mihlbach

I'll bite...I'm 34, 6'1.5", with a sturdy 200lb build. I ride 8000 miles a year, don't race, but I'm fast and pretty damn strong and can hold my own in a group riding at a race pace. I took my 58 cm out for its maiden voyage today (53 miles), and my impression of it was mostly positive. I'm still waiting on my PF fork, so I slapped on a spare Forte fork (rake = 43mm). I still need to fine-tune some details, like bar height, saddle position etc., but so far I think I'll be quite satisfied with it, both for 100+ mile rides and fast paced shorter rides. I think Jay's expectations of the handling are a little odd. I mean, of course, its doesn't handle as quickly as my track bike, nor would I want it to. It feels about right to me for a recreational road bike..stable at high speed but still quick enough. I doubt the extra 2 mm of rake in the PF fork will make a notable difference to me..maybe others will me more sensitive about this. I've never ridden a carbon frame before, but I could definetely feel how it was different from my alu and steel frames..the bike is quiet...real quiet, and it absorbs vibration noticibly better that the alu frame that it replaced. I took several opportunities to really crank it up out of the saddle on flats and up hills (mostly to drop annoying wheel suckers), at one point sprinting it up to nearly 40mph, and its clearly one of the stiffest road frames that I've ever ridden. I spend a lot of time on a track bike and like laterally stiff frames. Many road frames feel noodly to me but this one didn't. I felt more confident at high speed on this frame than my previous frame, even though it was windy as hell today and I was getting thrown all over the road more than I would have expected on any of my other bikes...the huge tubes and massive BB area probably contributed to this to some extent.

Jay Andriot

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FlashBazbo

Sounds like a great frame for the mountains -- both going up and coming down. That's exactly what I bought it for!

zimbo

Well, in that case I'm glad I bought the ZX3 frame. I'm not sure when I'll build it up but I wanted to have a spare in case I busted up my RS bike. I absolutely love my RS. I've had it up to 48mph and raced crits without any "handling" issues whatsoever and I had a pretty damn good racing year on that bike, if I do say so myself.

--Steve

prendrefeu

...ditto! I love climbing.

prendrefeu

Thanks Mihlbach - great review. And you too, Curveship - thorough review of the RS. I'm glad the both of you were able to put in a thorough word in this thread early on - the starting poster was negative from the beginning, lacking any thorough review - that was disappointing in itself (lack of review or decent explanation). Thanks again, guys - I hope we can get more solid reviews on this frame. AND builds, too!

dgasmd

I disagree. The way I took what he wrote was as his opinion. Nothing more and nothing less. The others reviewers are just opinions too, so take it for what is worth to you.

I am still waiting for this freaking thing to get here.

Jay Andriot

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Ciocc77

My 58 cm ZX3 is up for sale also. PM me if interested. This includes the PF fork, seatpost clamp and Cane Creek IS8 headset.

slimvela

less chatter!

more pics/specs of the completed/upcoming builds on those ZX3's you ladies and gents scored. I was to late...sniff...sniff.

maybe next time.

AggieXCRacer

Well...my frame, fork, headset, and seatpost arrived today and are waiting for me at home. I'll be building it up tonight with a Sram Rival group on it and will try and post some pictures once it's complete

rruff

I don't have a PF frame but I'm interested in getting one. I like a quicker handling bike though, and I wonder if 40 or 50mm rake fork would improve things? I've done a lot of internet research on this, and it is hard to tell. More rake will reduce trail which should make it quicker in some sense, but it also increases the wheelbase and wheel flop. A shorter rake should have the opposite effect. Does anyone have experience on the RS or ZX3 with either a 40 or 50mm fork?

FlashBazbo

I took my ZX3 out for its maiden voyage this afternoon. Just 14 miles but included one 15% ascent and descent. The rest was substantial rolling hills. Mine is Dura Ace equipped with a traditional double setup and it has the Easton EC90 SLX fork.

