that BMC looks siiiick
― drink more beer and the doctor is a heghog (gbx), Saturday, 20 March 2010 13:26 (fourteen years ago) link
So I've been watching Milan San Remo and researching bikes and using ILX as my notebook.I think top of my hitlist is either of the BMCs or the Felt, based on pure gut feeling and looks. The only thing stopping me from dropping $1700 on the SL01 right away is the fact I discounted Aluminium at the start of this process. There are at least BMC and felt dealers in town so I can go and try an approximation to both of these.
unfortunately BMC dealer is not open on sundays and i have committed to go biking and bike mechanicking this afternoon. Open late on Monday though. should probably try the trek and specialized as well.
BMC SL01 Rivalhttp://www.competitivecyclist.com/road-bikes/frame/2009-bmc-road-racer-sl-01-sram-rival-complete-bike-6950.html
Pros: looks very trick, orange is me, not full carbon, under budgetCons: not full carbon
BMC SLT01http://www.competitivecyclist.com/road-bikes/frame/2009-bmc-team-machine-slt-01-sram-force-complete-bike-6949.html
Pros: More Carbon, force gruppo, top tube more horizontal cons: busting the budget, cutty will disapprove of replica BMC team colours
Scott CR1 Team 105https://www.racycles.com/product.aspx?catid=2,445,909&pid=3725
Pros: full carbonCons: a bit boring looking
Felt F5 105https://www.racycles.com/product.aspx?catid=2,441,619
Pros: Full Carbon Horizontal Top Tube, looks good, no temptation to jump up a model (too much green or garmin argyle), can try the F4 in pittsburgh which should be good for the frame sizingCons: can't find any
Specialized Roubaix Elite 105http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=39265&menuItemId=0
Pros: can actually try this in pittsburghCons: busting the Budget
Eddy Merckx EMX-1https://www.racycles.com/product.aspx?catid=2,432,608&pid=3708
Pros: natural step form my alu teamCons: Really busting the budget, the look haitch posted is a way better deal, Merckx paint jobs aren't a fun as they used to be
Trek Madone 4.5 105
Pros: Can try this in pittsburgh, friend of a friend works in the trek storeCons: Irrational Dislike of Trek
Planet-X Pro Carbon SL lots of gruppo options
Pros: cheaper frame, better gruppo, force under budget, only thing I found with campy, 2 year warranty on the frame, planet-x/On-one seem to have a good rep back homecons: don't do chorus or athena, only veloce or record, record busts the budget
Planet-X Pro Ti Road Veloce, or RivalPros: frame looks trick, has a good pedigreeCons: not actually in stock
Focus Cayo Team ultegrahttp://www.bikebling.com/Focus-Cayo-Team-Replica-Complete-Bike-p/focus-cayo-teamreplica-2009.htm
Pros: Trad geometry, UltegraCons: Milram colours
― American Fear of Pranksterism (Ed), Saturday, 20 March 2010 16:37 (fourteen years ago) link
using ILX as my notebook
^^^ this is dope. v. interesting.
― caek, Saturday, 20 March 2010 16:55 (fourteen years ago) link
CR1s are really popular down here, though more in the old version - that new one you posted has more relaxed geometry apparently.
― brifter runoff (haitch), Saturday, 20 March 2010 17:01 (fourteen years ago) link
makes me want new bike, stoked 4 u ed!
― fat mantis (Hunt3r), Saturday, 20 March 2010 19:57 (fourteen years ago) link
only get SRAM imo
― drink more beer and the doctor is a heghog (gbx), Saturday, 20 March 2010 20:15 (fourteen years ago) link
SRAM does seem to be the way to go. I just have a soft spot for campy even if there is no earthly reason to choose it.
― American Fear of Pranksterism (Ed), Saturday, 20 March 2010 21:43 (fourteen years ago) link
OK, so the difference between the two BMCs on Competitive Cyclist is 500g more or less. Thats something I can loose if I stop eating breakfast for a week or don't hydrate properly. I could weight weenie that out over time if it really mattered to me. What difference am I going to feel between Aluminium (with carbon seat stays) and carbon? Bear in mind that I am used to the comfortable squish of the surly steel and don't have a good mental picture of the ride on my merckx, it's been too long.
Also, compact vs trad geometry, this is irrelevant and all about the best fit, right? I have an a prejudice against compact based on being a big fellow and not wanting too much seat tube exposed, any views in this?
