"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - My dream race bike

In the next few months I may have sufficient allowance to purchase the racing bike of my dreams. Although I already own a couple of very nice bikes my significant other insists I will NEVER be satisfied no matter what I buy. I maintain she's mistaken. I have my eyes on one of a few framesets and the following parts. Any suggestions would be well received, and your Dream bike list would as well.

Eddy Merckx MXM F&F/ Time VXRS/ BMC Phonak team Frameset (either one)
Record 10s shifting
Topolino carbon Tubulars
Storck Strong arms Crankset/Tune B.B
Zero Gravity brakes
A/X lightness post & seat
Cinelli Rams bar/stem combo (I already have some, so I know they fit me well)
Speedplay Zeros

Cables, cages, bolt kit, tires and whatnot I'm not so worried about yet.


Thanks, Trev

hmmm... interesting. if i was planning on racing crits, i'm not sure i'd c hose a cf frame... and those topolino wheels? very high maintenance, with fairly fragile hubs.

just to add... since this is a dream... by dream bike is whatever bike my big pro team tells me to ride. ;)

I just got my dream TT bike back from the shop:
http://img191.exs.cx/img191/8084/dsc000141lw.jpg

The 100 spoke wheels act like quasi-discs.
Banana seat so I can get right out on the tip of it to mash down as hard as possible.

hmmm... interesting. if i was planning on racing crits, i'm not sure i'd c hose a cf frame... and those topolino wheels? very high maintenance, with fairly fragile hubs.

just to add... since this is a dream... by dream bike is whatever bike my big pro team tells me to ride. ;)


I agree. Since I am starting to race, my dream bike has morphed from a full on carbon beauty
(personal favorite is the Merckx AXM) to something more of a workhorse. That's why I am going for the scandium, paris-roubaix conquering Merckx Team SC instead.

I would love to have that $15,000---

Merckx AXM
ZG brakes
Full Record
FSA mega exo
some intergrated bar-stem
Lightweight Obermeyer wheels

http://www.eddymerckx.be/bike/carbon_axm.jpg

Of course, this is completely unpractical for anybody this side of Jan.

MAYBE if you were in a pretty high CAT, 2 or above, where crashes were less common, and had a trust fund or job which made it the equivelent of $150 it would be worth it.
Or that same trust fund and just enjoy the very best for your own riding pleasure.

I am building my dream crit bike... for non racing.. hmmm...

VXRS is my personal favorite, though how much is a frame I know for the price of a BMC you could pick up a stock Parlee which will frankly put all those mass produced frames to shame.
Looking at your list, haven't people been having issues with Tune BBs? or have I not looked at weight weenies reguarly enough? The Topos are pretty but they strike me as a bit too much bling and not enough practicality-spoke repair is hell with them, my vote would be Reynolds or Zipps but they certainly are ridden by a lot more people. That said,
You're a lucky bastard, enjoy.

vxrs is a very elegant ride... and if it's good enough for tom and paolo..

the problem with defining your dream race bike is you have to ask "what kind of race?" for a crit, i'd go for the stiffest and steepest alu frame in the world, with a pair of utterly unforgiving light-and-stiff wheels. ksyrium sl's come to mind immediately. not a lot of bling, but they'll get the job done.

on a long, climbing race, go for the litespeed ghisallo with zipp z2 tubulars [995g per pair]. comfort from the ti, in a 900g frame.

for a long, rolling ride over comme-si-comme-ca roads, i'd probably go for ti again: maybe the litespeed vortex to crank out those robbie-mcewen sprints. or maybe a cf classic like the look kg386, or the time. the wheels would be light-ish [less than 1500g] but not stupid light and not too aero. i'd want a bike that is quick in the stays, but comfortable.

the neat thing is that none of these, except the vxrs, are really exotic bikes. in fact, if you asked the pros what their favourite bikes are -- taht is, which bikes they'd want to keep after the season -- most of them would choose nice, sexy but not exotic rides like the colnago c50.

