Jump to content
  • Welcome to 205GTIDrivers.com!

    Hello dear visitor! Feel free to browse but we invite you to register completely free of charge in order to enjoy the full functionality of the website.

Sign in to follow this  
cybernck

[non_car] Scott Plasmanck

Recommended Posts

cybernck

A little bit of history first. Unlike previously, in 2008 racing season I discovered that

I'm mentally and physically ready for time-trialing and first time did a TT race properly.

I enjoyed it too. I finished 2nd in Bosnia & Herzegovina National Championships in Elite

category. The plan was to go one place better in 2009.

 

plasmanck_001.thumb.jpg

 

Unfortunately, in 2009 I got ill during the first part of the season and never managed get in

shape that year. In 2010, I even decided to build a dedicated TT bike. However, a twisted

ankle nailed me to bed for a couple of months, so that was another season put to waste.

 

plasmanck_002.thumb.jpg

 

We are in 2011 now. Third attempt at the National title and time to build a new old-stock

2008 Scott Plasma frameset I bought last year. It's pink, as it's a Contessa (women)

model, but with normal men geometry ;-).

 

plasmanck_003.thumb.jpg

 

A quick mockup using my Spinergy wheels. The plan was to make red stickers to cover

the pink bits and redo the wheel stickers in a different style too.

 

plasmanck_004.thumb.jpg

 

 

Full-size photos: http://photos.cybernck.com/plasmanck

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
cybernck

Bear in mind I'm building this bike for a single event, therefore the parts are

nothing to drool over, but still there are some nice components in the mix!

 

plasmanck_005.thumb.jpgplasmanck_013.thumb.jpgplasmanck_017.thumb.jpg

 

- Ritchey Carbon internal headset (plus various carbon spacers, not pictured)

- Ritchey WCS 4-Axis 100 mm stem

- Shimano 105 5500 bottom bracket

- Shimano 105 5502 Black 172.5/53/42 crankset

- Shimano 105 R540 Black pedals

- Shimano 105 5502 Black front derailleur

- Shimano 105 5600 Black rear derailleur

- Shimano Ultegra 9-speed 13-23 cassette

- KMC X9L Gold chain

- Tektro R750 Carbon brake calipers

- Tektro RX 5.0 Carbon brake levers

- Shimano Dura-Ace 7700 (SLBS77H) 9-speed bar end shifters

- White gear and brake cable outers + black cable doughnuts

- PRO Synop HF aero bars with PRO Synop S-bend extensions

- Deda Gold bar-tape

- Selle Italia SLR T1 saddle in white

- Specialized Virtue aero bottle and cage

- Continental GP4000 Red clincher tyres

- Polar CS400 heart-rate cycling computer

 

Those were all the parts I needed. Next up - the build.

 

 

Full-size photos with comments on parts: http://photos.cybernck.com/plasmanck

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
allye

Only a 9 speed? :P Look forward to seeing it, wish I could find the time to get out on mine more often.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
cybernck

Hehe, yeah. I don't need an extra top gear and I wanted to keep it compatible with my old road bike.

 

Day 1 of the build - arrival at Sokovic Sport. It's my usual bike mechanic,

building my third bike now, except now he's got his own shop :).

 

plasmanck_023.thumb.jpg

 

Today's work is mostly about checking all the parts, fitting the headset and fork,

bottom bracket, crankset, front and rear derailleurs, brakes and cockpit.

 

plasmanck_024.thumb.jpg

 

PRO Synop and Ritchey WTC components, built into an aero cockpit.

 

plasmanck_025.thumb.jpg

 

End of Day 1 - a skinny looking "rolling frameset" as a result. At this point, I started

really liking the unusual "Giro pink" colour and decided against the common red.

 

plasmanck_026.thumb.jpg

 

 

Full-size photos: http://photos.cybernck.com/plasmanck?page=2

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
cybernck

Day 2 of the build - Started by preparing the Spinergy wheelset.

Bearings were perfect, but we fitted better freewheel on the rear wheel.

 

plasmanck_027.thumb.jpg

 

New Continental GP4000 tyres fitted on as well. They were a really tight

fit though! I've had to take it out for a photo. Looking much better now :).

 

plasmanck_029.thumb.jpg

 

Next up, a delicate work of measuring and routing cable outers, followed by

the cables too. Then, connecting up and adjusting everything. My fancy KMC

golden chain was unconserved and ready to be fitted.

