St_Pete_Speed

A quick tip of the hat to those of you who post on BF- often with great insight and many times with humor. I have trolled here often (daily) and posted infrequently, however I will try harder to add appropriate comments (or at time inappropriate comments).

I am going to pull the trigger on a new ride. After a lot of research, visits to LBS’s and of course reading the posts on BF, I have narrowed down my choice to the Scott CR1. My question to the learned masses is whether to purchase the Team or the Elite. I am questioning if the Elite differences are worth the extra dollars.

My current bike - Specialized Allez 2003 Comp (nice E5 Alloy) has Velomax (Easton) Orion II Wheels. At 190 pounds I am probably near the limit on these wheels. The CR1 Team comes with Mavic Aksium wheels and the CR1 Elite comes with Mavic Ksyrium Elite wheels; would either of these be better than my current wheels?

While I am neither fast nor young – I do enjoy riding.

rschleicher

I think your choice should perhaps be driven more by whether you prefer SRAM (Rival) over Shimano (105). The Elite model with Rival and the somewhat lighter Kyserium Elite wheels is going to save a fair amount of weight (16 lbs versus 17.4), which may be enough to justify the price difference. But if you just don't like SRAM/double-tap for some reason, then you might be happier with the somewhat heavier Team model.

I have a 2010 Team (which actually LOOKS more like the current Elite - in having the mostly-white frame paint-job), and have been very happy with it. The frame is the same for both models, and is very comfortable without feeling "too plush" - it still has a nice snappy feel to it. I'm a big guy, and it holds up to my Clyde-weight just fine....

St_Pete_Speed

Thanks, I appreciate the feedback. In my test rides the SRAM has been a different feel, not bad just different. My thoughts are that in a few rides it will become as automatic as the Shimano.

I am happy to read your thoughts on the frame.

Painful Chafe

It will.

Also, you will probably get the itch to upgrade the Aksyums in the near future. It will be too tempting to spend $500-700 on a better wheelset and loose a pound of weight. I'm just assuming knowing the way I am. So in the long run you will probably spend the same.

And another bonus, the white Elite is one of the best looking bikes out there, IMHO.

St_Pete_Speed

These were my own thoughts on the difference between the two models. I know I will want better wheels (either new or the wheels from my current bike). Thanks!

jgt_madone_newb

I was torn between the two models as well. The Elite was my first SRAM experience. I liked it, and I almost pulled the trigger on the Elite. But - I have four Shimano bikes, and it seemed like it would keep things "automatic" in my brain to not have think about whether I was riding the bike with the different shifting system. And the new 105 on the Team really impressed me with the improvements over the previous version.

I liked the better wheels on the Elite, but before I bought the bike, I already had a set of upgrade wheels on order. So I went with the Team, immediately put on the lighter wheels, it weighs about the same as the Elite, and after the upgrade wheels, was a couple hundred bucks cheaper. And was quite a bit less than the Bianchi Infinito, the other bike that made the short list.

You can't really go wrong either way - it's a great frame.

NebrVandal

I have the Team w/105; I love it. However, I scratched my itch to upgrade the Askiums.

RoboCheme

I bought the Elite through REI for about 17% off (10% membership, 5% REI credit card, $50 gift card). Although you can't test ride it because they don't have it in their store, you can buy it, ride it and return it for a full refund if you don't like it.

It's a great bike and it really smooths out the road vibration. I really like the wheels; not because they ride great (I can't tell the difference in wheels), but because they look nice.

Here's a post of pics of my bike.

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...son?highlight=

bored117 

RoboCheme, how long did it take to get your bike from ordering in REI?

nyxis

I picked up a '10 Cr1 Team about a month ago and absolutely love the bike. I Just recently started my journey into road biking and thus doing so joined a local bike club im already leading our 17mph groups and I have maybe a total of 300 miles on this bike and a total of 300 miles of biking in the last ten years. I have started looking at wheelsets for future upgrades as I think im becoming a weight weenie. I dont think you will be disappointed in either choice.

RoboCheme

A week

JustinHorne

FWIW, here's my thread I started when I got a CR1 Pro a week or so ago. Lots of good info in there about the frame / bike in general. Even just speaking to the frame, I love it.

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ro)?highlight=

Hulley

I just traded in my 11' CR1 Team for a 11' Addict R3. The only reason for the trade is I needed to go up a size also I wanted a stiffer back end. Both bikes have the same components and I was happy with the full 105, however I'm planning on upgrading the wheels to probably Soul S3.0.

valygrl

I took delivery of my special order CR1 frame last night. I did some test riding and found there was a huge difference in comfort, for me, between the SRAM and Shimano hood shape. I was originally planning to go RED because it looks like a really good $/weight pick, but the hoods were uncomfortable (I rode a force bike for about 4 hours), so I'm going with Shimano. I'm just not willing to sacrifice anything for the ability to enjoy the bike on the long rides that I do.

I'm still trying to figure out exactly what to put on it. I couldn't do any of the full bike options, as they put the wrong size crank for me on my size frame (165's on the XXS frame).

St_Pete_Speed

Justin - I appreciate the comments on your new CR1, very helpful. It is good to hear the positive comments on the frame from those who have been riding it.

St_Pete_Speed

Quick update - decided to go with the CR1 Elite - however, the LBS did not have my size (58) in the Elite. They went to order from Scott and were informed that Scott no longer has the Elite 58 in stock.

So... I am having the CR1 Team (I actually like the paint scheme) frame built up with the Cr1 Elite components. I will end up with the Team model bike with the Rival and Mavic Ksyrium Elite wheels. Should be on the road Thursday or Friday

Thanks for all the input!