Gregfl

Well I agree the lettering is ugly. Other than that I haven't been convinced out of it. Someone said I should get a different online bike, a Fuji SS2.


Bleh. Bike is 1800 bucks. Assuming I upgrade the tommaso to dura-ace calipers, there is a $900 difference. What would I lose?

Fuji has pressed fit bottom bracket, Tommaso has standard threaded bracket. Brakes instead of dura-ace would be totally 105s. chain would be KMC instead of shimano ultegra. crankset would be oval concept instead of ultegra. Fork is low grade carbon instead of high modulus. saddle Oval concepts instead of selle royale S1, Stem is oval concepts alloy instead of carbon fiber, wheelset and tires are cheepie Oval Concepts. instead of Mavic Aksium. the whole bike has a crappy build for the money. Nah. Btw I am checking with them about ordering the crankset with dura-ace and changing gearing to 32/56. If I can do this for a couple hun I may be getting somewhere, the bike would come in under 3K and have everything dura-ace except the rear cassette.


eta: the fuji also has hideous lettering, just like the Tommaso

dtrain

You are quickly countering everyone's points. So I'd say just order the Tommaso already. Bleh.

Gregfl

quickly? It took me a day to look over that fuji and respond. lol. I think I will order it though, thanks everyone for your input. I hope it doesn't suck.

dtrain

Okay (if you are open to alternatives) - how about this: Ribble R872 with full 9000 and Aksium for under $2500 shipped? Might be 2600-2700 with carbon cockpit parts. No hideous lettering.

Gregfl

Where can I look that over?


Edit: Found, it, looked it over, with shipping it is within 100 bucks. Looks intriquing.

dtrain

Ribble R872 at Ribble Cycles

ColaJacket

Performance isn't an online store for bikes. It is for accessories, but most bikes have to be shipped to a store. And the stores carry most of the bikes.

GH

Gregfl

Okay assuming everything else is about the same, which looks better?




or

Gregfl

I saw that, there is a store in Tampa, about an hour from me.

Gregfl

You really should have the option of paying tommaso more for dulling down that lettering.

Gregfl

I think the riddle has an ugly frame, the tommaso ugly lettering. Its a toss up, really.

dippitydoo

Parts can be upgraded or replaced. The frame is the key. That tommaso is butt ugly. Get the ribble.

cale

I understand the desire to own Dura Ace but Ultregra was created as a sensible alternative to Dura Ace.

69chevy

I think Shimano's multi-level component "sets" puts them near the top of all companies when it comes to market strategy.

If the component that matters the most for power and efficiency says "Dura-Ace", the extra $500 to make the other components match most often gets spent.

ColaJacket

And some Ultegra parts last longer than some DA parts.

Check out this article, which tells you where to spend money on DA, Ultegra, and 105, if you're looking for the best value. They pretty much say that the only place you should spend the money on DA (unless you're a racer looking for lightest weight components) are the Shifters and Front Derailleur.

GH

Gregfl

That article pretty much says to build the bike like the Tommaso. With the exception of the rear deraileur (Tommaso its dura ace) and breakset (again dura ace).
The article recommends tHis:

• Rear Derailleur: 105 5800
• Front Derailleur: Dura Ace 9000
• Shifters/Brake Levers: Dura Ace 9001 or 105 5800 depending on budget
• Cassette: Ultegra 6800
• Chain: Ultegra 6800
• Crankset: Ultegra 6800
• Brakeset: 105 5800

As far as whether or not its "butt ugly", I guess that is subjective. I think the frame is really nice but agree the lettering is garrish. Bike review says "n addition to making sure the Superleggera looks as flawless as it performs, the Giantnerd team used an attractive three-color, high-gloss paint scheme. Yes, a paint job like this costs extra—more than they wanted to pay, according to Eddy—but the end result is worth the expense. The Tommaso looks twice as expensive as it actually costs,"

dtrain

I agree that the Tommaso lettering is unfortunate, but I'm kinda 'over' the murdered-out, matte black look (like the Ribble). I just wanted to give you another option that appeared to match your interests/priorities, which seems to be full DA 9000 on a budget (decent carbon frame, decent wheels)? If I were shopping for myself with that budget, I'd probably end up with 6800, custom wheels with more spokes and wide rims, and a (likely) nicer frameset.

dippitydoo

Are you convincing US why the bike is a good bike? I mean, at 2800, I rather get a synapse carbon ultegra but thats just me. You'll probably counter my statement with how the tommaso has full dura ace and other cool selling points but in my eyes (and my eyes alone), the value of the parts does not trump my disdain for that frame design as well as the paint scheme.

It leaned me though that they would use 5700, not even 5800, calipers.

dippitydoo

I rather buy this bike

Planet X Pro Carbon Campagnolo Chorus Road Bike | Planet X

At least to me, I think its cooler to have campy than shimano.

Gregfl

Not to split hairs but it is $2700 and includes dura ace brake calipers, 2499 with the 105s. I get you don't like the frame and paint, I disagree with the former and agree with the latter. That riddle bike has a truly ugly frame. Their paint on the Tomasso would be a win imo

ColaJacket

The way you are defending the bike, noone is going to talk you out of it. Go ahead and order the bike.

When it gets in, let us know how the ordering, shipping, and assembly process went. Take pics or it didn't happen.

GH

Gregfl

Just trying to make an honest assement. I think I have made fair comparisons and have been critical of the paint scheme. My impression right now is that it is a propriety frame that I think is nice, has a **** lettering job that screams 'look at me I have a knock off' , but has great pro reviews and a Great build set for the coin, weighs in at the same weight as top competition trek bikes costing $$$ more. Am I wrong in my assumption? I don't think I am looking through rose colored glasses.

john.b

I wrote a longassed reply but the POS BF forum software ate it. So much for "Restore Autosaved Content"...

The important thing is that you like the way the bike looks. Most people will never even know what brand your frame is. Probably the guys you ride with will know. But even for most people you pass (or pass you) it won't register, let alone someone going the other way on the road or bike trail. It's a non-issue for 99% of the bike riding public, only the "41" on BF cares...

(Disclosure: I own a Salsa and three Treks, including a murdered-out Domane.)

If you went with the Ultegra groupset build, the one component I would definitely change would be the FD-9000 Dura Ace front derailleur. If you hold it side-by-side with the FD-6800 Ultegra, you can see the DA is the better part. Easily worth the $80 and you can wait until the first time you change out the shift cables to swap them.

As far as the rest of it, yes, the DA stuff is lighter and it's nicer, but at some point the law of diminishing returns kicks in, especially if it's for a bike you aren't racing. If it were me, I'd rather put that money toward a nice set of wheels. As always, YMMV.

San Pedro

I kind of like the frame, and don't mind the lettering at all... To each his own.

Phil_gretz

That point was surpassed ~$1200 ago...