― American Fear of Pranksterism (Ed), Saturday, 20 March 2010 22:38 (fourteen years ago) link
sram vs. campy vs. shimano is a very complicated endeavo(u)r that comes down to a variety of variables. well, campy is easy to eliminate because of price. but w/r/t shimano vs. sram: it's all a matter of feel and comfort and taste in shifting styles. i know cutty prefers sram because he can shift in the sprint easier (although i can shift in a sprint, i think this might be more of a brifter positioning/bar choice?) and he also prefers the anatomics of the sram hood to the shimano.
i feel shimano's shifting mechanics are more intuitive than sram which was the top priority for me.
― ✌.✰|ʘ‿ʘ|✰.✌ (Steve Shasta), Sunday, 21 March 2010 01:19 (fourteen years ago) link
I loathe shimano shifting! the brake lever moves when u shift! gross!
― drink more beer and the doctor is a heghog (gbx), Sunday, 21 March 2010 03:25 (fourteen years ago) link
not entirely true! only when your front derailleur upshifts or when your rear derailleur downshifts.
― ✌.✰|ʘ‿ʘ|✰.✌ (Steve Shasta), Sunday, 21 March 2010 03:46 (fourteen years ago) link
still
― drink more beer and the doctor is a heghog (gbx), Sunday, 21 March 2010 06:43 (fourteen years ago) link
Three bike stores today after shaking myself out on the hazlewood avenue hill. Truly not the day to be looking at bikes, its the first sunday of spring and lots of little jimmys and janes need new bikes for the summer. Also, Pittsburgh runs a little small so this meant 2 out of three stores didn't have the right bikes in the right size for me to try. First store was the best, short staffed but swamped for them being big meant I could have the pick of the closeout stuff because they have more leftovers in large sizes. Shopgirl there seemed vey keen on putting something together to beat what I could find on the internet. She sent me off on a Cannondale carbon 6 which was an instant revelation not having ridden carbon before. So sharp, so tight, I could get used to this.
Hot, tattooed shopgirl is a stan for the CAAD 9 so wants me to come back in the the week to try that and a specialized roubaix and work out what they have in closeouts.
Shop two was the felt dealer, the guy in there was a bit less helpful but he did have to deal with a mainly teenage labour force and a mother who was insitant that her 10 year old son would have a 'proper' mountain bike whatever that is and it would last 5 years. To accomodate little jimmy's growth he rode out on something with wheels nearly up to his chest and no seatpost extension. He didn't have an F5 or F4 in my size but sent me out on an X45. A combination of it being too small and it being a tiagra bike with a massive stem rise meant I was really upright so couldn't really get a feel for it but it felt all wrong. He's going to get in a big F4 for the end of the week for me to try. (Not sure if I can stretch to the F4 be he's happier to have that in stock as he sells more of them)
He sent me out on a jamis xenith comp as well, which I wasn't that into and mercifully it flatted out after 200m with a sidewall blowout.
Then on to the trek store. No Madone anything in my size so test rode a aluminium gary fisher (carbon rear stays). Softer ride at the front end, whilst still being tight at the back, didn't dislike it but didn't drive me wild. 61 may be a better fit than the 58, I think but they only had the tiagra setup in a 61 and this again comes with the high rise stem. No other trek store in pittsburgh has a madone in my size and they weren't prepared to get one in on the offchance and I don't care enoguh to pursue it.
On then to the bmc dealer, probably on tuesday. I think it will end up being a toss up between the bmcs from competitive cyclist and whatever closeouts the first store has.
― American Fear of Pranksterism (Ed), Sunday, 21 March 2010 20:12 (fourteen years ago) link
Also, this years carbon 6 is black and gold (yellow). Although it shouldn't matter it is kind of cool to be in a city where everything from the nfl team to the roller derby all wear the same colours for sports.
― American Fear of Pranksterism (Ed), Sunday, 21 March 2010 20:14 (fourteen years ago) link
I don't think Tiagra requires a high rise stem?
― Mark C, Sunday, 21 March 2010 22:32 (fourteen years ago) link
It doesn't but the bikes that fit it tend to be aimed at a more relaxed rider so they tend to come with a stem that gives a more upright position.
― American Fear of Pranksterism (Ed), Sunday, 21 March 2010 22:45 (fourteen years ago) link
I'm sure you could ask them to fit a racier stem without any worries. Tiagra's a decent groupset, but even if you're not buying a Tiagra bike it'd be good to have it at least set up like a bike you might buy.
― Mark C, Sunday, 21 March 2010 22:53 (fourteen years ago) link
Absolutely, wasn't going to happen today though. I think on the felt it wad too small anyway. The Gary Fisher I don't care enough about.
