Your Opinino Requested: Velocite Selene or Pro-Lite Cuneo GP
 

So,

Spring is here and time to get rid of my Masi Partenza. I would not recommend a Masi aluminum to anyone.

I chose these two bikes because they both are nearly as light as carbon and as stiff. Both are very similar with tapered headtube/headset, full carbon fork and sterrer, geometry and tube shaping. Also neither have internal cabling, yay.

Issue is neither have any dealers near me, so it's just reading online and figuring out from there what would be best. Figured I'd ask for opinions here, just to get an idea what of others think about these frames.

Differences:
7005 vs 7046 Alloy, Pro-Lite claim the 7046 is lighter and stronger the 7005.
PF30 vs BB86, I prefer the BB86 since I will be using a Shimano 105 crank and BB.

Price wise they both seem to be about the same since with the Selene I'd have to get a BB adapter. And fairly sure both have passed EN testing, so both should be reliable.

Which would you go with? I'm leaning towards Pro-Lite just because adapter is one thing less to worry about.

Why not a used Caad 9 or 10? Probably the same money and you have a real bike.

Because I didn't ask about CAAD. How about these two real bikes, CAAD isn't any more real these are. CAAD is just another Taiwanese mass produced bike, not special.

Links?

Velocite Selene Black = Velocite Selene best alloy road bike frame
Pro-Lite Cuneo GP = Cuneo GP

To me it seems Pro-Lite Cuneo GP may have been inspired by the Selene, for all I know maybe they are made in the same factory. Fairly sure Pro-Lite has their frames EN tested just like Velocite, so both should exceed torsional stiffness of majority of carbon/aluminum, only exceptions maybe like a Tarmac SL4, but only laterally. Both from rider reviews say are surprisingly comfortable, the ride isn't jarring.

The only other frame I would consider is the Kinesis Aithein: http://www.kinesisbikes.co.uk/produc...elight/aithein

If I can play devil's advocate for a minute, are you sure some of the things you dislike about your Masi aren't inherent to other aluminum frames? By only considering bikes you can't test ride, you're rolling the dice a bit aren't you? Have you ridden other alu bikes for a point of reference?

Outside of that, it sounds like you've done your research and providing you know what you want (i.e. stiffness and materials etc.) then I don't think you can go wrong with any of these frames. All else being equal I'd probably choose the Kinesis just for looks.

l know what you mean. Simply because it's massed produced we know it cannot be good.

I vote for the Pro-Lite.

Get the cheaper one, it'll make you happy. It's worked out so far, eh?

Just my opinino....

Yes, that's a plan. Didn't like a generic aluminum frame (Masi?) Take another step down on the food chain! BTW. why did you edit your original post to remove the reference to CAAD? Actually, I have no problem with a generic frame. I'd probably go with Nashbar because of their support. It would be less of a pig in a poke.

You know what I meant, no need for the snarky remark. CAAD has a great following, a great bike, but it's no more real or special than a Velocite.

My purchasing experience for any has been pretty good as long as I know what I am getting. The Masi was the first road bike ever bought, and suited me well for what I wanted, commuting. It survived the winter without a scratch, but now looking for something else after having ridden a roadbike for a few months now.

I also don't think $700 for a frameset is cheap.

@shelbyfv thanks, I've discovered this forum does have an ignore feature. Awesome.

Well, visually it appears there are significantly different tube shapes on the CAAD10. I'm not sure how it's "less special" than the three you're looking at, but it's okay to want something unique. My CAAD10 gets laughed at frequently for being the "wrong frame material", so its remarkable to hear this echoed in the context of this thread.

Wasn't implying the Velocite or Pro-Lite or Kinesis are more special. Just saying, it's just another Taiwanese aluminum frame. CAAD isn't special, it's a Taiwanese aluminum frame.

Corvette Z06, just another American car.

No that would be way different. Your analogy doesn't work. Cars have complex engines, computers, actual real engineering. CAAD is just a mass produced aluminum bike. Though I would agree that cycling marketing rivals that of any other industry, getting people like myself to pay $700-1500 for a piece of aluminum is genius.

But thanks for hijacking this thread to expound on your disbelief that someone doesn't believe your CAAD is special and superior over all other aluminum bikes. Good job.

I hope the next time you ask for opinion or suggestion on purchasing decision someone replies with a very unhelpful, your **** isn't real, buy this instead, it's special.

Not superior, clearly too expensive for this consideration, but hardly inferior due to mass-productions. Feel free to cease responding at any time.
I don't make threads like that, nor do I recommend taking internet forums so seriously.