Road Cycling - Ciocc SAT 14.5

Ok, so I was all ready to order an Independent Fabrication Crown Jewel. My LBS, which, by the way, is a terrific road-oriented shop that takes a ton of time with customers and rarely sells bikes straight off the floor, suggested I look at the Ciocc SAT 14.5 (a Ciocc proprietary tubeset made by Dedacciai), which is a tad lighter (in 52 cm) and somewhat less expensive, with a steeper seat tube angle (74 v. 73) and slightly shorter top tube (53.5 v. 54). Although they didn't have my size at the shop in either frame (they did have an appropriately sized IF in a different model, the Club Racer), they offered to order a Ciocc so I could compare the two (IF order times run 3-4 weeks, since the bikes are semi-custom). He didn't bad-mouth the IF at all (in fact, he gushed about how much he likes the company), but did suggest that, if I go with the IF, I consider shortening the top tube a bit to get a better fit (in his experience with IF he thought they might not even charge for it). Does anyone know anything about this particular frame?

As a matter of full disclosure, the shop is apparently one of the largest Ciocc dealers in the country, and the owner rides one (a mere whisper of a bike, really -- the Challenger Carbon: aluminum with carbon seat stays equipped with full '00 Record and Speedplay X-1 pedals).

What does everyone think? IF or Ciocc? I'm leaning IF, but am intrigued by Ciocc. Thanks for your help and patience.

[Edited by AndrewB on 07-26-2000 at 03:09 PM]

I realise this is a little late I have to tell you abou this frame

I just imported a CIOCC eom 16.5 steel frame. It is far far better than I imagined. Tight, light and smooth. Corners and downhills immaculately.
Custom built direct from the manufacturer
51 cm down tube 53.5 cm toptube.

Best buy I ever made.

I ride a Ciocc San Cristobal, but it was built around 1980 by "Ciocc" himself: frame maestro Giovanni Pelizzoli. He sold the "Ciocc" brand to Stefano Bonati, Cesare Biondi and Biffi Giuseppe many years ago, so the current Cioccs aren't really Cioccs except in name only. They may very well be fine bikes by current standards, but understand what it is you're actually buying.

Hopefully the original poster has decided on a bike by now since the thread was started over ten years ago. ;)