2005 TIME VXRS
Part Diary, Part Technical Manual, Part Tips & Tricks

I always admired TIME bicycles, I owned a 1995 Helix Equipe HM for a few years and enjoyed that bike. Recently TIME released the updated Scylon and there has been a lot of coverage on YouTube, giving it rave reviews, showing how they are made, and how TIME makes the highest quality road bikes in the world. So I came across a craigslist ad for a VXRS, built up to a really nice spec. This is a really iconic model as it was the team bike for Quick Step and had been ridden by many famous Grand Tour riders. It also features an integrated seat mast they call the Translink, which is a really cool feature. So on August 28, 2025 I drove to Marin to meet the original owner, gave the bike a quick test ride, and brought home my second TIME bike.

9/20/2025 - I've had the bike for three weeks and I finally finished up the build. I stripped everything down and cleaned everything. I then cut 30mm from the fork steerer tube, so I'm only running a 5mm spacer now. Most importantly I wanted go get 165mm cranks, instead of the 175mm that came with the bike. I was really pleased to find the FSA SL-K Modular, which is basically a subcompact crankset for gravel bikes, but that gearing allowed me to use the orignal 11-23T cassette, so I'm really optimizing weight while still keeping low gearing suitable for hilly terrain. I also replaced the FSA K-Wing handlebar with a more traditional FSA compact bend handlebar. I chose to keep the cable routing external, which is period correct, has smoother bends, and shortens total cable length. I took the bike on it's maiden voyage today and it rode great. The old 21mm tubulars needs to get replaced with fresh tires, but otherwise the bike is in excellent shape. I was really happy that the Campy CT front derailer was able the handle the subcompact chainrings with no issues. When I weighed the bike, I was shocked to see 14 lbs 5 oz, that is 14 oz lighter than when I first got it, by far the lightest bike I've ever owned.

9/27/2025 - Last week I took the Zipp wheels to a bike shop because the carbon hub caps were rattling. The mechanical looked at the wheels and said "I wouldn't trust these wheels". I'm thinking what are you talking about! He showed me dimples in the carbon and one of the dimples was quite soft, this suggests the carbon is delaminating inside. So this was a blessing, as the tubular tires were really old and it would have been expensive to replace them, and I don't even like the hassle of tubulars. So I started shopping for new clincher wheels and found a pair of ENVE SES 2.2 nearby with 25mm tires and a Campagnolo freehub. These wheels were perfect, as its a direct install. The VXRS is designed for 23mm tires, but I test fitted some 25mm tires and they fit just fine. Other wheelsets I was looking at were cheaper, but if you add $200 for new tires, then tubes, and another $90 for a Campy freehub, these ENVE wheels were actually a really good deal. The good thing is that these wheels are way more durable, are wider and optimized for 25mm clincher tires, with ceramic bearings. But the downside is that they are 1 lb 2 oz heavier than the Zipp tubulars with 21mm tires, but regardless it's still the lightest bike I've ever owned by far. After I put on the wheels, the brake calipers had to be MUCH wider and I had to readjust the rear derailer, but now its all dialed-in and safe to ride.

Here are the specs:

Frame: 2005 TIME VXRS Module, Large. Carbon fiber tubes bonded to carbon fiber lugs, 130mm rear spacing. Serial Number: 2453L05. Natural Carbon.
Fork: 2005 TIME AVANT SAFE+, 28.6mm to 33mm tapered carbon steerer tube. Natural Carbon.
Wheelset: ENVE SES 2.2, 25mm deep carbon clinchers, tubeless ready with textured brake surface. 20 spoke radial lacing front and 24 spoke crossed lacing rear. 18.5mm internal width, 27mm external width. 1452g.
Tires: Continental 5000 S TR, 700 x 25c, tubeless clincher.
Cassette: Campagnolo Record Ultradrive, 10sp, 11-23T. Four largest cogs are titanium, the rest are steel.
Crankset: FSA SL-K Modular, BB386EVO, carbon, 46x30, 165mm. Direct mount outer chainring, 90 BCD inner chainring.
Bottom Bracket: FSA MegaEvo, BB386 to BSA with steel bearings.
Front Derailer: Campagnolo Record CT, braze-on.
Rear Derailer: Campagnolo Record Titanium, 10sp, 73mm long cage..
Levers/Shifters: Campagnolo Record 10 Ultra.
Headset: TIME QUICKSET integrated, pre-adjusted.
Chain: Campagnolo Record C10.
Stem: TIME MONOLINK HM, 110mm, 31.8mm.
Handlebar: FSA SL-K compact, carbon, 31.8mm, 40 cm wide.
Brakes: Campagnolo Record with ENVE carbon pads. Silver.
Brake Pads: ENVE black, for textured carbon rims.
Pedal: LOOK Kéo Blade 2, 12Nm carbon spring tension, black.
Saddle: Selle Italia SLC Gel Flow, carbon rails. Black.
Bottle Cage: TIME. Natural Carbon.

Subcompact gearing

Compact gearing

The bike currently weighs 15 lbs 9 oz. With the Zipp tubulars, the bike weighs 14 lbs 5 oz. Originally the bike weighed 15 lbs 3 oz when I first got it.

The following are the original parts that I am currently not using:

Wheelset: ZIPP 303, 40mm deep carbon tubular with ZIPP titanium skewers. Natural Carbon.
Tires: Tufo S3 Lite, 700 x 21c, tubular.
Crankset: FSA Gossamer CK-6020, aluminum, 50x34, 175mm, 110 BCD.
Bottom Bracket: FSA MegaExo BB-6000.
Handlebar: FSA K-Wing Aero Carbon, 31.8mm.
Brake Pads: ENVE gray, for smooth carbon rims.
Pedals: TIME RXS TI Carbon, carbon reinforced composite body with titanium axle.