recneps345

I have had a 03' Lemond Alpe D Huez(Reynolds 853 steel) since I began riding 8 years ago. Nice frame but the rest is on the lower end. I am thinking of going with competitivecyclist.com after seeing some of the great deals they have on bikes. I have 2 quesitons :

1. I have seen other websites similar such as wrenchscience.com, but I was wondering if there were any others that seem to have the reputation and great deals that competitivecyclist.com offers.

2. I would love to hear some suggestions for bikes from competitivecyclist.com and how it was ordering from them if you have used them. I do no racing. I usually go on a couple of weekday rides of 20-35 miles during week with two 50-100 mile rides on weekend. Comfort is my biggest factor. I like some of the bikes on competitivecyclist.com like BMC, Ridley, Willier, Pinarello, and Litespeed that I saw on their website, but I don't know if they are all strictly geared more towards racing, comfort or both. Any help is appreciated as I am one of those riders that doesn't keep up too much with brands/equipment. I know many of you have tons of info. Looking forward to the suggestions.

wrote4luck

Since you don't race, I would suggest going with a custom frame. There are a plethora of custom builders out there to choose from. I had Independent Fabrication build me a frame once and the experience was cool as hell. There's nothing like a frame built just for your particular measurements. And you won't have to worry about it getting trashed racing. Just food for thought since you mentioned a few high end brands. For $4K, you could have a custom frame built of modern steel and outfit it with full Campy record.

recneps345

I would definitely not mind going custom steel. I just don't know what my options are at 4K or under. I love Independent Fabrications. How long did that process take? I have just decided recently that I would like to get a new bike, so I am still figuring it out as I go along. Thanks again.

RollCNY

You might want to ask a mod to change your title. Colorado Cyclist is a different place from Competitive Cyclist. Colorado has some nice stuff, and their Douglas frames have been nice historically (almost bought a used one when I started riding), but Competitive Cyclist has a whole different range.

recneps345

Thanks. I didn't even catch it.

wrote4luck

It should take around 3-6months to have the frame done. You get to pick out every detail. They are much more high end and expensive than most, I would suggest shopping around.

If I had to do it all over again, I would buy from this man: https://www.pelizzoliworld.com/

He is the man behind the legendary Ciocc frames. A true artisan, but you have to have the frame shipped from Italy. Rest assured it will be of higher quality than any Colnago or De Rosa you can buy.

sour

I've purchased two bikes from competitive cyclist and would buy another when the need arises. They were easy to deal with. I took a huge gamble and bought a mtb bike for my wife because i could tell that the one she was riding just didn't fit her riding style. She was hooked on the new bike after the first ride and is now more fluid. I also picked up a cross bike for me because it was criminal how cheap it was. In both cases I knew the size and geometry that I wanted.


What you don't get by purchasing from an online store is a local shop with a vested interest in your riding happiness. You won't get a test ride, a "fitting", free tune ups, and possibly not even a sympathetic ear if you need warranty work.


My advice, if you don't know your size or understand the different geometries and the effect on handling, then don't order online because it will be a crap shot. Also, if you can attach handlebars to the stem and install a seat post, then just get ups shipping and save the money.

seymour1910

Good advice on the custom frame since you have the funding for it. As far as competitive cyclist goes, they are great. LIFETIME returns is not something most people offer. The bikes ship free and if you don't like it, put it back in the box and ship it back for a full refund ANY TIME. Here is a full carbon bike with full Ultegra group for $2159 with free shipping, that leaves a lot of money in your budget for nice wheels (Boyd has a closeout sale on carbon) or whatever else you might want to add.
https://www.competitivecyclist.com/fr...012-10667.html

canyoneagle

The Wilier Gran Turismo is a good option IMO for your riding style. You can get the 2012's on closeout a number of places, or a 2013 with either SRAM Force or Shimano Ultegra for about $4k at Competitive Cyclist. https://www.competitivecyclist.com/fr...mo--10436.html

recneps345

Nice bike. Feel free to keep it coming with the suggestions, as I am researching them as they come in.

seymour1910

Orbea Orca with Ultegra and Mavic wheels...free shipping, lifetime returns
https://www.competitivecyclist.com/fr...012-10307.html

benajah

Competitive cyclist is fantastic. Best online company I have ever dealt with.If you are interested in a custom steel frame... Pegoretti...these are the absolute best custom steel frames I have ever seen.

robbyville

I can't speak to the quality (yet) but I can tell you the CC service I've gotten so far has been great. I ordered the Ridley Excalibur frameset on sale from them it delivers tomorrow. On line chat with people who know what they're talking about and when there was a delay in shipping due to over sale I received two personal phone calls to go over options and given direct lines to follow up with. That being said, like others mention I pretty much knew the geometry I was looking for. So far CC has delivered for me with components and clothes soon to see about frame.

last thing I would mention as to their expertise is that they apparently have multiple mechanics who chase and face every single surface and cable stop on every bike they sell. I know of very few LBS's that do that.

