HJR

Hello all,

You may think this is an odd question, but understand I have only become obsessed with cycling in the past year and a half, whereas I have been a lifelong automotive nut practically from birth (typical father to son thing). Sorry for the long intro.

My main passion in cars is Ferrari. I appreciate Enzo’s (the founder) and the companies single-minded drive for speed and racing. The arguments about who is the best are always subjective, but Ferrari has always been driven by racing first and foremost. Even in production, they have never made a non-sports or GT car (unlike Porsche).

Motorcycles, lead me to Ducati. Many friends, think it is an Italian thing, but it is not. It is the speed thing. Ducati is THE racing brand in my opinion, even though they make some non-sports bikes. Yamaha close second in my book (a little too diluted by market forces), but Ducati’s reputation has always sprung from the racetrack.

Having newly become obsessed with cycling, I have read as much as I can on different companies, their history and their philosophies. Considering, the number of makers out their, it is a formidable task.

Cervelo, has that racing philosophy. You gotta love that they refuse to make comfort and mountain bikes. They got my respect so much I bought a Soloist, but ten years is history, but not HISTORY. Pinarello seems to have some of that Racing DNA (Italians love speed don’t they?). So does Orbea and Litespeed.

So what do you think? Looking forward to your thoughts. Thanks and sorry again for the essay.

HJR

Maj.Taylor

Colnago

HJR

Talk about fast, thanks for the quick replies.

I'm not so concerned with the fastest. Ferrari is not always the fastest, (Schumacher's current streak excluded). I am talking more about the a strong continuous racing philosophy and history.

Raiyn

Bianchi is always a strong racer.

Maj.Taylor

I don't think he's asking about speed. He's wondering what bikes have--as the French might say--panache, or a certain je ne sais quoi. Or in Latin, sine qua non.

Raiyn

Not like you'd know about either

pinky

Um doesn't Colnago make a Ferrari edition of one of their bikes? A mere 10K+ if I remember correctly

slvoid

Surely there's someone driving a mclaren f1 out there laughing at the ferrari drivers.
And so to compare, I guess the mclaren f1 of bikes would be the dogma ego.

operator

No such thing as a ferrari bike, only a ferrari engine, i.e you. In that case unless you're Lance Armstrong you ain't a ferrari.

Xtrmyorick

Or, you know, one of the other pro bikers out there.

UrbanSherpa

Actually, here is the Ferrari bike. (by Colnago) . I'll take a red one.

https://www.trialtir-usa.com/2004-col...forferrari.htm

-CM-

sailor

Colnago. Gonna have to go with Colnago.

Now, if only I had $7000 to buy one...

HJR

Pinarello seems to me to have a more distinguished racing history than Colnago. From my research they dominated in the 90's, despite Colnago's commercial realtionship with Ferrari. BTW, I would love to own that bike.

Hitchy

g'day,

the ferrari of bikes?....hmmm presumably we gotta choose something that is beautiful, but impractical, fast, but requires a major overhaul every 2nd time you use it, hideously expensive & only looks good in one colour!....well given those criteria, I would choose........my wifes shoes collection!

Hitchy


hitchy

HJR

Or the criteria could be:

- the only manufacturer to compete in the top teirs of auto racing, every year of its existance. Ferrari sells cars to race, not races to sell cars.

- the only manufacturer to regularly trickles down racing technology to us mere mortals, whether we can afford it or not.

- a manufacturer that makes single-mindedly focused and beautiful cars.

- a manufacturer that expects the driver to expect more from themselves. Ferrari expects you to become a better driver. I am trying to become a better cyclist.

I feel that the focus that Ferrari as a company has, is akin to an musician with a vision, or a scientist striving to create something never created before.

late

Colnago is a good choice. But... Ferrari is a small company, the cars
almost hand made. Sounds more like Pegoretti to me.
https://www.pegoretticicli.com/#

"Pegoretti has long been a formidable behind-the-scenes presence. They acquired their knowledge and expertise from legendary Gino Milani. Milani was never famous to the cycling world at large, but he was one of the most brilliant framebuilders of the 1970's. His work was a major influence on every high-end framebuilder of the time. Since 1987 the Pegoretti brothers have honored the Milani legacy by going beyond the limitations of standard tubing to build unique, world-class frames. Pegoretti is synonymous with innovation. They were the first in Italy to use TIG-welding techniques. For over a decade they've worked side-by-side with Dedacciai to design and develop new tubesets. The DynaLite and Radius tubing so popular with Italian framebuilders throughout the late 90's are direct products of Pegoretti. To this day, they continue to build all of Dedacciai's prototype framesets, which is why their output is limited to 500 frames per year.

