This is all retarded. So one can never really ride two bikes and compare them? Good to know - I guess if I want a new bike I'd better decide on it before I ever ride it!




I still think the reviews are great and it's nice to see so much input and "tests" from one regular joe.

Imaking20: Yep, that's pretty much what I thought.

By writing the review I was hoping to give my impressions and maybe provide an interesting read. Of course it's my opinion - obviously!

I did find it interesting that the original poster says '...you definetely picked a great frame, possibly one of the best currently around' and then tells me that the methodology I used to choose that frame was inherently flawed! Did he think my ending up with 'possibly one of the best currently around' was just good luck?! *SIGH*

Still, forums are full of two things: opinions and counter opinions and I guess that's a good thing.

Cheers.

_________________
Disclaimer:
This post may contain my opinion.
My opinion is just that - mine. My opinions are based on my experiences, not yours. Yes, I do have experience, I have thought this through and yes, that really is what I think.

I think that Bikes are emotion and it is very difficult to test all the bikes 100% the same way. You did not like the ride , feel and (look?) of the Cervelo and Storck. Thats fine, allthough your opinion is maybe put to blunt or not legitimed enough for some readers. Somebody else would rather like a Dogma more over an S-works Sl4 and that's fine also. As long as we don't want to convince each other and respect every opinion that is some sort of motivated, it is fine with me.

By the way: The Tarmac S-works Sl4 is one of the best framesets around at the moment!!! Period!!!

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Specialized Tarmac S-works SL4
http://i891.photobucket.com/albums/ac11 ... 11af34.jpg

luckypuncheur - you serious? khdroberts is only expressing his own opinion and his personal impressions. He can and should say exactly how he feels about any bike he tested/rode or even looked at. I for one appreciate his insight. After all, too often we construct our own opinions based on copious amounts of subjective info you find everywhere on the net. So how is this any different or any less valid?

khdroberts - I do recall (from your blog) you leaving the bike industry all together and moving upon a different paths.. So what are you doing with yourself these days?

In relation to specialized business model - couldn't agree more with you about the specialized "concept store" approach. I know of a quite a few local shops who no longer sell anything but specialized. I was told that with the specialized approach - it's "my way or highway". Still, just like you I enjoy riding the S-works and believe that Specialzied indeed put lots of R&D dollars back into the business to develop better bikes for all of us (profit margins notwithstanding )

Now, this might not be the most valid observation but I do feel that you seem to be affected (just like the rest of us) by the "BIG BRANDS" marketing... How you may ask?

Well, let me see:
1. The BIG "A" - or shall I say i-follow?
2. The pink "R" - Is it their persistent use of alpine terrains in advertising substandard products that affects your apparel purchasing decisions? I do recall you were adamant (about 8 month ago) that they have lost you as a customer?! From what I can see, you are back on the "pink" band wagon with a "vengeance"
3. ...and the "S" - well we've discussed this already...

So here I am, not sure whether to praise you or criticize you, so may be a little of both?
Last but not least, could your selection of the particular bike brand be affected by lack of advertising and "loud" slogans?
Are you just as gullible as the rest of us?

Vladt:

Perhaps you're being just a little harsh and quick to judge?

To address your concerns re my purchasing - in order:

Apple products - I am no recent convert to the 'i' family. I've been championing Apple products since the days of the Lisa and the Apple IIe. And THAT was a long, long time ago.

Just because I use Apple products, don't' assume that I've only recently started doing so. The fact of the matter is that they make computers that suit the way I work. I particularly like the fact that the new (at least, it's newer) OS X is built around a Unix kernel.

I also use an iPhone - I tried Android (a HTC Desire HD) and it simply didn't work as well as the iPhone does. So I changed.

Having said that, I don't use an iPad. I don't like the form factor and I'm not that fond of iOS (it's fine for a phone, but when upsized to the iPad it seems a little underdone)... to that end, I'm not particularly happy with OS X Lion - a little too iOS for my taste, but what is the alternative? I refuse to deal with the issues of PC world - not because I'm ignorant or because I'm technically unable, but because I've had to do it in the past, it isn't fun and I don't want to bother anymore.

