Road Cycling - Please Help Me Choose. Am a Newbie

I have 2 choices: 1) Colnago CT1 with '03 Mavic Ksyrium (Black), Dura Ace 9
2) Look KX Lite (with HSC4 fork) with Dura Ace 10 and Dura Ace Wheel Set ('04)

They are being sold to me at almost the same price (Look slightly cheaper). Both are brand new.
What are the pros and cons of both choices?
Thanks for your help

Hi,
if you are a newbie, then it is likely neither of these bikes
are quite what you want. It's a little like handing a kid his drivers licensce with one hand, and the keys to a Maserati Countach with the other.

Bikes are made to serve differing purposes. The major categories are race/high performace/sport/touring. Often a bike will fall into one category ( like high performace) but be capable of racing (for example). For someone new to road bikes, the usual
advice is to get a good sport bike; or one that is both sport and performance. But you need to try them. I am not comfortable with
a high perfomance bike. The handling is too fast. I take long rides, sometimes in heavy traffic. A twitchy bike seems too eager to jump in front of a semi...YMMV. The seating position of a racing bike is way too bent over for me. What I am doing, what most people do, is to slowly increase the angle as you get into shape.
If you don't, you can get a sore back. The last thing to consider is that if you are riding hard, you will fall down. Something that will survive rough treatment can make a lot of sense for a beginner.

good god. I wish I had this choice. I'd get the look becuase the geometry is exactly how I like it. but thats personal preference and speculation. I've never ridden either.

OMG!!!!

those are $3000+ bikes!

I only wish i could afford those :(

BTW, I think its a better idea to use Campys with Colnagos..... just a thought.

i wish i had delimas in my life like you have :D

btw: Would take the Colnago hands down

late, Thanks for the comments. I realize that these are high end bikes. I was looking at more affordable bikes but a friend of mine who collects bikes (he has over 30 $3,000+ bikes) cannot ride anymore due to some physical problem he recently encountered and is selling all of them at relatively really low prices. So for almost the same price as beginner bike, I think it is a good deal to get one of his high end bikes. I guess I am lucky to find deals like this.

I need your help deciding. Which should it be and why? The CT1 with Dura Ace 9 and Ksyruims? Or the Look KX Lite with Dura Ace 10 and Dura Ace Wheel Set? What are the pros and cons of both? Both are almost the same price and both are almost brand new. The bikes were assembled and ridden less than 100kms each as it was meant for his collection only.

Please help. Really want to know what you guys think of both set ups. Thanks again in advance for your help.

You take the Look, I'll take the Colnago. :)

the colnago, the ksyriums, dura ace 9.. it's like a classic modern bike.

sd

Help!
I've got voicemails from both Monica Bellucci and Kate Beckinsale!! Which one should I go out with???

:D

Hi,
take both for test rides. Buy the one that fits better.

If it's a friend of you, you can take them for a long test ride, and buy the one that feels the best. The specs are good anyway

introduce us to your friend, maybe he can dispose his collection much faster

One of the first things you may want consider is going to the most reputable LBS and get fit for a bike. Many experienced riders don't need this, as it is just a place to start, but you said you were new to road bikes.

Some things to think about;

1) if it doesn't fit, you must acquit...oops, I mean if it doesn't fit, you might as well spend your money on a $100 bike. You won't get any benefit from owning a high-end bike if it doesn't fit you well or suit your purposes.

2) Both have carbon elements, which can be a little more fragile than steel or Ti - depending on how much experience you actually have, you may take a spill just getting used to clipless pedals...

3) Are you planning on trying any racing or just sticking to training/fun/charity rides? Pay attention to how they handle. Is one "twitchier" than the other, harder to hold a line at speed?

Assuming either/both fit you, any of us should be so lucky as to have one of these bikes as a first bike...can't go wrong with either.

is this for real? Why don't these things happen to me?

DONT BUY A BIKE, use the money for lotto tickets

Well that leaves 29 bikes. What is his name and number? Message me with it.

Steelrider: Thanks for the advice. I had my measurements taken at a LBS and asked my friend what the measurements are his measurements. Luckily (again) we are the same size, except for weight (I think I am heavier though). I will take both bikes for a spin as per your advice.