― American Fear of Pranksterism (Ed), Sunday, 21 March 2010 23:08 (fourteen years ago) link
Also, this years carbon 6 is black and gold (yellow). Although it shouldn't matter it is kind of cool to be in a city where everything from the nfl team to the roller derby all wear the same colours for sports.― American Fear of Pranksterism (Ed), Sunday, March 21, 2010 1:14 PM (3 hours ago)
― American Fear of Pranksterism (Ed), Sunday, March 21, 2010 1:14 PM (3 hours ago)
Live strong my friend, live as strong as the Allegheny steel.
― ✌.✰|ʘ‿ʘ|✰.✌ (Steve Shasta), Monday, 22 March 2010 00:16 (fourteen years ago) link
I'm really hoping the BMCs ride well because they just look so so good.
What I have learnt today, 59cm is about the right top tube length for me.
― American Fear of Pranksterism (Ed), Monday, 22 March 2010 03:28 (fourteen years ago) link
hello ILTRMB, it's been a while. I'm torn between the following 3 bikes (to be bought on the cycle to work scheme, they're pretty much making the budget as I need to get pedals, shoes etc on top). I'm really racking my brains what to get, do want something slightly different, but I do need to buy through Evans thanks to work:
Fuji Roubaix 3 - not common in the UK, but looks nicely 80s, decent groupset for the price too:http://www.evanscycles.com/product_image/image/794/de5/271/47882/product_page/fuji-roubaix-30-2010-road-bike.jpg
Genesis Aether 10, rather nice looks, but groupset is basic. Is a ridgeback tho.http://www.evanscycles.com/product_image/image/794/de5/271/47882/product_page/fuji-roubaix-30-2010-road-bike.jpg
last up - a felt 95, looks proper, very decent setup for the price, shame about the Garmin liveryhttp://www.evanscycles.com/product_image/image/e9f/892/77f/47149/product_page/felt-f95-2010-road-bike.jpg
― problem chimp (Porkpie), Monday, 22 March 2010 22:25 (fourteen years ago) link
oops, that genesis ain't right
http://www.evanscycles.com/product_image/image/165/65b/9f9/47849/product_page/genesis-aether-10-2010-road-bike.jpg
So yeah - any thoughts? recommendations?
― problem chimp (Porkpie), Monday, 22 March 2010 22:27 (fourteen years ago) link
close-run thing, i'd maybe go for the felt.
this honky tonk looks like fun!
― brifter runoff (haitch), Tuesday, 23 March 2010 00:22 (fourteen years ago) link
in what godforsaken world is a welded sloping top tube bike with straight blades "retro looking"? i get that its steel with a panel paint job but...
nice bike tho
― fat mantis (Hunt3r), Tuesday, 23 March 2010 00:33 (fourteen years ago) link
btw u nice for not replying "the world where u super old" zing etc
― fat mantis (Hunt3r), Tuesday, 23 March 2010 02:26 (fourteen years ago) link
LOL U OLD FAT MANTIS!
― shite new answers (cutty), Tuesday, 23 March 2010 17:45 (fourteen years ago) link
Felt makes an F95 w/o the team colors…
― naus, Tuesday, 23 March 2010 17:48 (fourteen years ago) link
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01409/mantis_1409722f.jpg
― fat mantis (Hunt3r), Tuesday, 23 March 2010 18:02 (fourteen years ago) link
dude on my club is selling this:http://cgi.ebay.com/Garneau-Sonix-6-4-Pro-2009_W0QQitemZ140393176900QQcmdZViewItemQQptZRoad_Bikes?hash=item20b015df44#ht_943wt_1072
for $1950... too bad it's a M, think may be too small for you Ed.
― ✌.✰|ʘ‿ʘ|✰.✌ (Steve Shasta), Tuesday, 23 March 2010 20:42 (fourteen years ago) link
I think it would have to be an XL for me, but that looks sweet.
― American Fear of Pranksterism (Ed), Tuesday, 23 March 2010 23:47 (fourteen years ago) link
Rain has slowed this process down. Tried to try some BMCs on saturday but the local store has almost zero stock as BMC is "between distributors", which is presumably why competitive cyclist has a bunch of '09 stock cheap. I did their fit calculator on saturday and I'm leaning towards a 59cm SLT01, although I'm reluctant to buy without having ridden. However payday approaches and I kind of want to place the order then.
― American Fear of Pranksterism (Ed), Monday, 29 March 2010 16:04 (fourteen years ago) link
one of the dutch dudes i ride with is looking for what appears to be a super-limited Rabobank team edition of a Giant frame in XL, so if anyone happens to run across one in their shop visits, kindly let me know!
