I got my Z5 online for $1500. Alas, I did not have a lot of choice. Is there a lot of choice? Is Cobb wrong? I don't know.
I would like to be upbeat not grouch. I love my Z5, I love its long stem, (it adds vertical suspension too) and I am recommending it to others.
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Climbing ... 41976.htmlYou will also need to cut a spacers at a 60 degree angle
http://www.amazon.com/Carbon-Cycling-Mo ... nk20253-20 I will be getting my next frame from Velobuild or directly from China though. But the TT frames are expensive and I have not been able to find any roadbike frame with a short head tube.
This is my comparison of all the velobuild frames
R-016 no 54cm model 53cm 140cm 55cm 155mm top tube slopes up. seat post angle 72 72
R-018 54 130 horizontal top tube but again, that squiggly look. seat post angle 73.7
R-021 54 130 horizontal top tube but again, that squiggly look. seat post angle 73.7
VB-R-022 54 145 almost level top tube. seat post angle 73.5
VB-R-023 54 135 upwards sloping top tube. seat post angle 72.5
VB-R-024 no geometry. Pretty level curved top tube. seat post angle 73
VB-R-025 54 155 upwards sloping top tube. seat post angle 73.5
VB-R-027 54 170 upwards sloping top tube. seat post angle 73.5
VB-R-028 54 130 level top tube but again, that squiggly look. seat post angle 73.7
VB-R-041 54 140 upwards sloping top tube. seat post angle 74
VB-R-045 no 54 53 130 55 145 slight upwards slope. seat post angle 71.5-72.5
VB-R-049 no 54 545 150 slight upwards slope. seat post angle seat angle 74
VB-R-053 54 148 slight upwards slope seat angle. seat post angle 73
VB-R-055 54 148 slight upwards slope seat angle. seat post angle 73
VB-R-061 no geometry. Shape rings a bell the M of the big T? or the Big S?
In the end I decided to go with the R-022 because it is similar to the bikes I am on and I like their big stem ride. Cavendish rides a 49cm bike at my height (5'10" ish).