Which bike???
 

Ok.... I usually do not like asking opinions about which bike, frame set, group or etc.. to buy because I think the buyer needs to get what THEY like and not what someone else likes. With that being said I have reached a crossroad and I have researched until I can't see straight anymore. I had a Cervelo R3 and sold it to get a Bianchi Infinito CV. While the CV is a nice frame I find it a bit heavy and sluggish on acceleration and going up hill. It does ride smoother but the harshness of a ride never really bothered me. Now I have found 2 frame sets that I initially was looking at... Boardman SLR 9.8 and a Diamondback Podium Optum. I know both of these are pure racing and the Bianchi is an Endurance Race which will make them ride differently. Question is can I make the Bianchi lighter (without going to tubular tires) and without breaking the bank. I have super record and Reynolds Assault wheels with Zipp cockpit. Would you sell the Bianchi and go with the Boardman or Diamondback? May be a stupid question to some but thought I would enlist the help of people that have been riding longer than me (2 years) and someone that has experience on the listed frames. Thanks for your time.

Lose excess body fat, do more climbing training, ride nicer tires, and if you have them maybe sub in lighter wheels when climbing. Make sure your fit is dialed in on current bike.

Climbing is about power to weight ratio and grinding it out, so there's no substitute for grinding out the training. I bet the choice of bicycle may actually be more important in descending fast than climbing fast.

Those are all amazing bikes, good enough to handle anything anyone could ask them for. You could make any of them lighter with all kinds of carbon goodies, but what will you really loose in the end? taking a 15 lbs bike and making it a 14 lbs bike, will you really notice that? doubt it. cheaper and more effective to take 10-15 lbs off you, you will also notice the change a lot more. I'm 45 and ride a 10 year old 18 lbs bike with really no upgrades over the years besides a saddle and tires, I hold many local strava segment trophy's against dudes riding much nicer bikes and 20 years younger than me. Time on the saddle is worth a million times more than time at a bike shop. If you have the money to spend, spend it on a coach, changing your training will make a bigger difference than a frame.

BTW, If you think milkbaby is saying you are too fat for the sport, you are correct. Don't be insulted though, we all are.

Why are you restricting yourself to two specific brands and models? What is the weight of your current bike? Like me, you will likely have to climb hills and bike more to get stronger. That is a painful process and makes a much bigger difference, though bikes/wheels make a small difference for sure. I have a Roubaix SL4 and just picked up a Tarmac S-Works that I will build up soon. On the Roubaix there is a specific route I can do in 1:05. I bet with enough riding through the winter, I can do it in 55 mins. However, with a 2-kb lighter Tarmac, I will be lucky to shave 2 mins off that time right now.

Curious. Why would a bike be more important for the descent? I live in Florida so I never see real hills to experience.
Logic, at least mine, would think that cardio would matter more than the bike. Thus, I agree with your first line.
OP. all 3 are nice bikes. It is doubtful that any of them will ever hold you back. Stick with the Bianchi but if you just have an itch to scratch, than go with the Boardman. They make awesome bikes.

I test rode the Infinito CV and found it to have a nice, smooth ride. I also noticed that it felt heavy. Sounds like you've already got a *****in' group, wheels, and cockpit, so not a lot of opportunity to lighten things up without dropping tons of money. So why don't you sell your frame and buy Bianchi's new Specialissima? It's got the same countervail tech for a smooth ride, but is lighter than the Infinito. Just a thought.

I personally don't have any experience with the other two frames you mentioned, but can say that if I were in your shoes, I wouldn't be getting rid of that Bianchi for either of those two bikes.

For what it's worth, I've got two bikes: a 15-pound Emonda SL8 Red and a ~21 lb. steel Trek 420 I converted to fixed gear. For moderate sustained climbs, I tend to have the same average speed and in some instances am faster on my 420. On any given day, I tend to have a slightly higher average speed on my 420. That could be due to it being fixed gear and I'm pushing myself harder.

The point is, though, that the 6 pound difference between the two bikes doesn't negatively impact my performance. To be frank, you're simply not going to get a bike that's 6 pounds lighter than your Bianchi, unless you drop $15k on an Emonda SLR10. So what you're talking about is a weight savings that will be significantly less than 6 pounds. And if 6 pounds doesn't make a difference, you can bet something less than that won't either.

If you want a lighter bike just to have a lighter bike, that's totally fine. I just think you're fooling yourself if you think a lighter bike is going to improve your performance any.

Dude, this is the Internet. Save the facts and wisdom for a more appropriate forum.

ftw

And your reading skills; you guys make a lot knee-jerk assumptions. :rolleyes:
Speak for yourself. ;)

I don't think he said he wanted a lighter bike to improve his performance. He did, however, say of his current bike that he found it "a bit heavy and sluggish." Since he does have another bike, it's quite possible that he can tell the difference between what feels like it has better acceleration and climb-worthiness, regardless of whether his speed is measurably better, which, by the way, is something he didn't even bring up.

That said, @RNAV , I'd second your recommendation on the Specialissima. Though he said he didn't want to break the bank, you're probably right about it being unlikely given his starting point.

All---thank you for your replies. My wife said she would by me the Specialissima or the Oltre XR.2 frame set. I think I will keep the Infinito CV and build the new frame with some more Campy SR. I will have a good endurance race and pure race bike.

You are one lucky dude, is all I can say at this point. Ride on!

My thought on this, is that many companies make light bikes, which is important for the ascent.

However, getting a bike with good aero capabilities that match the rider's ability to use that, and also provides a good base, so that the rider doesn't feel wobbly on the descent is a more challenging fit for riders.

GH

I could buy that. I got going about 38mph coming down a small bridge one time but that is the extent of my speed. The bike never felt wobbly on the way down but my knees sure did on the way up.:)

I could agree with that.

GH