new road bike.

[hammermama]

hi all,
i'd love to pick all of your experienced cycling brains about some options for a new bike build for myself.

last weekend, while returning from a great trip to quebec (leaving the children at the grandparents for the weekend), we were rear ended on the freeway. everyone in both cars were perfectly fine, most importantly my two little girls who were sitting in the back seat (see photo) what did not do so well were the three bikes on our rear rack.

My beloved felt FW1 (a 2008 model built up in 2009 with sram force and zipp 303's that were only a few months old) was completely destroyed. We are currently working through an insurance settlement and should be able to replace all three bikes. Now, I search for the new perfect bike to replace beloved felt.

I am thinking of:
1) the new cervelo S5,
2) the Storck Fenomalist, and
3) the Guru Photon.

I would like to stick with full carbon fiber and build it up with campy chorus. The problem is that the cervelo s5 is not available in my size until late october, the guru is a custom build so there is no way to test ride one, and the storck is available at a LBS at try out (planning on that for tomorrow) but I don't know anyone who has ever ridden a Storck (not very popular here in Canada). So, i am mostly relying on reviews and reviews are rarely written by 120lbs women...

Does anybody have any experience with any of these bikes? I am planning on doing some road racing and love long rides, climbs, and descents so would like something fast, that handles well and that is light.

Ideas?

thank you all so much,
julie

[Owlie]

I have no advice, but I'm sorry about your Felt. :( I'm glad your kids were okay, though.

[pll]

That is bad news and scary. I have no information about your bike contenders (except to say that if the S5 comes with Hushovd vibes, you should get that one!).

Anyway, how badly broken is your Felt? A friend, who crashed and broke a seat stay during a race, sent his bike to be repaired. I believe the place is this one: http://www.calfeedesign.com/ (also read about it in VeloNews). For this friend, the crash replacement cost was $800, but the repair was $300, so perhaps it is something to consider since it may gain you time to shop.

PS: Here is the VeloNews article (http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/02/bikes-and-tech/technical-faq/technical-faq-saving-that-damaged-carbon-frame_105242) where Calfee Design is discussed.

[hammermama]

thank you.
calfee looks pretty cool. unfortunately, the bike is completely destroyed, top tub cracked through and through, down tube, chain stay, and fork is shredded (it's a pretty sad sight).

"if it's good enough for thor..." was certainly in my head when i included the cervelo in the shortlist. :)

cheers, j

[roguedog]

hey hm, glad all is ok. all else is replaceable.

not sure how oftern she frequents the forum but feral1 has a storck. see in this thread: http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=42885&highlight=storck

also not sure what size you are but from years back i'd hear that the smaller cervelos had toe overlap issues.

[hammermama]

thank you for the advice. We are still negotiating with the insurance and losing our minds a little not riding road bikes as much as we normally do. I have crossed off the Cervelo and the Guru and it's now between the Storck and the Focus Izalco Extreme. Does anybody have a focus izalco?

http://www.labicicletta.com/bikes/focus-izalco-super-record-2010-complete-bike.html

i test rode the Storck and it fit well but was a little harsh, i have heard similar reviews of the Izalco so I may just have to accept that that's something that comes with a german race bike.

Any thoughts on the Izalco?
Thank you.
j.