Road Cycling - What's the difference?

FRAME: Third Dimension OCLV Carbon/ZR 9000
FORK: Bontrager Race Carbon
Ultegra/105 mix

VS

FRAME: OCLV 120 Carbon
FORK: Carbon with alloy steerer
Ultegra/105/Tiagra mix

The rear derailleur are both Ultegra. Here are the pics

2100, you get unbadged brakes whereas with the 5000 you have 105 brakes. also, ultegra crank vs bontrager crank.

the biggest difference is the frame. cf absorbs high frequency vibrations very well and is very rigid making for a light bike that's rigid and is damp. aluminum can be made almost as light (if not lighter...someone clarify this?) as cf, but it is a harsh material...vibrations all over the place. take a ride on a cannondale R800 or something and you'll get the idea as that one exaggerates the harshness. to compensate for this, you get carbon fiber seatstays (the fork that goes from your seatpost to the center of the rear wheel) to dampen vibrations going to the seatpost. also, cf seatpost to do the same, and a cf fork to dampen the vibrations to the handlebars. i believe the 5000 has an aluminum seat post. some people say it makes a difference...others say otherwise.

I would say take a look at the 2100, 2200, and 2300 as well as 5000. I ride the 2200 daily, and aside from the seat not fitting my butt, i have no qualms about it. It's a tad more lively than a full cf frame, but i have this thing against damp rides...i don't like not being able to get tactile feedback from the road which is a personal thing. all things equal, from your other thread's budget, if i were in your shoes, i would probably be oggling the 2200 or 2300 :)

melloboy

FRAME: Third Dimension OCLV Carbon/ZR 9000
FORK: Bontrager Race Carbon
Ultegra/105 mix

VS

FRAME: OCLV 120 Carbon
FORK: Carbon with alloy steerer
Ultegra/105/Tiagra mix

The rear derailleur are both Ultegra. Here are the pics

First they aren't the right color now are they.

Kidding aside why don't you consider shopping for a frame then picking off the components you want to put on it from ebay and nos from some of the shops that feature that kind of stuff. That way you may be able to get a perfect fit and will have the pride of having exactly what you want.

I would say take a look at the 2100, 2200, and 2300 as well as 5000. I ride the 2200 daily, and aside from the seat not fitting my butt, i have no qualms about it. It's a tad more lively than a full cf frame, but i have this thing against damp rides...i don't like not being able to get tactile feedback from the road which is a personal thing. all things equal, from your other thread's budget, if i were in your shoes, i would probably be oggling the 2200 or 2300 :)

melloboy

Looking at the 2200 and 2300 I see the only difference being the Ultegra vs 105 front derailleur and brakeset same difference. Is it worth the nearly $400 in your opinion? The 2100 is spot on budget and I could swing that, but I at least want the Ultegra/105 mix if not full Ultegra (which I will only get with the 2300).

ps..."Third Dimension OCLV Carbon/ZR 9000" is this a carbon/alum mix? Is only the seatpost carbon? One more question, since I'm going from a Reynolds 520 double-butted CrMo steel, MegaPro design frame to possibly the OCLV Carbon/ZR 9000 frame, will this eliminate a lot of the road vibration, in other words will it ride smoother?

Looking at the 2200 and 2300 I see the only difference being the Ultegra vs 105 front derailleur and brakeset same difference. Is it worth the nearly $400 in your opinion? The 2100 is spot on budget and I could swing that, but I at least want the Ultegra/105 mix if not full Ultegra (which I will only get with the 2300).

ps..."Third Dimension OCLV Carbon/ZR 9000" is this a carbon/alum mix? Is only the seatpost carbon? One more question, since I'm going from a Reynolds 520 double-butted CrMo steel, MegaPro design frame to possibly the OCLV Carbon/ZR 9000 frame, will this eliminate a lot of the road vibration, in other words will it ride smoother?Just a lame opinion,but if you are having a 'vibratiion' problem with DB 520,maybe you should be looking at other issues. The zr9000 is an aluminum frame with CF fork and seatstays.

.....But i have this thing against damp rides... Riding in the rain bums me out too. ;)