Hi John and Paul, I also ride an Optima Baron Raptor.
FWIW
I did discuss boom flex with a LBS mechanic a few months back after Paul
discussed it with me.
When I stated the 10mm flex that Paul had told me about, the mechanic thought
that was good and sited that many road bikes would flex their bottom bracket
more than that.

Over many hill climb rides I have timed myself using low, natural and high
cadences. The reults sticking to a higher cadence on long climbs (more than
500m) results in a faster climb time. Shorter than that the results vary and no
one cadence speed stands out.

When riding in a regular DF group on a 65km ride averaging 32km/h, I will start
particularly steep hill climbs in the front to middle of the bunch and just
before the top will be relegated to the back. Other riders fitness and ability
is ever changing and I am pleased with my improved climbing times. However,
there is lots more work for me to do yet before I reach the limits of the bike.

--- In BaronOwners@yahoogroups.com, "John Foltz" <john.foltz@...> wrote:
>
> Power is relative, and compared to the guys I'm trying to keep up with, I
> climb slowly. OTOH, I've had guys on uprights write that I climb like a
> rocket. In truth, I'm somewhere in between; faster than many, slower than I
> want to be. I think my boom flex problem has to do with my weight. I tip the
> scales at just over 200 pounds, and that seems to be the magical point at
> which riders have different opinions of a Baron -- below that point, they'll
> describe a Baron as being stiff; but above that point they're more likely to
> describe it as 'compliant' and 'flexy.' I went the short crank route last
> year. The experiment was a total failure; I was slower everywhere.
>
> ------ Original Message ------
> Received: Tue, 02 Jun 2009 05:16:16 AM EDT
> From: "PaulW" <wordy@...>
> To: <BaronOwners@yahoogroups.com>
> Subject: [BaronOwners] Re: New Baron frame
>
> > ... If you don't have a lot of power, I wouldn't
> > have thought boom flex would be a problem. The 'solution' is picking a
> > low gear, with possibly short cranks to assist in spinning - which
> > reduces flex. Even so, IMO, any boom flex is bad.
> >
>