1)  Is the frame as stiff as they promise during Climbing,Descending
>        Sprinting etc....
    
         I'm not sure what Kestrel promise, but the frame is longitudinally
         quite stiff (which is fine for spinning on the flats, descending,
         etc.) but not laterally.  For Climbing and Sprinting, I find it
         inferior to my steel frames.  :-(   But still tolerable.  Example:
         for climbing in the Colorado Rockies during RAAM last year, I chose
         the De Rosa, though it was heavier, over the Kestrel.
    
>    2)  Is it really true the frame is more comfortable rather than a
>        metal(Crmo or Titanium) frame.
    
         Yes, quite true.  (Can't say for Titanium.)   Actually, the 
         Columbus SL De Rosa comes close in comfort.  But the Kestrel
         manages to soak up shock well, yet doesn't give a "mushy" feeling.
         I think this is a major benefit of the Kestrel.
    
>    3)  What kind of Rim's did you use (Roval,Araya,Campy,Mavic,other)
    
         I'm using Mavic MA-40's right now in the the UK.  Most of the time
         I've been using Campy Omega (aero clincher (wired-on)) rims.  Both
         of these are good rims.  The Omegas have worked very well!
    
>    4)  Is it possible to mount DELTA brakes of Campy on the frame
>        whitout loosing to much braking power.
    
         I haven't tried Deltas.  "Normal" brakes work fine for me -
         especially considering the price of the Deltas.  Do you have
         experience with them?  (See below on brakes: I would now feel
         happy going with Shimano Ultegra.)
    
>    5)  Was it possible for you to insure your bike for a reasonable
>        price ?
    
         Haven't taken out special insurance.  I ought to, I guess. 
         Assuming that my home-owner's insurance covers it.  But in the
         Netherlands, it may be different.
    
>    6)  What kind of group did you mount on your bike and are you
>        satisfied with it, or do you want to change some things already.
    
         The components are a m�lange of Campy models: Athena brakes, 
         C-Record rear derailleur, Chorus seatpost (aero!), headset, and front
         derailleur, Croce d'Aune cranks & bottom bracket.  Oh, and Record
         (old-style Record) hubs.  I'm satisfied with most of the components.
    
         I would keep the Campy components which contain bearings (balletjes),
         but would probably use Shimano Ultegra brakes, shifters, and rear 
         deraillear.  The Athena brakes are very stylish, and work fine,
         but the Ultegra levers are easier for smaller hands to reach and
         control, and have a finer action.  
    
         For shifting, I am considering Ultegra handlebar-end shifters
         (this is for another bike).  They should be easier to reach not
         only from the handlebars but from the aero bar.  You mentioned a
         Profile III bar, which is not a clip-on, so your set-up would be
         different.
    
>        You see the questions are not so hard.
    
         Indeed!  What a relief!  :-)   Hope this helps...
    
         cheers,
         -john

    How many languages do you speak john ?

L'Epervier is French for sparrowhawk - does this help?

    
    Rod, I do speak some Dutch from working in the Netherlands a couple of
    years.  I *think* that was the right word for bearings.  :-)
    
    -john

    A in my club fell and the handle bar ( drop type) hit his top tube
    and broke it, this happened on his I week old ems frame, anyways they
    repaired it for him at no cost. 

    Well Alan just found out a real problem with these expensive frames.
    When some kind `friend' takes you along the back roads the thought of
    all that mud coating your frame hurts much more as ride through 
    the tractor tracks.

    And it's not even a Kestrel, just a Speshuliced :-( But it was
    rather galling first day out on the fast bike to ride through more
    cowshit than the average Edinburgh ATB-poseur encounters in a lifetime.
    In compensation, I've got this huge grin on my face from the way the
    bike accelerates of its own accord when it sees such people ahead.
    
    ---Alan