Crosscut: Yes, he has 29 bikes left! He has a couple of Colnago C50's (different paint schemes), a Pinarello Dogma, couple of Opera's, couple of Looks, Seven's, Kestrel's???, among others (brands I am not familiar with). He even has the 50th Anniv. Colnago with Record groupset!!!-- which I have to say is the most beautiful road bike I have ever seen considering I am really not a bike expert. I know that this might seem unbelievable. I myself had to slap myself a couple of times to make sure I was not dreaming when I walked into his living room which doubled up as his show room of bikes.

Steelrider: Thanks for the advice. I had my measurements taken at a LBS and asked my friend what the measurements are his measurements. Luckily (again) we are the same size, except for weight (I think I am heavier though). I will take both bikes for a spin as per your advice.

Crosscut: Yes, he has 29 bikes left! He has a couple of Colnago C50's (different paint schemes), a Pinarello Dogma, couple of Opera's, couple of Looks, Seven's, Kestrel's???, among others (brands I am not familiar with). He even has the 50th Anniv. Colnago with Record groupset!!!-- which I have to say is the most beautiful road bike I have ever seen considering I am really not a bike expert. I know that this might seem unbelievable. I myself had to slap myself a couple of times to make sure I was not dreaming when I walked into his living room which doubled up as his show room of bikes.


Reading that list of bikes, I'm thinking about slapping myself.......

Have you been able to ride eithe of these carbon bikes? If your friend is not comfortable with you taking either out on the road, is there an indoor trainer to put them on? I still think that you want to ride them, see how the feel, etc. I am not up on the geometry of either, but the Colongo may be a little more relaxed feeling. Both of those groups are very nice and highly respected. If both had Dura Ace 9, would you go with the Italian bike? Is it the Dura Ace 10 that is making this hard to choose? From what I have heard, the Dura Ace 10 is very nice but personally, I don't care for the look of that crank. I think that the 10 cost easily $600 more than the 9, so factor in the quality of the frame. BTW, what kind of other things are on these bikes; carbon handle bars, seat post (pin), etc.

Fox Farm,
I have not been able to ride either bike yet as it is currently always raining here in the Philippines due to a typhoon. It should clear up within the next few days. I will try to ride them this weekend.

The CT1 looks nice. It has a classic look. But the Look looks agressive and 'mean', which I like. I personally do not know what type of rider I am because I have not actually been riding yet. But based on my personality, I would go for the Look (just based on appearance). As to actual performance, I was hoping to get some tips and advice from this forum.

From what I remember, both bikes have cabon handle bars (ITM, not sure though) and stems, carbon seat posts (Look on the KX Lite and some brand on the Colnago), carbon forks (HSC4 on the Look and some Colnago model on the CT1).

The CT1 has the Dura Ace 9 and 03 Ksyruims (black, do not know exact model) and the KX Lite has Dura Ace 10 and Dura Ace Wheel set. The CT1 is about $100 more expensive. If needed, I think can get him to transfer the Dura Ace 10 to the Colnago (mix and match). Price of each bike is in the $1500 range which I think is such a good deal either way.

Again, personally, I like the way the Look looks but do not want to decide just based on this. I hope you guys can give me tips on which one will be theoretically better assuming both bikes fit me perfectly.

Thanks again.

Hot damn, I'm in the Philippines too! Who's your friend? What size are his bikes?

I was going to go for a ride today -- no more rain! -- but I had to go to work early. :-(

Fliprider... I am sorry... I miscalculated (converting Peso to US$) ... Bikes are about $2500 (Php140,000) for the CT1. Bike sizes are 51cm center to center. Will ask friend first if ok for me to forward you his contact info, hope you don't mind.

Fliprider... I am sorry... I miscalculated (converting Peso to US$) ... Bikes are about $2500 (Php140,000) for the CT1. Bike sizes are 51cm center to center. Will ask friend first if ok for me to forward you his contact info, hope you don't mind.

Sure, no rush. Actually, Php140k is out of my immediate budget right now, but I'm saving up...

Is he planning on selling off all his bikes? That must be heartbreaking. I really hope he heals up and is able to ride again.

Hi Bosero,

In your shoes I would choose the Colnago. Just keep in mind that for some reason Italian bikes have shorter top tubes than are comfortable for most Pinoy bodies, double check the cockpit length (use a meter and the measurements in bikemechanics.com). I personally love my Colnago so I may be biased, but nothing is cooler than an Italian bike.

Once you buy your bike maybe I'll see you around the village. ;)