From 1991 to 1997, Pegoretti built frames exclusively for pro road teams. Everyone wants to know who, when, where, and how, but unfortunately a lot more folks don't want you to know. But we'll put it like this -- think of any major rider of the 1990's and you can more or less guess that they rode Pegoretti frames decaled otherwise. Name a major bike race, and it's been won on a Pegoretti. Since 1997 Pegoretti has designed and created frames carrying their own name. In 1999 they moved to Levico Terme, a beautiful resort in the Dolomites. It has several times been home to mountaintop finishes in the Giro d'Italia. Since they've moved to Levico, they've redesigned their frames, working on the assumption that an all-round tube profile offers the best compromise between lateral strength and torsional stiffness. It is a deliberate choice made to exploit the benefits of oversized frame tubing. It's not an overstatement to claim that no other Italian framebuilder has been so instrumental in bringing about the wide use of aluminum in road frames, and that none other had more input into the design and fabrication of the tubing itself. The Pegoretti brothers are clearly at the center of future developments with Dedacciai, with nothing but total respect from Dedacciai's best customers -- DeRosa and Pinarello to name a few."

borrowed from... https://www.competitivecyclist.com/za...ND&BRAND.ID=14

MelloBoy

how bout the Dogma Ego or something?

HJR,
doesn't RUF fall under that criteria?

melloboy

jukt

Sounds like you want a Poprad, dude.

No, wait, get a Merckx MX Leader. Please note that the Molteni bikes have no chrome! Molteni was Eddie's team. EM is like a God of cycling, and this is the last year for his racing frame to be produced. Lance has also ridden this frame.

It would be similar to a shizznit.

Maybe Eddie will touch your frame ?

https://www.competitivecyclist.com/za...PRODUCT.ID=117

Surferbruce

throw in another vote for colnago
although de rosa has to be another one no?

PaulBravey

Ferrari may be a small company but Fiat, the manufacturing conglomerate that owns the majority of Ferrari isn't. Fiat owns the Fiat, Lancia, Alfa Romeo, Ferrari and Maserati brands amongst others. In other words we should really be looking for a bike company that's just a luxury marque of a company that makes cheap and cheerful bikes

gcasillo

What the French call a certain...I don't know.

Pinarello Dogma Ego is about as top end as you can get in a "production" bike. You could conceivably spend more on a special, limited edition bike. Don't know if you'd ride or display a Dogma Ego though.

HJR

Late,

Pegoretti is an interesting one. I am not familar with them. They had some real beauties on that website.

Melloboy,
What is RUF?

PaulBravey,
Interesting point, but Ferrari is a separate entity within the Fiat Group, which is a large holding company separate of the Fiat Automotive Division. Ferrari has been floated publicly on its own. Ferrari owns Maserati and Fiat controls Lancia and unfortunately Alfa Romeo.

I brief snippet from Pinarello's history:

In addition to the long Tours, the numerous and extraordinary successes of Cipollini, the most internationally well-known "sprinter" have greatly contributed to the popularity of the Pinarello name and deserve to be remembered.
Cipollini has infact, together with Indurain, been a famous testimonial of Pinarello's advertising compaigns. More recently, the success of the current teams, particularly Telekom, Brescialat and Banesto, should be mentioned.
In 1996 and 1997, Telekom achieved remarkable results, becoming one of the most well-known teams in the world, with unexpected successes including the victory of Riis and the second place of Ullrich in the Tour de France in 1996.
The success of Pinarello has been reconfirmed in the seasons 1997 with the 6th consecutive victory in the Tour de France and in 1998 with the second place of Jan Ullrich always in the Tour de France.

I guess Lance wasn't the first to 6 consecutive victories. LOL

Walter

I was going to join the Colnago chorus but that Molteni Merckx changed my mind.

There is no more racing heritage available for purchase than that bike, period.

As the Comp. Cyclist sit says the weight is inconsequential. In stock trim alot of rice burners will outrun a Duck but which bike sounds right?

Same thing with that MX Leader.

It's the mystique. Major Taylor mentions panache. Well that frameset is panache. If you want something that symbolizes racing heritage that's your choice.

You got to kit it in Campy too. Not starting the never-ending Campy-Shimano debate but we're talking heritage here, not current events.

Go for it. I'll be jealous.

dc70

<"No such thing as a ferrari bike, only a ferrari engine, i.e you. In that case unless you're Lance Armstrong you ain't a ferrari">


Actually, Ferrari S.p.A. design and construct their own chassis, and gearbox,
in addition to the engine.
So, Ferrari...is the entire car...except maybe a few things like the electronics
by Magneti Marelli, and brake rotors and pads.
I'm a huge F1 nut..