Crazy Prices at GBs

[ajay khandelwal]

My mango coloured Cannondale is now six years old and is soon to be converted into a hack bike with mudguards and a bike rack.

I plan to buy a carbon race bike for 2006 and I have budget of up to £2000. The best value I have seen so far is the FOCUS CAYO carbon monocoque frame with 105 and Ultegra, weighing in at 18.5 lbs, given a 10/10 by cycling weekly for best bike under £1000. It sold out after the review! This is for sale on Wiggle for £999 for mid January delivery.

Another bike I have seen is the OMEGA MATRIX carbon, built by a Brighton based manufacturer. Its good value again at £2000 for full Dura Ace and SL SSC Mavic wheels. But I hear that Cycling Plus reviewed this bike with 8/10 even though it had a cracked frame.

Other bikes that come to mind are PEARSONS, SCOTT CR1, SPECIALIZED TARMAC. GB have a BIANCHI 928L and a DE ROSA AVANT, both carbon bikes, in their 20% off sale. Any ideas?

[Gavin]

Could get a decent bike in GBs with 20%off.

Or build your own bike. Easton wheels are quite good for the hills.

This could be the cat 4 winning bike AJ.

Cheers

G

[ajay khandelwal]

Thanks Gavin! I think its 3-2 to me on Box Hill. I need to innovate to keep the gap. My bike maintenance skills are a club joke! So I'm going to leave the bike building to the professionals. Hope to see you in a few early season races !

[Gavin]

Yes fighting talk AJ,

The box hill challenge shall continue and you having a super light bike is going to give you an edge.

Lets hope we can get a few early season box hill trips before the racing season starts.

Cheers

G

[Marek]

The Omega cannot be too bad. I have seen some really good right ups for it. Sean Yates rides the Omega and I think Hutchinson uses one for TTing so you will be in good company.

The only issue I have with the Omega is that it is not a particularly sexy looking bike, they have the Titanium ones so not sure about the Carbon.

In regards to the other bikes you have mentioned I think a few guys in the club have the carbon pearsons so you should go for something different. The Scott CR1 is pretty sexy in my opinion and is meant to be very light.

Have fun shopping, I am jealous.

Cheers

Marek...

[Jon H]

How about a TIME carbon frame. Good enough for Bettini & Boonen, but maybe not up to the standards of Super Ajay.

Or, a LOOK, which GB's stock and I guess would be in the sale.

[sylv]

The CR1 looks wicked and is as light a frame you'll get. They had two versions on sale in Evans Waterloo last time I went, a Dura Ace and an Ultegra one. Prices were surprisingly not astronomic considering the frame and the build. They might have them listed on their website.

[ajay khandelwal]

Hi guys thanks for the tips. GB only have the classic TIME bike in Large in the sale. Marek: ok the Omega is on the shortlist and seems very good value. I like the SCOTT CR1 and I've only heard great things about the 895 gm frame. The 2006 model looks expensive at Evans, £3,500 - but I'll pop by and have a look this evening and go for a test ride...maybe the 2005 model is on sale (I thought they had sold out). In terms of keep the bike bio-culture of the club diverse, I think only Robbie has a CR1, but I haven't seen her grace the club with it yet. However, top of my short list is the FELT F3 2006 for £2000 on wiggle. I can upgrade the bike with my existing Ksyrium wheels.

http://www.feltracing.com/06/06_bikes/f3c/

The specfication is "

Ultra high modulus carbon frame with Dura-Ace shifters and derailleurs make this unbeatable value.