[oh... and my bikes would all be record, natch.]

i would actually have my dream racce bike very similar to yours. i am not familiar with the bb and cranks, just heard the names. i would have to replace your wheels though. if it is a true dream build, i want my campy Boras :)

That's so right. I don't want to dream about racing a Pinerollo Dogma while I am stuff at Cat 4 for couple of years. That's actually a nightmare. I actually have dreams about racing and claming my first victory. :D


hmmm... interesting. if i was planning on racing crits, i'm not sure i'd c hose a cf frame... and those topolino wheels? very high maintenance, with fairly fragile hubs.

just to add... since this is a dream... by dream bike is whatever bike my big pro team tells me to ride. ;)

Will someone explain clearly for me why a certain bike would be better suited to crits over another bike. Is it that you mostly want carbon for stage races because of the comfort factor? this is going to be my first season racing road, although I have raced a pile of years Cross Country. Am I wrong to buy a carbon F&F to race crits? Or is it that carbon is just too costly too replace in the event of a crash? As I am not rich by any stretch of the imagination, I just have a lucky opportunity approaching, and I feel a really sweet new bike would be better than letting money sit in a bank.

Will someone explain clearly for me why a certain bike would be better suited to crits over another bike. Is it that you mostly want carbon for stage races because of the comfort factor? this is going to be my first season racing road, although I have raced a pile of years Cross Country. Am I wrong to buy a carbon F&F to race crits? Or is it that carbon is just too costly too replace in the event of a crash? As I am not rich by any stretch of the imagination, I just have a lucky opportunity approaching, and I feel a really sweet new bike would be better than letting money sit in a bank.

If you are planning to race, esp. in low level crits, the bike you spec'ed is probably the LAST bike you would ever use. It may be the first bike you would WANT to use, but the last you SHOULD. Just think about how expensive a crash would be (and chances are you WILL crash) not only for the frame, but for the seat, seatpost etc.
As I said, if you have unlimited resources, pro sponsorship, go for it.
Otherwise, I would def. suggest a solid, alloy frame (I love carbon, but just one solid hit and it may need replacing), and a nice solid group not so overly exotic. I would say if you can't afford or it would be a reaaal stretch to replace a part, you shouldn't buy it.

sorry about the ADD post, im kinda tired.

In fact, just saw that blue Pinarello of yours.

PERFECT!

In fact, just saw that blue Pinarello of yours.

PERFECT!
I realize that your advice is both sane and logical. Perhaps I could just get the bike, and not race it. I would have no problem riding it a lot. I am in a household that if bonus money is in the bank instead of in a bike, it'll probably turn into a hot tub or a trip to Hawaii. I know my girls limits. Thanks, I like that Pinarello too. Just completed Spinevals "Bending Crank Arms" an hour ago on it!!

In the next few months I may have sufficient allowance to purchase the racing bike of my dreams. Although I already own a couple of very nice bikes my significant other insists I will NEVER be satisfied no matter what I buy. I maintain she's mistaken. I have my eyes on one of a few framesets and the following parts. Any suggestions would be well received, and your Dream bike list would as well.

Eddy Merckx MXM F&F/ Time VXRS/ BMC Phonak team Frameset (either one)
Record 10s shifting
Topolino carbon Tubulars
Storck Strong arms Crankset/Tune B.B
Zero Gravity brakes
A/X lightness post & seat
Cinelli Rams bar/stem combo (I already have some, so I know they fit me well)
Speedplay Zeros

Cables, cages, bolt kit, tires and whatnot I'm not so worried about yet.


Thanks, Trev

See picture for my answer:

See picture for my answer:


I LOVE THAT BIKE. If I were in the position to buy another bike that's the one. I may even hate riding it but it's just so freakn' beautiful!!!!

I realize that your advice is both sane and logical. Perhaps I could just get the bike, and not race it. I would have no problem riding it a lot. I am in a household that if bonus money is in the bank instead of in a bike, it'll probably turn into a hot tub or a trip to Hawaii. I know my girls limits. Thanks, I like that Pinarello too. Just completed Spinevals "Bending Crank Arms" an hour ago on it!!

Sounds like a good plan.... maybe a stage race or a hill climb TT with it.