One frame to see you through for a little while

[ultyguy]

Ok so it's not going to be very smiled upon to bringing new bikes into the home for a bit but I have a 'window' in which to get something in so the task is....

Budget- 2,000 Eurish for frame + fork max, + points if less

Me- 180cm, 75 kgs, let's call me a puncheur more than anything else. Live in the alps so livelier riding mixed in w/ slower mountain rides.

Need- Race frame w/ a smidge of comfort (got long legs/short torso as well so needs to not be insanely slammed), doesn't have to be silly light, around 1kg to 1.1kgs is fine, but obv extra points for lightness

Must- Either last 3 years of pretty heavy travel (usually outside the car, sometimes on the plane) or have such a great warranty dept that you can get it replaced quickly. I'll have an alu training bike in reserve.

Doesn't- Have to have cache etc, this is a tool for a job.

Ideas so far...

EPQ- a bit over budget, but should be durable
Giant TCR SL
Cervelo S3- these can be had for this budget now
Trek Madone 6 series
Canyon Aeroad

Don'ts...

Cannondale- too stretched
Pinarello- too fragile
Scott- too fragile

[strobbekoen]

What size do you need ?

[ultyguy]

Generally 56-ish toptube with 73/73 angles, up or down from there depending on angles.

[c50jim]

I'm a Colnago guy - feel most comfortable with its handling. You might be able to get a C50 or Extreme Power NOS for something more like your price if you look around but they'll be on the heavy side of your weights. I had a Cervelo R3 and found it faster handling than the Colnagos. If you like that, it's good and Cervelos are light but I sort of like the old style stable bike where you can eat your dinner while riding without touching the bars.

On the fragility of Pinarellos, I was in the Dolomites a couple of years ago and not happy with my rental bike. Bought a Di2 Dogma and loved it at the Maratona dles Dolomiti. Somehow I managed to crash it the next day (my son says I hit a rock) at 58.3 km/hr according to my Garmin. The carbon bar was dinged and the shifter hoods. The bike is still going well for its new owner. I think fragility is luck of the draw in the way you fall as much as it is in the bike.

[ticou]

Met a chap at the cafe today riding a 1986 steel Mercx; his racing steel weighs 14.5 lbs. Just a thought.

[shoopdawoop]

Saw the S-3 on the list have you considered the R-3? or the R-3 Team?

[Franklin]

Race: Alu and a par of extra wheels (Cosmic Carbone Bombproof). And you could walk away with cash left.

Rose, Canyon, Ridley, Cube, Stevens, Fort

And if you want an "exclusivity/personal touch", don't forget that they are often rebadged by local LBS in any paintscheme you can think of. So you would have your own paint and a bike from the LBS you support

Also, if you are traveling a lot, Carbon is expensive and scratches could affect integrity.
And good (cheap overbuilt!) Alu certainly can survive a few years of hard life.

To sum it up: your useage makes Alu the primary choice imho.

[ultyguy]

Great comments weenies, keep them coming-

c50jim- Good points for sure and in face I think an Extreme Power can be had in my size for around 1,500 so that would fit the bill. The only thing is that I have a feeling I would crave the increased stiffness and tapered steerer of the EPS/Q? I think the geo works well and there's lots of testimonies of them being quite durable, but as you said it is a touch of a lottery with these things. I think inherrently tube-lug or wrapped is going to be a bit tougher then monocoque, but what do i know.

ticou- good point, I have to admit that I've looked out the corner of my eye at the new Condor super accaio

shoopdawoop- totally makes sense except for one really dumb thing on my side.....my wife has an R3 team, it hurts to be his and hers The S3 appeals as it does have a bit of placebo aero yet supposedly a bit comfier than an S2. I actually demoed a Soloist Carbon ages ago before I rode anywhere near as much as I do now and didn't find it uncomfy, but that said, it was for less than 2 hrs and my position has changed a lot.

Franklin- I have a Ridley Scandium that is currently being built up from the parts of my cracked Merckx EMX-5 so that my alu ride for shorter stuff. It looks a stout ride and I've got some Reynolds tubbies for race day I can chuck on it. I have a feeling that it's not going to be terribly refined though and I do ride around 10 big sportives a year on top (5-8 hrs) so as mentioned above, a touch of comfort is important. I owned a Canyon Ultimate Cf (2009 I think) which was great over short distances, but whatever 'Tour' mag says, it wasn't comfy. It would take big hits very poorly in my opinion even if it did ok w/ buzz. My Merckx had a bit of buzz, but most importantly for me took big hits in stride very well and held it's line.

edit- I'll defend my Aeroad choice up there as it's reportedly a decent bit softer riding than the Ulimtate cf

[HillRPete]

The 2011 Kuota KOM frame can be founds in that price range, I think, if that sort of no frills race bike floats your boat.

[davidalone]

if you're travelling alot, try the Ritchey Ti/Carbon Break away frame. nice high performance frame, easy to disassemble and transport. Ti makes majority of it near indestructible. carbon seatstays (but how often do seat stays get damaged?) . wrap it up with high quality alu bars and a thomson post and you have a bike you can take anywhere and race with no issue.

[ultyguy]

Yup the Kom fits, but have also heard they're a touch fragile- anyone know how well Kuota's warranty has been? Haven't really heard much about them review-wise.

Don't need a folder, travel more by car than by plane.

[HillRPete]

Regarding fragility -- the recent interations of the KOM have been beefed up compared to (i think) the 2008 model. It's also a bit heavier now, which in my book makes the claim more credible than the usual marketing blurb that comes with a new bike release.

Have to pass on the warranty, "unfortunately" I didn't need to test that yet ...

[Leviathan]

Race: Alu and a par of extra wheels (Cosmic Carbone Bombproof). And you could walk away with cash left.

Rose, Canyon, Ridley, Cube, Stevens, Fort

A
Also, if you are traveling a lot, Carbon is expensive and scratches could affect integrity.
And good (cheap overbuilt!) Alu certainly can survive a few years of hard life.

To sum it up: your useage makes Alu the primary choice imho.

Amen to this. Certainly in Europe. Canyon & Cube & Rose, are the best idea. None are as stiff as the old 2009 Canyon (had one, loved it)...

[andyindo]

Great comments weenies, keep them coming-

c50jim- Good points for sure and in face I think an Extreme Power can be had in my size for around 1,500 so that would fit the bill. The only thing is that I have a feeling I would crave the increased stiffness and tapered steerer of the EPS/Q? I think the geo works well and there's lots of testimonies of them being quite durable, but as you said it is a touch of a lottery with these things. I think inherrently tube-lug or wrapped is going to be a bit tougher then monocoque, but what do i know.

Seriously I doubt you'd notice the difference in stiffness between an Extreme Power(which was built to be stiff!) and an EPS/Q.
Also I can vouch for Lugged Colnagos durability. They are very strong and much stronger than most monocoque frames. I've had a C40 for 9 years now and I abuse that thing daily and its still perfect.

[Franklin]

Ok, if racing is covered thru the Ridley and comfort+durability are he key factors we shift to Titanium.

Enigma: http://www.enigmabikes.com/
Van Nicholas: http://vannicholas.com/

You could try Spin, though I have no experience with them
http://www.spincycleworks.com/servlet/StoreFront

And don't forget Steel with a personal paintjob!