Torayca ultra-high modulus M700S modular Carbon
Reynolds Ouzo Comp Carbon Fork with Carbon Steerer
Shimano Dura Ace 20 speed drive train
Mavic Aksium SL Wheelset
Sizes ? 52, 54, 56, 58, 60cm
F3C
Colour Gloss Clear over Carbon
Sizes 700c x 52,54,56,58,60
Frame Torayca High Modulus T700S modular carbon fibre frame w/3K Twill Weave. Forged dropout & replaceable hanger
Fork Reynolds Ouzo COMP w/Carbon Blades, Alloy Crown & 1-1/8" Carbon Steerer with Reynolds Compression Device
Headset Aheadset 1-1/8" Integrated
Stem Felt ST-22 6061 3D forged
Handlebar Felt Carbon/ 6061 Alloy Composite with Ergonomic Drop, Ø31.8mm
Grips Felt Gel Ribbon Tape with FELT 3D Logo
Shifters Shimano Dura-Ace, 20 speed
Front Derailleur Shimano Dura-Ace
Rear Derailleur Shimano Dura-Ace
Crankset Truvativ Rouleur, 2-PC Monocoque Carbon Crank with Black CNC 7075/T6 Alloy Chainrings, 50/36T
BB Set Truvativ Giga X Pipe
Chain Shimano 10-Speed
Freewheel Shimano 10-Speed Cassette, 11-23T
Brake Levers Shimano Dura-Ace Dual Control
Brakes Dual Pivot, Cartridge Brake Shoes with New and Improved Compound, Stainless Hardware and Teflon Bushings
Saddle Felt Racing Lite w/Leather Cover with CRMO Rails
Seat Post Felt ARC Carbon
Front Hub Mavic Aksium
Rear Hub Mavic Aksium
Rims Mavic Aksium
Tyre Vittoria Rubino ProSlick folding 700x23c
Spokes Mavic Aksium Flat Spokes
Pedals none


Note: Manufacturer may reserve the right to change the specification of that listed or shown above.


?To design, develop, and deliver the best bicycles in the world. Period.?

[Kevin Rynne]

Just a quick word about the omega's I considered getting one but the weight put me off, they are quite a heavy bike for the price, Scott do the lightest stiffest bikes, but evans is the only place that sells them locally and you may not get the back up of say GBs or dauphin cycles. It might be worth checking out colanago as they do quiet affordable carbon frames and they look bling GBs stock them and I believe that the 20% might apply to anthing ordered during their sale period if they do not have it in stock.

[Rob]

Scott do the lightest stiffest bikes


yeah right!! maybe the lightest..., well. one of....(litespeed) but the frames are NOT stiff! they feel very thin, and flimsy


you want stiff?

look kg486

[ajay khandelwal]

Rob you are bigger than me so you can justify a weight of 1895gm for the Look 486 frame and forks...http:

//www.cyclingnews.com/tech.php?id=tech/2004/reviews/look_kg4861

But the CR1 frame is 895 gms and throw in forks at 400 gms and its half a kilo lighter. Surely the extra stiffness of the Look would not compensate for the extra weight on climbs? One rider I met on the Etape 2005 had built his Scott upto 15lbs although it cost him £4000.

[Marek]

I think Rob is right. It is not all about weight. You should consider the ride and build quality. I think the weight differentials you are talking about are pretty small, think about it, it is probably a lot cheaper for you to lose half a kilo off your paunch Ajay, you will save money on food and on the bike.

I have to admit though that I have absolutely no idea where I would even start. I would not discount De Rosa though as they do have some damn beautiful bikes.

You should go to Dauphines and speak with them, they have the blingest bikes in town and they will advise you on what type of bike is best for your build etc.

Cheers

Marek...

[ajay khandelwal]

Ok I was waiting for the pauch jibes to start ! Fair point Marek. I went to Evans this evening and tried out SCOTT CR1, SPECIALIZED ROUBAIX, and BIANCHI 928L, all around £2000. Personally, I liked the Bianchi (although not the lightest), I found the SCOTT the stiffest and lightest, and I didn't like the ultra compact ROUBAIX, but that could be because of a poor wheelset. The range of choices are multiplying now and I'm starting to feel nostalgic about the early days of the TdF when Henri Desgrange decreed that everyone had to ride the same bike!

[Alex P]

Ajay, other married people might have missed this point - I had to get all the boys toys (bikes, widescreen TV, Sky plus, games machine etc etc) in BEFORE I got married because I knew that was it after that.

Anything after that needs careful disguising - have you noticed that my white Ribble is really a full carbon Pinnarello spayed up as a Ribble....

What is your secret - married 5 minutes, carbon steed 2 seconds later!!!!!

From a disgruntled married person........

[quote="Alex Protasiuk"]... have you noticed that my white Ribble is really a full carbon Pinnarello spayed up as a Ribble....