― ✌.✰|ʘ‿ʘ|✰.✌ (Steve Shasta), Monday, 29 March 2010 16:50 (fourteen years ago) link
picking up my Felt tomorrow, 58cm frame, getting the stem flipped to lift me up a little.
― problem chimp (Porkpie), Thursday, 1 April 2010 21:42 (fourteen years ago) link
paid for the Kona steel machine $2.1k delivered to aus, could not resist :|
― wilter, Monday, 5 April 2010 02:49 (fourteen years ago) link
I went for the BMC SLT in the end. waiting for delivery.
― American Fear of Pranksterism (Ed), Monday, 5 April 2010 02:56 (fourteen years ago) link
Good looking bike Ed!
― wilter, Monday, 5 April 2010 03:19 (fourteen years ago) link
lots of nice bikes itt.
― ✌.✰|ʘ‿ʘ|✰.✌ (Steve Shasta), Monday, 5 April 2010 03:42 (fourteen years ago) link
If i enjoy the Kona HAOLE, think I might move on purchasing a Kona UNIT for dicking around on..
http://i39.tinypic.com/67t62o.jpg
Any thoughts on this thing?
― wilter, Monday, 5 April 2010 05:48 (fourteen years ago) link
the unit looks all burly, like a pub bike, I like it. Up the top of crystal palace hill? I would die returning home.....
Look though, I'm all felt up and that:http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4024/4493212082_77dfe746b2_b.jpg
― problem chimp (Porkpie), Monday, 5 April 2010 12:10 (fourteen years ago) link
bike here, putting together. Experience with competitive cyclist has been very good. They even threw in an extra stem as there was a little discussion over 10mm of stem length in the fit which was an unexpected surprise.
7.90kg before I put pedals, bottle cages and computer on
― American Fear of Pranksterism (Ed), Wednesday, 14 April 2010 23:11 (fourteen years ago) link
throw us a freakin bone with a pic or 12 to drool over imo
― ✌.✰|ʘ‿ʘ|✰.✌ (Steve Shasta), Wednesday, 14 April 2010 23:40 (fourteen years ago) link
yeah jesus get the lead out
― GREAT JOB Mushroom head (gbx), Thursday, 15 April 2010 02:10 (fourteen years ago) link
the steal bike I've got coming (v excited) is allegedly 8.00kg. ish.
― wilter, Thursday, 15 April 2010 05:10 (fourteen years ago) link
I love how Kona's single speed bike is called the "Band Wagon" :)
― Mark C, Thursday, 15 April 2010 15:59 (fourteen years ago) link
This is what *might* be mine if I decide to pull the trigger:
http://s.wiggle.co.uk/images/focus-blk-for-exp-2010-med.jpg
― Mark C, Thursday, 15 April 2010 16:00 (fourteen years ago) link
Renting a Bike: What to look out for?
My cousin is getting married in Santa Rosa, CA in June, and I was thinking of renting a (road) bike and making cycling vacation out of it. I guess I just bring my pedals, helmet, and kit and that's it? What's the regular pricing I'm looking at? Anybody know of a good bay area / north bay place to rent from?
― sous les paves, Saturday, 15 May 2010 19:20 (fourteen years ago) link
I rent a Specialized Allez Sport (w/ 105) 2x a year in Hawai'i for $200/week. I bring everything you list plus bottles and shoes.
No idea about rental situation up north but I can ask around in SF if you'd like? What are your expectations?
― _▂▅▇█▓▒░◕‿‿◕░▒▓█▇▅▂_ (Steve Shasta), Saturday, 15 May 2010 21:00 (fourteen years ago) link
I ride a Giant TCR with 105 gear, so anything around that level would be fine. Extra points for a shop that has BMCs. My local shop just started to carry them, and I'm thinking of getting one, but they don't have any testers built up yet.
― sous les paves, Sunday, 16 May 2010 16:25 (fourteen years ago) link
finally got the Merlin today! I am unpacking it right now & will hence attempt to attach pedals & bars (hopefully one doesn't need to be a rocket scientist to do this..). Can I just say that this thing is LIGHT. I'm half scared it is just going to buckle & bend when I finally get to sitting on it.
― in movie 2001 resurrect thread on planet jupiter (Pillbox), Sunday, 6 June 2010 22:40 (fourteen years ago) link
pics!!!!! :)
― idg 77 per cent of SNs (cozen), Monday, 7 June 2010 10:45 (fourteen years ago) link