Road Cycling - A good price or not??

I am interested in getting a road bike and would like to know what do you think about this offer:

It is Olympia Flash Race and has Columbus Altec 2+ aluminum tubs, Campy Centaur group and Campy Scirocco wheels. The frame without the forks weight in about 1250-1300g, and the weight of the whole bike is about 8.8kg. You can read more about it at http://www.olympiacicli.it/course5.html

The price stands at $1400(US)!

So what do you think??:confused:

Thanks,
Blaz
http://www.angeluccicicli.com/foto%20olympia/flash_race.jpg

heavy, for the price. Centaur is kinda cheap for that price, too.

Actually, I rather like Centaur. The hubs are lighter than Chorus and the shifting is flawless. I'd argue that Centaur is a damned fine, raceable group. I wouldn't want to see it on a bike over, say, $1,750, but it fits nicely on a $1,400 bike.

I love my Centaur (triple) as well.

Which makes this as good a place as any to ask about the comment I see in many places to the effect that Shimano shifts soooooo smoothly. I find it hard to believe that anything could be noticeably smoother than my Campa Centaur has been.

I also see comments about the Campa front derailleur, with the "single step adjustments". It certainly is useful on my bike, so I wonder how the Shimano version eliminates the chain/cage interaction in all positions. Shorter cage? ???

Anyone?

Cheers...Gary

Let's put it this way... I have Daytona on my road bike and 105 on my cyclocross bike. While I love my cross bike dearly, and I find that 105 does shift sligtly more smoothly [less pressure required on the levers], it comes up short. IMO, compared to Daytona. The areas where prefer Daytona:

1. Parts quality -- they seem better machined than 105, though I can't speak for the chainrings since I have Sugino 38/48 rings rather than 105.

2. Accuracy -- I have never missed a shift on Daytona, but I have a couple of times on 105, although that might have something to do with the fact that it's on the 'cross bike. I do find that Daytona shifts much more efficiently under load -- that mercy downshift on a 25% grade is a godsend.

3. Trimming -- Campy lets you trim your chainline more effectively than Shimano.

4. Ergonomics -- I find the Campy shifters more comfortable than Shimano.

Personally, I'd rank Centaur/Daytona closer to Ultegra in quality and performance... And you can't beat that 10-speed thing. [Though admittedly, it can be a pain to maintain...]

I have suspected for a while what two of the leading magazines over here have actually put in print recently. Normally, when they compare Campagnolo and Shimano, thery are in a prose layout, and can be vague about making equivalences. Now I have seen two that actually put a matrix together.

In both cases, it is Record/Chorus vs Dura Ace; Centaur vs Ultegra; and then the rest in some way. Clearly, the Chorus being exactly the same bits in design, but with less Ti and C in their makeup, are considered the equivalent of DA. It is really a weight issue alone (not to mention cost) between the two.

As for the easier shifting with your 105, I guess I would have to try it. As I say, my Centaur is like silk already.

Cheers...Gary