Head has killed Prestige

I have been using Head Prestige since it's inception in 1987, it always have been a favorite of advanced players. When it comes to racquets, I’ve always been a Prestige fan. The weight, feel, and heaviness of shot is just more to my liking. In fact, for my whole adult tennis playing life, the Prestige Mid is my racquet of choice.

High weight (349g strung), small head size (600 cm2) and dense string pattern (18X20) made for stability and control, and players provided ones' own power. This design had made Head Prestige racquets one of the most popular on tour for decades. I had owned every generation of Prestige Mid.

Last few years Head has expanded the Prestige line to serve the needs of players of all levels with lighter and bigger frames. That's all fine until this year, Head had decided to kill off my favourite and original Prestige frame! As long as I am concerned, if one can't handle a Prestige Mid, one should use some another racquets, rather attempting to play with a real Prestige.

2014 Head introduced Graphene Prestige REV Pro, it supposedly takes some of the features of 2 Prestige frames – the Mid and Pro – and combines them to make an interesting, and easily customizable, frame for advanced players.

The Prestige REV Pro only sports a very low 300 gram of weight, and an 8-point head light balance for maneuverability and racquet speed, and the graphene technology places more mass in the hoop for power.

It has a 16x19 string pattern (18X20 Prestige Mid) to provide spin potential. Likable feature is that it still has a classic midsize 93 square inch head and 20mm (19mm - Prestige Mid) constant beam design; new changes trying to make the Prestige REV Pro an ideal weapon for strong junior players moving up the ranks. As they do, and their swings become bigger, it’ll be a simple matter to add weight, making the frame better suited to their style.

I dearly do hope that Head will release the Classic Prestige Mid this year.

In the meantime I have ordered the Prestige REV Pro as it is still has a 93 square inch head, I will however place additional 32g of lead tape on to the frame hopefully making it feels more like a REAL Prestige.

New Year gift to oneself

Sick of Wertheim, it is just too heavy and clumsy to use efficiently. New year gift to oneself, I decided to purchase a Dyson vacuum cleaner and after using it for just a little while, the initial experience is exceptional. Light, maneuverable and most impressively no suction loss at all. Simply Brilliant!

Giant Propel SL - Brakes

I got Giant Propel SL a couple of months ago, unfortunately I only had time to do 4 rides along Beach Road.

 The brakes are made of Carbon composite materials, very light and aero shaped, mini V-mount system.

 Aero Shaped.

 The Carbon brakes sit neatly behind seatstay.

The brakes look fantastic, as if they are paper thin!

My 2013 Dura Ace 9000 C50 Carbon Tubular Wheelset

Finally received my DA 9000 C50 Carbon Tubular wheels from Merlin Cycles UK. It had been held up for a while by Australian Customs and Easter public holidays.

 New hub design - Shimano Dura Ace 9000, it is a bit louder than previous versions for Shimano hubs.

 Photo does the wheels no justice, they look absolutely fantastic and sexy in real life!

 New front hub design

 Nipples are hidden inside the carbon rim.

 Brake track

 New rear hub design for the DA9000 series

They cost A$ 2,350, including Customs clearance fee and shipping, which is only A$150 less than buying from a local internet bike shop. However, the local shop has atrociously bad reviews, citing that they would not deliver paid items for weeks. I was suspicious of it's pricing on the DA wheelset, as all other Australian based shops were quoting the retail price being around A$3,300.

I found although the Customs clearance process and shipping time are painfully slow, Merlin cycles service and price are great. I will definitely purchase items from Merlin in the future even I had to deal with clearing Customs, I just have to allow more time for delivery.

New Bike, Giant Propel SL1, for my 2013 Cycling season

Just paid A$ 8,000.00 for Giant Propel SL1 with Dura Ace 9000 groupset and upgraded to C50 Tubular wheelset. I have to sell the Giant P-SLR1 Aero wheelset on ebay and it only took 2 days to ditch them for A$ 750.00. Now I am wondering if I had let them go for too cheap... as they are brand new and not one single revolution had been ridden on them...

 

Paid around A$ 2,500.00, including GST and Customs clearance fee, for the Dura Ace Tubular Wheels. They retail around A$ 3,200.00 in Australia and not one retailer willing to give me a fair price. On the contrary they all showed venomous disdain when I mentioned the disparity of prices; I was a bit shocked, after all I was a potential customer! Such display of ill will from Australian retailers, no wonder so many "brick and mortar" shops are going out of business. As long as I am concerned, not one moment too soon! I won't get abused when I shop online, also on the plus side I saved at least $A 700.00 on the same wheelset!

Without saying, of course, I ordered a new pair of Look Keo Blade pedals from an UK online store. They just arrived today.

Will post new pictures when I have received the Dura Ace Wheelset with Continental tubular tyres and set up my brand new 2013 Giant Propel SL1.

Waiting is so devastatingly difficult... want to ride the new bike on Beach Road this weekend but realistically I probably won't receive all parts after Easter! Sigh.....

Laurastar Steamax G2

 

I received Laurastar Steamax G2 a couple days ago, costing AUD 428.00 including shipping, it is the most expansive iron I have purchased ever.  

I dearly hope that it does live up to my expectation. After seeing it in action, I believe that it can actually save me some money by not having my clothes dry cleaned as often. The powerful steam supposedly can make creases "disappear" without using much elbow grease.

I would use it in coming week.... fingers crossed that it does worth the money outlaid...

Finally I have received Nexus 4

This is my third Android phone within last 12 months, and now I have owned every iteration of Nexus phones. Currently I have 3 Android mobiles, but, of course, only one active.

Nexus 4 is more or less the exact size as Galaxy Nexus, however, it feels somewhat more a premium product even it is cheaper to purchase. I bought it just under AUD 400.00, including shipping cost of AUD 20.00, from Google Play store. I got the 4GB version as I had been waiting for it so long that I am not willing chancing it for unknown waiting period for the 16GB one.

 The glass back of Nexus 4 feels more superior than the Galaxy Nexus, although, finger print smudges will be very evident.

The screen is a little bit wider, I can't really tell which one is clearer. Overall I do like the new Nexus.

Now I am considering to order the Nexus 10 tablet.