Price Paid:
$700.00
at REI Model Year:
2006 Favorite Ride:
Hicks Road/HWY 9 Bike Setup:
Full Shimano 105, FSA K-Wing, FSA carbon seatpost, Terry Fly Ti saddle, carbon seatstays and fork, carbon spaces and steam, Alex-450 wheels. I'm content with the setup, except for the wheels. They are not very good. I might sell this bike and put the cash towards a Cerverlo Soloist, or buy some new wheels and tough it out until '09. Summary:
I bought this to get my into road riding and to stay in shape. It did just that, but the low-quality components keep my digging into my wallet for constant upgrades. I wanted to keep my first bike cheap to see if I would be dedicated and now I am already dreaming of a Cervelo Soloist or Trek Madone 5.2, but this is a great entry bike. I ride between 100-200 miles a week and the 105 drivetrain keeps up well, although I will upgrade to Ultegra when parts start dropping off, although I don't forsee that happening. I replaced all my components except for the wheels, although I may get some Ultegra Mavic's in the near future. I must say, these stock parts were very poor for someone who rides as much as I do. The Sora and Tiagra were horrible. Bad shifting, bad everything. Terrible brakes. Once you do a complete overhaul, this bike rides well. It's a smooth, cunning bike for the price. I have sank about $1800 total, including the original purpose and I am happy with it for now. I do plan on touring in Summer '08 and will most likely upgrade to a Cervelo Soloist Team, but if weekend riding is what you're in to, this bike will get it done. It has a solid frame, but sub-par parts. Sora is terrible and Tiagra isn't much better. If you plan on doing more than 50 miles a week, plan on buying new parts and go Shimano 105. It's bullet proof and solid for someone who cares more about shedding 20 pounds off their gut instead of ounces off the frame. I'm either going to tuff it out and get some new wheels or get an '08 Cervelo Soloist Team. I bought this bike for an entry into road biking. I'm now beyond that point. This bike helped me get to where I was today. If you're looking for a relaxing road bike with decent geometry, check this out. If you're looking to do some serious riding after the initial purchase, save up $1500 and get a Trek or Specialized. Don't sink tons of money into it like I did. I don't regret it, but if I could have had the time to save up, I would have gone for a Trek or Specialized. Bottom line, if you have extra cash, don't buy it. It you can just afford this, go for it. The frame is tough, but not light... Strengths:
Solid, comfortable frame. I'm 6', 215 and I never have a problem with the frame creaking or becoming shady underneath me. Good geometry Weaknesses:
Terrible parts. All of them. If it's not 105, it's not up to grade. Don't trust the brakes, shifters, derailuers or cranks. I did an immediate, full Shimano 105 upgrade in the first 3 months. The wheels aren't bad, but they're in my crosshairs. Similar Products Used:
Some cheap Performance Bike stuff.
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