Somebody doesn't like Dura Ace 7900

Posted At : March 9, 2009 11:57 PM | Posted By : Erik Voldengen
Related Categories: Bike

Mark Legg, Katie Compton's husband and apparent mechanic and manager, doesn't seem very thrilled with the new Dura Ace stuff.  If you don't know, Katie Compton is the best hope the USA has for a world championship in cyclocross.  She was second in the world championships last year, and third this year. 

They don't have an equipment sponsor, so they purchase their own components.  First they ran Campagnolo, but I guess they had shifting issues and recently moved to Dura Ace 7900.  

First Campy, now Shimano.  I wonder what the deal is.  When shifters get full of dirt, they don't work so well.  That shouldn't be a surprise, especially to someone with his skills.  And hey, they can be flushed out with the magical elixir known as WD-40.

I don't understand why they haven't gotten a sponsor yet.  He must be very tough to deal with.  Weird.

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That is weird. Do you know what she has liked in the past? I always say stick to what works for you--You know:)
# Posted By karleta | 3/9/09 10:35 PM
From what I have read, she liked Shimano but didn't like the shifter cables out in the open. She didn't like SRAM so she went with Campy. As soon as 7900 came out with hidden shift cables, she went back to Shimano, probably for the easier shifting with cold hands or gloves.
# Posted By erikv | 3/9/09 10:43 PM
Shimano has had problems with Dura Ace in the past (7700) it was bad enough that any time a rider complained about the right lever not shifting we would just replace it on the spot, no questions. Shimano doesn't like the "R" word. It was quitely fixed around 2002 and then the levers were fine. I never saw the same problem with 7800 levers they always worked great. I haven't been around the 7900 levers yet to give an impression
# Posted By Pfeife | 3/10/09 8:56 AM
Maybe she should try single speed? Can she hold her liquor half way through a race?
# Posted By newmaforma | 3/10/09 7:59 PM
Cyclingnews just did a review as well, and they weren't that impressed.
http://cyclingnews.com/tech.php?id=tech/2009/revie...
# Posted By Chris | 3/11/09 10:22 AM
This is why I'm switching to bar-ends. I can't afford SRAM levers, but they look like they might be done right, but Shimano STI stuff is just too fragile for actual off-roading. (I use my CX bike like a mountain bike in the "off-season".)

I run bar-ends on my MTB and they've worked out really well-- even in the short-track races.

Full disclosure: I'm just Master-B mid-pack fodder so whadda I know. :)
# Posted By Brian Johnson | 3/11/09 9:09 PM
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