Hello, I'm an ordinary cycling enthusiast from an ordinary neighborhood.
Although no one asked, I'm writing this Team Machine R review hoping it might be helpful to someone.
I haven't spent much time with it since purchasing,
and while there may be many emotional or subjective parts after spending money (?)
I'll still write down a few impressions I've felt.
First, since I work in the automotive field, I usually enjoy researching bicycle and automotive related technical information.
I'm someone who really loves it.
Before changing frames, I considered various options and had some candidates,
but the final comparison was with the Aero Road, and I deliberated the most over that.
In the end, there was a discount, and I was already riding a Team Machine,
and while the geometry differs, the difference wasn't huge, so I thought I could adjust the fitting myself.
Since I had prior experience, I decided it would come together quickly, so I purchased it.
(I'm selling my previous Team Machine SLR02 frame, so please take an interest..)
Everyone says that performance-wise, tires matter more than wheels,
and wheels matter more than frames, so would I actually feel changes after switching frames?
And would there be a big performance difference? It might just be marketing, but I bought it for the look.
Since it's almost all self-powered riding,
speaking based on cycling routes,
the first thing I noticed was
1. Handlebars
The narrowed top handlebars at 360mm width.
To exaggerate a bit, it was incredibly narrow, like grabbing the top of a TT bar,
to the point where I thought this is how my hands would feel if I were handcuffed and arrested,
it felt very narrow.
However, as I rode, I understood why - the position isn't about riding with arms extended,
but rather, the fitting forces you to ride with bent arms in an aerodynamic position.
After riding a bit, I've adapted well, and that narrow feeling is mostly gone.
And since the lower portion is a 420mm drop bar, it feels similar to before during climbing intervals.
Although this was an unfamiliar handlebar layout when I first used it,
the more I use it, the more I appreciate how well-made and thoughtfully designed it is.
2. Frame Shape
Being a semi-aero model, the overall shape is refined,
and with only layout changes at the top head, honestly I didn't expect much,
I just thought it looked cool and pretty, and that was enough for me.
But riding it completely changed my mind.
Contrary to what I thought, it's a completely different frame than the previous Team Machine.
It's not just superficial aero performance,
I feel like smart people developed it in multiple ways.
For example, yesterday was a pretty windy day,
but it had minimal impact from crosswinds - was there less wind than I thought?
But when I stopped at traffic signals, I clearly felt the wind and noticed the difference.
One of the most impressive things is that on 3-4% grades, the responsiveness is better than expected and it gives a strong pushing feel.
The existing Team Machine was comfortable, and when doing intervals on climbs, it had great frame flex and responsiveness, feeling incredibly smooth.
But the R feels much more like a TT in overall performance,
which might be an advantage that comes with the wider BB shell,
even while seated, if I push the pedals hard consistently,
like changing from a low gear to a high gear,
at a certain speed, it feels like it maintains that momentum and gives a strong pushing sensation.
This gives a continuous pushing sensation without stopping the pedals, and on low grades or short hills,
it gives confidence that you can ride well, which is impressive.
This applies even on flat ground when pushing consistently, and when I briefly ease off the pedals while riding then push again,
there's an advantage in creating and maintaining speed more easily with lower power than before.
As an aside, over 10+ years of cycling and riding various frames directly and indirectly, with accumulated experience and continued interest in cycling technical resources, the trend has been aero becoming all-around and all-around incorporating aero elements. But the Factor brand now seems to refine aero further, make revolutionary geometry changes, and lead the way.
The new Reactor also came out very refined,
If these improvements also yield results and achievements in the market and records,
I think models that are becoming uniform now will once again be differentiated into all-around and aero categories.
Perhaps I bought this a step late after knowing and seeing this trend,
but what's most important is exercising for health, so this year I'll ride consistently without accidents to maintain my health,
and I think it will be a year of discovering many advantages of the frame I purchased.
I hope members also have enjoyable and happy riding,
and since the season is coming on, I hope everyone stays safe and accident-free.
I'm sharing good memories from Team Machine riding photos
and photos of the changed Team Machine R.
Have a happy weekend
