Source : Biketo.com| American Riding Network Author : hkpcs
After observing the Lightning AETHOS-COMP for two years, it was finally time to strike in November of late 2021. The boss said that there is a general shortage of goods in the car market now, and it takes about 2-3 months to get the car. Wait, wait, anyway, there is no rush to get the car. However, when it came to New Year's Day and the Spring Festival, there was still no car. After the Lantern Festival, there was no news of the car. So, call the boss, "When will the car arrive?" After a while, the boss called back and said that the car had been sent, but it was estimated that it would take about two weeks to see the car. After another two weeks, one day at the end of February, the boss said, "The car is ready to be sent, and the final payment will be paid." When AETHOS-COMP was first listed, the list price was 29990, the list price had become 31990 when booking, and finally when the car was about to pay the final payment, the price became 32990. The owner said that the price had increased. When booking a car, the boss also said that there may be a price increase. There is no way, even if you book a car, the price increase has to be accepted. Who called the impact of the epidemic, the whole vehicle and accessories of high-end bicycles have increased in price to varying degrees, and it is not necessarily possible to buy it if there is money. The same is true of the bicycle market, the more out of stock, the more the price rises, the more the price rises, the more difficult it is to buy.
▲In this configuration, it has already connected to the top S-W. Fitted with yellow-rimmed tires, it's even cooler
Before and after booking, I also searched for relevant information about AETHOS on the Us Cycling Network, especially the information on modifications and upgrades in the media, and also planned my own weight reduction and upgrading actions. AETHOS is said to be a group of lightning engineers, purely out of personal interest, quietly designed for comfortable riding and not for racing. "Quiet design" is said as if it were true. The end result is what it is today, with the frame weight breaking through the relevant limits, and its top S-W reached 599 grams, which is said to be one of the lightest road bikes in the world. The secondary COMP frame weighs only 699 grams at the most, which is indeed light enough, more than a little lighter than the previous frame of lightning. However, there is no difference in rigidity between the top and lower frames except for the difference in weight. The results of a number of riders' test rides have indeed proved to be a comfortable road bike.
The first big item to upgrade is the wheel group. The wheelset of the original car is DT's aluminum alloy wheelset, and the weight is 1780 grams. Originally, it was a lightning-like carbon fiber wheel set designed for AETHOS, weighing only 1260 grams at its most, the hub was DT350, and the frame height was 33. As a result of the discussion with the boss, he recommended a domestic self-knitting wheel set using DT240 flower drums, weighing only 1280 grams and the frame height of 40. Looking at the 240 flower drums and 40 frames high, I chose the domestic wheel group, and the price was similar. However, when the wheel set arrived, the boss told me that this is a fat circle, and the minimum must be equipped with 28 tires, and it is best to install 30 tires. My God, that was something I didn't think of beforehand. However, I am a thin-skinned person, and it is not easy to peel off the boss's face, so I reluctantly accepted it.
▲ 40 frame high, with 30-32 wide tires, the feeling is still so big
Then it is to take the aluminum alloy elbow of the original car, replace the disc of the original car, replace the seat cushion of the original car, replace it with the ultra-light handlebar belt, and replace it with the ultra-light outer tire and inner tube. Taken together, the weight of the vehicle reached 6800 grams without foot pedals and yard frames, which greatly surprised me. Just installed 28 outer tires and ultra-light inner tubes, did not ride a few hundred meters, the inner tubes were violent. Discuss with the boss, you can only fit 30 wide tires. Immediately ordered a lightning homegrown mid-trim tire, 30 wide. After installing the inner and outer tubes, I went to the neighborhood to test ride, and it felt smooth.
▲ A label bought online, mood small items
After going to the store to evaluate the real car, I decided to upgrade the elbow. The aluminum alloy elbow of the original car weighs about 350 grams, and the elbow recommended by the boss only weighs 178 grams of carbon fiber bending handle, and there is an ultra-light handle with a blessing, and the total weight reduction of the elbow and the handlebar is close to more than 100 grams. The aluminum alloy handle of the original car is very delicate, not very heavy, and the replacement of the new handlebar does not have much weight loss, so it continues to be used. The two discs of the original car were also replaced, and the weight was reduced by about 100 grams. The original car's saddle weighs about 300 grams, and replaced with the original carbon rail cushion weighing about 180 grams, the weight is reduced by about 100 grams. Load the 280 grams of ultralight outer tires found from an internet, and load the ultra-light inner tubes recommended by the store, and lose about 100 grams of weight. After a series of operations, without foot pedals and yard frames, the bare car 6800 grams entered the ranks of 7000 kilograms of ultra-light road cars.
▲With a carbon rail cushion, it is also matched
▲ NetTao's water bottle holder weighs only 23 grams
After the car was loaded, with a nervous mood, I rode a long distance of more than a few hundred kilometers and several steep slopes. The feeling is that lighter can be faster, more comfortable to ride farther. The upgraded AETHOS-COMP is on flat paved roads, speeding up easily to 30+ or more, or even 40+ or more, which is something I have never ridden on other lightning bikes. And shaking the car uphill, can also be easily completed, even with the front of the large plate after the small and medium-sized can also easily shake the car uphill. After a long ride of about two hundred kilometers, there is no obvious discomfort in all parts of the body, only a tired soreness. It is indeed a weapon suitable for long and short riding trips.
▲ Although it is a black frame black wheelset, it does not hide the luxurious temperament, low-key and not low-grade
Only in the end, the weight of the whole vehicle reached 7400 grams. The results of the previous upgrade project were erased by the 30 wide tires, but the overall experience was also very friendly. It is good value for money, good value for money, and it is a good road bike for long-distance riding.