2012 OLYMPIC ROAD RACE IN THE FULHAM ROAD

The breakaway come into view

The eventual winner Vinoukorov [left] with Rigoberto Uran

The chasing group

The Peleton - Ian Stannard in second position

Cavendish mid frame knowing the dream is dead

Chris Froome looking done in

A big cheer for a tail-ender

Not the result many people wanted but a great ride by Vinoukorov. As far as we know he won fair and square so chapeau to him and to Rigoberto Uran who gave him a run for his money.

The GB team were up against it once the peleton had decided not to help them. Cavendish will recover, but it might take him some time. Chris Froome looked very tired and with the Olympic Time Trial to complete, will he be fresh enough to mount a challenge in the Vuelta?

Let's hope Bradley can go on to win the Time Trial on Wednesday.

3 SPEED TO 10 SPEED

I've agreed to use my bike to get around London in the event of 'gridlocked' traffic during the Olympic Games starting on Wednesday 25th July as the Olympic Lanes come into force. I'll have my kit in two Ortlieb paniers and the camera in a rucksack (I'm a news cameraman with ITN).

I've changed from 3 hub gears to 10 speed Tiagra to cope with the extra weight of the kit and any hills.

The newly launched Tiagra 10 speed shifting is excellent, very slick and precise and the bike feels a bit racier than it did before.

EVERY GRAM COUNTS?

I've replaced my Ribble's Campag Athena groupset with SRAM Red (bought second hand but in great condition with a Force Cassette for a price that I couldn't resist). This, along with changing the wheels to Zondas has reduced the weight of the Sportive Bianco to 7.52 Kgs. I think the weight difference between SRAM Red and Athena is about 185g. Much as I'm a fan of Campagnolo, the SRAM Red goups is excellent.

The ProVibe seatpost has also helped a little, as has replacing the supplied saddle with a Fizzik Aliante, although the latter change was more to do with comfort than weight saving. Again, the original seatpost was only replaced because the original was a bit bit rubbish and there was an irresistable discount on offer.

A big brand bike with decent wheels and weighing around 7.5Kgs (for a Large) is normally going to cost around £2200-£3000 + so I think I'm doing quite well with the Ribble. It may not be the choice of the bike snob but there's little wrong with it that I can see.
Now if only I could get it to shift into the big ring a bit better....

[Update: Will swap Red front derailleur for a Dura Ace one after advice received. Shifting between the front chainrings is vital to me (I had a nasty crash once when the chain fell off when I was out of the saddle). Using this drive train calculator I can see it's compatible]
Will post once the Dura Ace mech is fitted and tried out.

[Latest: The Dura Ace front mech helped a bit but I decided to change the bike to one with an electronic groupset to help with the front shifting - see later posts.
Top tip: I made much more by selling the frame and groupset separately, than I would have selling the bike as a complete unit.]