Road Cycling - Your One and Only... For LIFE

If any of you had just one bike for the rest of your days, what would you pick, or what combo of components would you put together?

Myself, I'd go for a Merkx steel frame w/ Campy Record gruppo.

although i've never ridden one...a Colnago C-40 with Campy Record 10 speed seems awfully tempting :D

Titus FCR Ti w/ Full Record and FSA Carbon Pro crankset
or
Litespeed Vortex w/ same spec

I can't decide!

Simple, I'll just look around and see what's the most expensive bike out there. I won't settle for anything less than $20,000

I've got it already. The Cinelli Starlight w/Dura Ace. The only problem being that I am not allowed to say,"I love that bike" to my wife anymore. I like it (an awful lot).

Litespeed Vortex
Dura-Ace
2 sets of race wheels : Shimano D/A WH-7700 Carbon
HED Alps
2 sets of Training wheels: 32 spokes Open Pro w/ Chris King Hubs
Mavic Ksyrium SL
Selle Italia Flite
TTT ZeppXL Bar and Stem
D/A Seatpost
D/A SPD-R Pedals
Vittoria Ultra Speed (race tires)
Vittoria Open Corsa (race/training tires)

For the rest of my days, I would choose more of a touring bikes something like a Serotta Fast tourer or a complete custom steel touring frame to my specs, that way I could ride it and be comfortable well into my 80's. Components, hard to say probably Campy record 10 triple, maybe DA trip I would have to look them both over closely.

You can have your Colnagos, Litespeeds, Merlins,
Pinarellos etc.
I found my absolute dream bike on e-bay this morning, problem
is not my size, and opening bid of $3500.
Confente serial number 35.
here ya go:

http://www.cyclart.com/photos/Inventory/Ebay_misc./New10/confente3.jpg

The seller is rightfully not cleaning it up so buyers
can see exact condition.

Mario Confente built 135 frames before dying of a heart attack
at age 34. Prior to that he was lead builder for Masi, built frames
for Merckx, Bianchi and others.

Marty

Marty - Love the Confente! I am going to retrofit my old early 80's italian racing frame with the original Campy SR/NR gear.

I hope to be taking possession of my "rest of my life" bike in the next week or so (fingers crossed!), a custom Serotta Legend Ti. Which reminds me -- I have to call up the bike shop owner to get a status update!

SteveE,

Legend Ti? not an Ottrott ST?
I really like the legend, have looked at em but they're a little
steep for me at the moment.
I'm setting up an older Serotta as we speak, (have to go
to LBS to pick it up, I don't do headsets).
Have you checked on the Serotta web site?
Phorum (http://www.hydromedia.com/phorum/index.php)
some great stuff there, but the group is a LITTLE biased :lol:

let me know how you like the Legend, what colour scheme
did you choose? F1 or F2 fork?

Marty

Lotek - I had some "found" money to burn which basically covered the frame, fork, and headset for the Legend Ti. The Ottrott was too pricey for me. I went with Serotta because I wanted to go with Ti. Also because I wanted a custom frameset and like the idea of a fitting rather than a questionnaire (i.e., Seven). Also, a good friend of mine has (had) a Serotta and really liked it. 'Course he also has a Richard Sachs, a couple of recumbents, and other numerous high-end bikes. :eek:

I did ride the shop owner's Ottrott and it WAS a sweet ride! Damn nice of him to let me ride his $6000 bike for an hour or so. He didn't even make me leave my credit card. Said he knew where I lived! :) Anyway, I just couldn't see spending that kind of $$$ at my age (50+). Maybe if I was 20 yrs younger!

I did go with the new F2 fork. The paint job is Big Boy Blue, half paint/half polish with yellow/white decals. I like that scheme because it reduces the amount of paint chipping. I'm leaving the fork unpainted. I vacillated for awhile and I might get it painted in the future. I also asked them to leave the decals off the chainstays. Figured there was enough advertising on it already!

I'll post some pictures when it's finished.

BTW, I have been lurking on the Serotta Phorum.

Originally posted by Altwegg
Litespeed Vortex


the picture you posted is not the Vortex. It is the Siena. The Ultimate also has carbon stays. Vortex if full Ti.

I own it. Though there are two things I would change - hand made wheels, and upgrade the componentry from the mix it is currently to all campy.

seven cycles alaris ti custom frame
wound up carbon fork
salsa poco handlebar
profile design stem (diff from current salso moto ace, since this is 1cm too long)
cane creek non integrated headset
campy chorus 10sp shifters
campy centaur 3x front derauiler
shimano 105 crank
shimano 105 cassette
shimano 105 rear derauiler
look 257 pedals
Aurora matrix rims
shimano tiagra hubs
vredestein fortezza 650x23 tires
terry men's ti fly seat

I think that's it

Steve,

I've been doing a little more than lurking on the Phorum,
but not much. sometimes I feel overwhelmed there, especially
when I read posts by BigMac and DBRK.
I post with username Marty although they are few and far
between.
Met Ben Serotta at LBS, talked frames etc. he was
previewing Ottrott, even let some folks ride HIS bike.
I like the colour scheme you picked, Big boy blue would be
one of my choices. Did you go with compact geometry?
Agree about the decals and advertizing.
For a Richard Sachs you'd be waiting a long time (I heard
8 months?) but for Steel he is about the best there is now.
I really like that Confenete, currently up to $4k and reserve isn't
met yet.
I'm riding all N. Record currently although I'm going chorus on the
Serotta.

Marty

http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/02/images/r5000_spec_02.jpg



Dreams and rationalization, I wouldn't survive without.

I'd love one of these babies too.http://www.specialized.com/OA_MEDIA/2002/bikes/ansbike_225_d.jpg

Originally posted by RacerX


the picture you posted is not the Vortex. It is the Siena. The Ultimate also has carbon stays. Vortex if full Ti.

My bad!

Here's the correct picture.

Here's a full pic of it. With the wrong component group! ;)
http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2002/tech/probikes/lotto/bike.jpg
Too many people choosing the Vortex. I will have to go with the all-around greatest do-everything high performance machine: Empella Bonfire
http://store6.yimg.com/I/cyclocrossworld_1695_18139

To add to my "dream bike", I'd HAVE to go with a carbon fiber fork. Light weight, super aero, and it soaks up road bumps! Who could ask for anything more! I know I'd go for one.

As far as wheels go, I know somebody else on this thread said something about seperate sets of wheels for racing & training. I agree- something strong and durable for training, & something light and zippy for races (or showing off the bike to someone else:). I saw a set of Zipp carbon wheels at a race I recently went to, and the guy who's bike they were on said he loved them. As for training, I'd prob. go for a regular-spoked handmade Dura-Ace wheelset.