Rapha - my (at the time) girlfriend (who is now my wife) turned me on to Rapha. You're right, I did have a go at them about a couple of products that were a little substandard and some of their marketing is utter BS as we all know. BUT, my wife is well versed in garment construction and she tells me that their stuff is actually very well made and quite technical. I don't know how you can blanket state that their gear is substandard. Some of it isn't as high quality as the rest of their range (I'm thinking particularly of their 2011 Pro Team kit and their Grand Tour gloves - both of which are, in my opinion, not up to their normal standard). So, no, I'm not really swayed by their marketing - since I live in Australia and we have about as much chance to ride real mountains as we do to fly without wings; I'm more swayed by my total experience with their products. At the moment I'd give them about an 85 out of 100 and that's better than the vast majority of companies can manage these days. Also, their customer service really is very, very good.

Specialized - how can you, of all people, call this one into question! You know that I hated the brand and then had exposure to it and experience with it and so changed my opinion based on fact rather than what it was before - exposure to the company, but not the product.

I, like most, want to think that marketing has zero effect on me. The truth is probably more likely to be that I'm wrong and marketing affects me just like everyone else.

You included!

_________________
Disclaimer:
This post may contain my opinion.
My opinion is just that - mine. My opinions are based on my experiences, not yours. Yes, I do have experience, I have thought this through and yes, that really is what I think.

Post up your Stava or Garmin Connect. Then we can weigh your strong opinions with your actual capabilities. Which, I hope, are also strong.

I will if you will!

But seriously, would a Power tap plot also be of value?

_________________
Disclaimer:
This post may contain my opinion.
My opinion is just that - mine. My opinions are based on my experiences, not yours. Yes, I do have experience, I have thought this through and yes, that really is what I think.

So wattage equals the quality of the review. I didnt know that. I guess their is a few who doesnt like your obsevations and conclusion. I find it very transparent because you give very detailed background, which lack in many review. And all the "first ride" reviews are useless because it reads: Im very glad to get a chance to test this ride, sure your bike is perfect like the last 5 bikes I tested.
In regards to the inner cables replacement. My Trek dealer gave me a very good trick. Before you remove the old cable, take the hollow plastic cable guide that where installed on the bike when delivered and push it back onto the cable and back into the frame. Then you remove the cable and are left with the plastic guide placed as when the frame arived and its as easy to install new cables as the first time.
Do you have any experience with mountain bike. It would be very interesting to read a simular review on mountain bikes. Mostely because I plan to buy one in the fall (The fall in Europe)

Garmin connect: Talk about useless. You cant do any useful analysis using Garmin Connect, or even compare riders with it other then a very rough comparison of overall numbers, not taking into account any warmup/cooldown and many other factors.

Darkblue08: Yes, apparently in order to have an informed opinion you need to also ride hundreds of kilometres a week! Who would have thought?!

I did laugh out loud when I read that post - so I guess I at least got a bit of joy from it!

Thankfully I do ride a lot, so I'm not particularly ruffled by the request - although I don't see that it has any real impact on the validity of my review. I think you are correct - some people simply didn't like my conclusions, which is fine: I'm not trying to please everyone.

I agree with you regarding your Garmin comments - but it's a useful enough tool for day to day use. The Garmin 200 is even better (if potentially not as accurate) as it's a very cheap option that gives all the standard stuff. I won't comment more on that as I've only installed one (on my wife's bikes), not ridden with it very much - I simply don't have enough experience with it to form any valid opinion.

In regards to your mountain bike question - what type of mountain biking are you looking to do? Cross country, trail, down hill... I have some (admittedly limited) experience with all mountain, trail and cross country, but no experience with down hill (I've had too many friends in hospital too often from down hill accidents to want to take up that particular sport!).

Cheers.

_________________
Disclaimer:
This post may contain my opinion.
My opinion is just that - mine. My opinions are based on my experiences, not yours. Yes, I do have experience, I have thought this through and yes, that really is what I think.