 

plasmanck_031.thumb.jpg

 

Fitting it was the last bit of work for today... and it's aliiive! :)

 

plasmanck_033.thumb.jpg

 

End of day 2 - the bike not finished yet, but I took it for a quick spin, to figure out

my position and test everything. The initial thoughts were that it's fast, very fast,

compared to my aluminium road bike!

 

plasmanck_034.thumb.jpg

 

 

Full-size photos: http://photos.cybernck.com/plasmanck?page=2

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
cybernck

Day 3 of the build - The tricky part of cutting down the seat post, fine-tuning

everything and adding finishing touches, such as the handlebar tape, refreshing

the wheel graphics etc.

 

plasmanck_035.thumb.jpg

 

A (mobile phone) photo of the finished bike. Not completely colour-coordinated,

due to a change of heart about the pink graphics earlier on and I've had an intention

of getting a rear disc wheel, so I hadn't put the gold stickers on the rear wheel.

Anyhow, that's it - time to start riding it now!

 

plasmanck_036.thumb.jpg

 

 

Full-size photos: http://photos.cybernck.com/plasmanck?page=3

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
cybernck

23/Jun/2011

 

Packed up and ready to go on the National Time Trial Championship race on a local race track.

 

plasmanck_037.thumb.jpg

 

Although it was 34'C in the shade, the spirits were high as well!

 

plasmanck_039.thumb.jpg

 

As hot as it was outside, I've still had to get warmed up, of course.

 

plasmanck_041.thumb.jpg

 

The moment of truth!

 

plasmanck_043.thumb.jpg

 

To be continued...

 

 

Full-size photos: http://photos.cybernck.com/plasmanck?page=3

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
cybernck

First lap and already dedicated to the max, with a heart rate of over 190 bpm.

 

plasmanck_044.thumb.jpg

 

It was scorching out on the track. My Polar (ooh, the irony!) HRM recorded ambiental

air temperature of 37 degree C! For that reason, the race was shortened from seven

laps to six. In such conditions, I couldn't really push big gears, so my speed was down

a bit, compared to the training rides. Lucikly, the conditions were the same for everyone :-).

 

plasmanck_047.thumb.jpg

 

With a hairpin curve in each lap, which brings the average speed down by a considerable

amount and breaks the pedaling rhythm, I completed the 19 km course in just over 27

minutes, with an avg speed of around 42 km/h and max speed of 49 km/h, avg HR of

193 bpm and max HR of 198 bpm.

 

plasmanck_054.thumb.jpg

 

That was enough for a Gold medal in Elite Category. Additionally, I was also the fastest

competitor in general classification, therefore an absolute National Time Trial Champion!

 

plasmanck_055.thumb.jpg

 

So there you have it - three years full of various misfortune waiting for the opportunity,

eight months of hard training and a dream come true! :-)

 

plasmanck_058.thumb.jpg

 

 

Full-size photos: http://photos.cybernck.com/plasmanck?page=3

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
GeorgeXS

Congratulations Nick, fantastic effort!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
cybernck

Here's a video of my TT Championship winning run, albeit 14 months late! :rolleyes:

 

 

 

As mentioned in my Kovjanic Custom story - following all my achievements in 2011,

I was nominated for the best athlete of Republic of Srpska. Here's a photo from

the video shoot, featuring my Scott Plasma:

 

plasmanck_059.thumb.jpg

 

21/Dec/2011 - I'm being awarded with a trophy for 7th place by Olympic gold

medalist from 1984 Olympics - Zlatan Arnautovic (volleyball goalkeeper).

It was an honour and a moment of great joy.

 

plasmanck_060.thumb.jpg

 

The ceremony was aired live on national television, with me pointing my

finger at the trophy, hahah.

 

 

Full size photos: http://photos.cybernck.com/plasmanck?page=4

 

 

Also, here's a video clip from the ceremony:

 

 

(sorry, I couldn't be bothered to subtitle the whole thing)

 

 

I will be attempting to defend my championship title tomorrow, so wish me luck!

  • Like 1

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
welshpug

looks quite high on the front, not so aero, BUT as many pro's have proved, its being comfortable and getting the power down efficiently that is most important, if you can work on the flexibility and get down lower that's great, but not absolutely necessary unless you are purely a TT specialist.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
cybernck

When I relax my shoulders and neck, as well as don't move too forward on the saddle - I go a lot lower on the front.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
cybernck

Before I post the 2012 National TT Championship report, there are a couple of updates first.

 

 

Following my successes in 2011, I created a couple of necklaces, using redundant remains

of my KMC chain. The top one for everyday and the bottom one for special occasions :-).

 

plasmanck_061.thumb.jpg

 

For 2012, I finally got something that I wanted for a long time - a carbon disc wheel!

