InsideTri.com is ramping up the gear reviews. Check us out each Tuesday, as our tech guru tells you what products rock ... and which ones flop. Now, how 'bout that Trek TTX 9.0 parts kit ...

TREK TTX 9.0 PARTS KIT, $3,000

Drivetrain: Shimano 105 derailleurs and a Bontrager Race crank don't exactly get me fired up. The 105 derailleurs will shift gears; the crank will turn the chain. In other words, these drivetrain components will function sufficiently, but they are the lowest grade components that can be considered "race worthy."

Ergonomics: The Profile Design Aerolite aero bar may not be the flashiest bar out there, but it allows many riders to fit this frame. It places the pads high and back, relative to the athlete, so riders who avoid the yoga studio at all costs can still ride the same frame as Lieto and Levi.

Braking: The Cane Creek 200TT brake levers are a pleasure to use. Their shape creates a powerful grip surface and the return spring helps cover the stale return characteristics of the brake calipers. However, the grip force and spring-back capability of the Cane Creek SCR-3 calipers are less than impressive. They stop the bike and, from a cost standpoint, are an appropriate match for this parts kit, but they are a bargain-basement component.

Value: Sometimes, manufacturers are able to build a tricked-out frame with a cheaper kit without sacrificing much performance. Other times, a frame is simply too expensive to equip for $3,000. Although the TTX is a premier frame, any bike needs better parts than this down-graded 105 kit to compete in the ultra-competitive $3,000 carbon bike category. Unless you are willing to jump to $3,800 for the 9.5, the TTX is not the best machine for your money.

RATING (out of 10)

Drivetrain: 3 - These are the parts that come on a sub-$1,000 Fuji

Ergonomics: 8 -Trek sacrificed style for function. I like it.

Braking: 4 - Gotta love those brake levers for the price.

Aaron Hersh is the Technical Liaison at Colorado Multisport in Boulder, Colorado. He has been competing in endurance sports for the last seven years. Hersh has a B.A. in Integrative Physiology from the University of Colorado, focusing on biomechanics.

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