I have a Garmin 800 and a Power2max that im very pleased with, but I use Trainingpeaks for analysis. Its in another Galaxy compared with Garmin Connect. I could make very long list of functions I use in Trainingpeaks, that are not available in Garmin Connect.

Mountain bike is trail. I proberbly end up with full suspension. But Im going to spend as much as on the Madone, but I would love a carbon frame, so I might end up with a good offer on a last year model. Im still in the 'gather information' state. I will start a new thread when I have done some more research. I most likely will end up traveling the world with it. Trying trails in New Zealand, Canada, Nepal ex.
No hardcore downhill!

Thanks for the detailed review, I will certainly look at specialised next time I am in the market for a new bike. I have tended to be anti sloping geometry bikes because when you are very tall you get lots of seat post on show and aesthetically this doesnt look right.

I was surprised by your comments re Colnagos - their top end bike is the one Italian bike that has plenty of size options especially for the taller rider. I am 6'6" tall (with long legs) and over 100kg so the C59 was one of the very few bikes that would fit me. The lugged construction and that it wasn't the lightest frame were also positives. I have a 65 trad frame and find the bottom bracket super stiff as is the front end which is difficult to ensure on larger frame sizes. It works for me!

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Colnago C59
Canyon CF 9.0

Kiwirich:

Strangely enough, I did try this and couldn't get comfortable - must have something to do with my femur length being so long and my arm length.


darkblue08:

I didn't bother with the 800 as I don't need maps.

Trainingpeaks is so very much better than Garmin Connect, you're 100% right on that score.

The mountain bikes that I short-listed were the IBIS Mojo SL-R, IBIS Ripley (if you want a 29er), the Santa Cruz Blur LT Carbon and (believe it or not) the Giant Anthem X Advanced SL 0 (You could even save yourself a swag of cash and buy the Anthem X 29er - should you want a 29er).

At least, that was my short list. There were a few others, but that was my list.

I'll stress at this point (for other forum members) that this is MY OPINION AND MY LIST OF BIKES I WOULD LIKE.

Disclaimer: My opinion is just that - mine. I am not trying to influence, persuade or otherwise change the opinion of others. My opinions are based on my experiences, not yours. Yes, I do have experience, yes I have thought this through.

There, that should cover my arse!

_________________
Disclaimer:
This post may contain my opinion.
My opinion is just that - mine. My opinions are based on my experiences, not yours. Yes, I do have experience, I have thought this through and yes, that really is what I think.

khdroberts - I stand misunderstood!
It wasn't my intention to criticize your choice of brands/products (especially Specialized) but to simply put things in perspective.
Still, I felt (after reading all of your posted blogs) that you have infallible affection towards the big brands out there.
My reason for drawing parallels between the big "A" and Specialized is due to somewhat converging business practices. Apple with their "compulsory" i-tunes is no different to Specialized with their "specialized only" concept stores. But I digress..

Now, I happen to work in IT (and had for over 15 years) assisting with both Mac and Win platform integration. My opinion of Mac's isn't formed by reading someone else's reviews but rather by hands on experience in supporting the platform. Either way, this is the WW forum. However, having read your past reviews of Rapha gear, I couldn't help but notice how much better the Assos gear is. I am the Assos fan boy and find their apparel extremely well engineered. That "smart engineering" is what I think is missing from Rapha, especially since it's now manufactured at China (by the large part). Still they price does not reflect the original cost factor.

Anyways mate, certainly had no intention of taking a swipe at you. Just a few misunderstood observations. By the way, if you do want to get out for a ride one of these days, I would love to tag along.

Cheers
Vladt

Vladt:

No, no offence taken at all mate!

I like the idea of Assos - but I've only ever had one set of their bib knicks (and that was years ago), so I'm not best placed to comment. I do like Capo though, they make some nice gear - a little more technical than Rapha, but the materials are not as nice.

Anyway, a ride sounds good - what part are you in?

_________________
Disclaimer:
This post may contain my opinion.
My opinion is just that - mine. My opinions are based on my experiences, not yours. Yes, I do have experience, I have thought this through and yes, that really is what I think.