Hiro11

BMC Race Machine SLR01 w/ Ultegra Di2 and Ksyrium Elites for $3,400

This is at least 35% less than you're going to pay in an LBS.

hamster

Not necessarily. I paid 3000 for Cannondale Supersix with Ultegra Di2 and Ksyrium Elites in a LBS. But yes, most of the time they would ask for more.

Hiro11

BMCs are rarely discounted as heavily as this.

Biscayne05

!!!

I'd take this in a heartbeat.

canyoneagle

The Race Machine is a great deal, but the OP's first priority is comfort. I read that as Roubaix/Domaine/Defy/Gran Tuirismo and that ilk, not full on race bikes with aggressive geometry and position. Just my $.02

recneps345

Man, that BMC in the black with the touches of white and red is a great looking bike. With the tecnology and the fact this is a much higher quality than my Lemond, how big of a comfort difference would we be talking? Great suggestions everybody. I am researching the BMC Race Machine and the Gran Tuirismo.

RollCNY

OP

Many general thoughts:

See if you can find a Wilier to see in person before buying. I loved the online photo's of the Izoard, until I luckily saw one in person. The tubes are all shaped like bulbous hearts, and it may be Italian designed, but its no Pininfarina. Make sure the style grabs you.

Your Lemond is not a low quality frame. From everything I have seen, it is a sought after steel frame that can do justice to high end parts.

Most of CC's bikes are performance oriented geometry. If you want to see the differences, look at the Pinarello pages, and compare a Dogma to a Paris. They show a nice range of different geometries. You really need to know your numbers to help figure out what is comfortable and what is too aggressive.

I have never had a custom bike built, and have heard little bad about them. But everyone that I know with custom builds had a specific issue they were trying to overcome that they could not meet in standard geometry. If standard stuff fits you well, you are spending money on something unique to you that may not hit the spot you are trying to hit.

These are just my opinions, and take it with a grain of salt. My search similar to your landed me a Cinelli frame, and custom Campy build up that I totally love, but is so specific to my tastes that noone would have ever recommended it in a forum.

seymour1910

Or Cannondale Synapse Carbon
https://www.cannondale.com/2013/bikes...mpact-crankset

recneps345

Great thoughts. Which Cinelli did you get? I just saw a Cinelli Saetta from wrenchscience.com, and it is gorgeous.

RollCNY

I have the Xperience, 2008 NOS, from Tom at GVH Bikes (who is absolutely awesome to deal with, and has many odd and interesting frames). I ended up with handbuilt Velocity A23's on Record hubs (also from Tom), and Campagnolo Centaur. My kids call it my Italian mid-life crisis.

To me, the Cinelli stuff is artful, and I have ogled the Saetta, and some of their other models, and love the style. But it is incredibly personal. For my measurements, I am too big for all but one of their carbon models. Once you know your numbers, you can have a good indication of how different frames will fit.

I also like the Ridley's on CC, but they are tough. The Excalibur talks about more endurance oriented geometry, but its geo chart exactly matches the Damocles and Noah, which are race oriented bikes. Maybe their tables are wrong, but it would be hard to say which would be the most comfy distance frame from them.

EDIT: I had to go check Wrench Science and remind myself that the Pro Estrada is the endurance frame I lust after.

recneps345

I will check out the Pro Estrada. I have always like the De Rosa Neo Primato, so I have been lusting after the ones on wrenchscience.com as well. I just wonder if it will be a huge upgrade over my steel Lemond. Decisions, decisions.

RollCNY

In my opinion, "huge upgrade" is unrealistic no matter what you buy. It has been discussed before, but the difference between a $500 bike and a $1500 bike is vast, and the difference between a $1500 and $3000 bike is very small. Unfortunately, no one learns this until they live it first hand.

I find the most satisfaction and pleasure in riding bikes that I built, that I picked every piece on, and that reflect my style. Others that I ride with say they have no attachment to their bike, and it is simply a tool. Figure out which camp you are in.

My caveat: I have built or purchased 7 bikes in my 3 years of riding, and have made lots of mistakes along the way. My stable is now 3, and I am hoping to be happy at that. When I tell you what works for me, I have no idea what will work for you, I am only sharing what I have learned by error.