I fondled a Habanero at Trek's LBS.... niiiiiiice bike!
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I fondled a Habanero at Trek's LBS.... niiiiiiice bike!
My biggest concern about buying custom, besides getting a good fit, was ride quality.
I went from a Cannondale that "beat me to death" to an Aegis CF frame. The ride on the Aegis was so smooth for me and I was very spoiled by it. Originally, I was looking for a custom carbon frame which was pretty non-existent in my size because I wanted 650c wheels.
So I agonized for months about this purchase. It was made harder by the fact that I couldn't find any bikes in ti or steel small enough for me to ride. As I talked to different shops the consensus came out that for someone my size the best solution would be to go with a ti/carbon combination. The theory was that straight ti was to stiff for someone of my weight, 105 lbs, but having part carbon would give me the shock absorption that I was looking for.
I finally found a shop who had a couple of options for me. They had a 48cm Serotta Nove, ti/carbon, that they were able to adjust small enough so that I could get a sense of what the materials felt like and a 46p Fierte ti. At least I was able to get a sense of how the materials felt.
I didn't like the Fierte ti at all, it was too stiff giving me a pretty harsh ride. The frame was stock and designed with a much heavier person in mind. The ti/carbon bike came in close to what I was looking for.
Because of wanting the 650c wheels there were some issues with the Nove so I opted for the Ottrott. Serotta was able to give me everything I asked for, lighter weight tubing designed appropriately for my weight, excellent handling, the snap and smooth ride equal to the Aegis, frame nicely proportioned on 650c wheels.
Originally, I questioned how much hype is involved when a company says the tubing is chosen according to the rider's "size, weight and riding style" but Serotta made a believer out of me. Attention to these details does make a difference in the ride quality of the bike.
I set out to build my dream bike and I definitely got it with my Serotta.
I'll chime in and reinforce what Bikerz said that's ....It helps if your LBS knows you and your bike/s. Chris did an extreme makeover on my ol' Trek420 over years and all the work on my commuter-mobile.Quote:
Originally Posted by bikerz
I decided to get a Mondonico Futura Legero the weekend Antonio himself was in the area doing fittings. I got to meet and be measured by him:D :) Wow! He was probably muttering in Italian "I can't believe I, master builder Antonio Mondonico am building a frame for this Sunday duffer ;)"
After a long wait the frame arrived and Chris built it up. It fit like a pair of old blue jeans from the first pedal turn.
Chris keeps exhaustive files on each clients build and work done on your bikes. It's not like he has it memorized but if he needs to he can pull up "Bikerz's crank length this, stem height is this ..."
While my bike was being built he loaned me a bike from his stable. I ride a 47 most days ;) the smallest "spare" bike he had is a 50 cm De Rosa. Going from his measurements it fit me. If I would have been able to afford 2 bikes I'd have got that too.
Even so our bodies change all the time. We get more ... or less flexible, more ... or less strong, some of us are shrinking :eek:
If I was getting a new bike like maybe an LHT even with all he knows I'd have it fit and not order long distance.
And BTW, Bikerz's Seven is amazing.
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=16017
I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Hobbs! :D