It wasn't ZIPP as the stickers suggest though. No idea of the brand, but it had carbon

discs bonded over traditional rim with spokes, similar to HED discs.

 

plasmanck_062.thumb.jpg

 

Another thing I got (and I've had to get it because of the UCI rules) is a Bell Meteor II

aero/TT helmet. It's a proper crash helmet, unlike my aero fairing that I used until now.

 

plasmanck_063.thumb.jpgplasmanck_064.thumb.jpg

 

My TT bike with the disc wheel fitted and the revised TT setup (without the skinsuit, obviously).

 

plasmanck_065.thumb.jpgplasmanck_066.thumb.jpg

 

 

Full-size photos: http://photos.cybernck.com/plasmanck?page=4

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
cybernck

Since I wasn't happy with the "ZIPP" disc wheel, I sold it and bought this new PRO (by Shimano)

tubular disc wheel. 12K carbon, Dura Ace hub and about 1200g in weight. It's fitted with brand

new Vittoria Corsa Evo CX 23mm tubular tyre.

 

plasmanck_067.thumb.jpgplasmanck_068.thumb.jpg

 

I've also had to get some carbon-specific cork brake pads and a "crack pipe" valve/pump adapter.

 

plasmanck_069.thumb.jpg

 

 

22/Aug/2012 - Bosnia & Herzegovina's National TT Championship at Zaluzani race track near Banja Luka.

It was the hottest day of the year, with 38'C in the shade and 42'C out in the sun on the track!

 

plasmanck_070.thumb.jpg

 

Doing a warm-up on my new Elite SuperCrono turbo-trainer. The term "warm-up" shouldn't be taken

lightly with the ambiental temperature this high!

 

 

Rolling to the start ramp, with my new disc wheel, new aero helmet and new team skinsuit :-).

Beautiful 12K carbon sheen :-). Proudly wearing number 1 and starting from the last spot,

as I was still the reigning national TT champion, though unsure if I will able to defend

the title, as I was not in the best shape this season.

 

plasmanck_074.thumb.jpgplasmanck_076.thumb.jpg

 

Up on the ramp, during the starting procedure. Aaand... off we go!

 

plasmanck_077.thumb.jpgplasmanck_078.thumb.jpg

 

I was feeling the side-effects of 42'C on the first lap already. Although I am generally used

to riding in high temperatures, I was really suffering that day.

 

plasmanck_081.thumb.jpgplasmanck_083.thumb.jpg

 

There is a hair-pin turn in each lap obviously, which is a proper tempo breaker.

 

plasmanck_085.thumb.jpgplasmanck_090.thumb.jpg

 

And finally, crossing the finish line, feeling completely spent and with a considerably

slower time than last year's. In the end, I didn't manage to defend my last year's title,

but I got silver, which is still not too bad, considering I've had a knee injury that had

prevented my from doing any winter preparations and riding until early Spring.

 

plasmanck_092.thumb.jpgplasmanck_094.thumb.jpg

 

That's it for 2012, as far as TT-ing goes.

 

 

Full-size photos: http://photos.cybernck.com/plasmanck?page=5

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
cybernck

I'd never really properly set up my riding position, so I decided I should finally do it in 2013!

This primarily meant going lower and shorter on the front end, which is why I got this 80 mm

Ritchey Adjustable stem to replace the 100 mm Ritchey WCS stem I've originally had on the bike.

 

plasmanck_097.thumb.jpgplasmanck_098.thumb.jpg

 

Likewise, it had taken me several years to figure out that the SLR T1 saddle doesn't suit my bum

(just like the SLR road saddle), so I replaced it with a regular Fizik Arione K:ium, that I used

to ride on my old road racing bicycle.

 

 

And finally - I had shortened the tri-bar extensions by 25 mm and also adjusted the saddle backwards.

The bike now fitted me spot on and it was well within UCI rules as well.

 

plasmanck_099.thumb.jpgplasmanck_100.thumb.jpg

 

Unfortunately, this is the very last photo of a complete bike, as it abruptly ended its life by becoming

a parts donor for a new project :-(.

 

 

Scott Plasma frameset fully stripped and looking as good as the day it had found its way out of the packaging.

 

plasmanck_101.thumb.jpgplasmanck_102.thumb.jpg

 

While this frameset has found its new home in the UK, you can follow the sequel of the Plasmanck story here:

 

http://forum.205gtidrivers.com/index.php?showtopic=151277

 

 

 

Full-size photos: http://photos.cybernck.com/plasmanck?page=7

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
Sign in to follow this  

×