Fit: I am 5'10" and I am glad I got the 55 cm frame. Fit from pedal to saddle is just right -- so long as I have the seatpost at its maximum insertion mark. Fit from saddle to bar is somewhat closer than with my older road bike (an '05 Schwinn Fastback Pro). At first, this dimension felt unusually small. I definitely would not have been happy with a 53cm frame. It would have felt tiny.

Handling: Very nice. The frame absorbs a lot of the major bumps while still providing excellent road feel. Far better bump absorption than with my aluminum/carbon Schwinn. The bike always felt nicely planted -- never jittery. When it came time to turn, the bike did exactly what I wanted it to do. Very neutral. More neutral, in fact, than my Schwinn Fastback Pro (which has the reputation of being an excellent-handling bike). I never had to think about turning -- the bike just followed my intentions. My tight turn-around at the end of the route was very smooth and stable. On the descent, the handling inspired confidence. It seems to be a good, strong, stiff frame -- all the power I put in went to the rear wheel.

Hardware: This is my first experience with Dura Ace after a few years of using Ultegra. What's the difference? The Dura Ace stuff shifts more cleanly and the drivetrain produces a lot less noise. Very slick. The impression of quality was pretty apparent. Dura Ace's in-line gear indicator is worthless. Throw it away. Other than that, I completely understand why Dura Ace costs more. The tactile feedback and the cleanliness of the shifts and trim are that much better. Will they both get you into the same gear? Absolutely. But Dura Ace does it with more confidence and authority. Also, the Dura Ace hoods are much more comfortable (to my hands) than my Ultegra hoods.

Traditional double vs. compact crank. Did I miss my compact crank? Not at all. (In part, this is because I went with a wider-ratio cassette with the new traditional crank.) I noticed a big difference, though, in the usability of the traditional double's ratios. I never had to shift the front derailleur unless I was 5 or 6 mph or more outside my normal cruising speed. After a few minutes of moving through rolling hills, I forgot which ring I was on in front.

All in all, the ZX3 is a keeper. Stable, responsive handling. A comfortable cockpit for my dimensions. And, it looks really cool. (I wonder how much I can get for the Schwinn.)

Ryleeryno

I sense some disappointment in this group buy? Is it the frame design?

I backed out of the buy when I decided that I couldn't get over the ugly downtube. I think the RS looks much better.

Jouke Buissink

Well about the disappointment, so far there have only been 3 reviews. I think it's waaaay to early to conclude things allready. Besides, only jay was disappointed because he wanted a fast and quick responsive bike.

Personally i haven't received my frame jet (live in the netherlands) so I can't review...

zimbo

How much would the frame factor into "fast, quick, and responsive" compared to the fork and the handlebars? Am I the only one who wonders how much "quicker" the frame would be if it had a Colnago sticker on it?

--Steve

FlashBazbo

Without a doubt, the fork and wheel specifications would make a difference.

Strong Bad

Good feedback. What's the rake on the SLX fork?

catfour

Colnago bikes typically have quite slack head tube angles, typically 72 deg or less (https://www.competitivecyclist.com/za...RY&BRAND.ID=10). Doesn't this mean they have greater trail and are even less "responsive" or less aggressive?

FlashBazbo

43mm

FlashBazbo

No disappointment here. I couldn't be happier. I'm very impressed.

And . . . the size and shape of the "tubes" were part of the aesthetic attraction for me. I wouldn't have made the investment for a round-tubed frame like the RS. (That's why they sell more than one kind.) I was concerned about stiffness at the BB and the beefy downtube and BB area provide a lot of confidence. [I never knew my aluminum-framed road bike had any BB flex -- but now, after riding the ZX3, I know that it does.]

Grasschopper

Hey WitchDoctor - glad to hear I didn't totally lead you a stray. Quick question: Did you go from 9 speed Ultegra to 10 speed DA? Because to me it sounds like you did in your description of the change...especially when you comment on the ergonomics of the brifters. I think you woul dhave been happy with any of the 10 speed shimano groups....but of course DA is the pinacle...the TN-87 if you will...of the Shimano line.

Now come on man...snap a photo of that bike.

WheresWaldo

correct.

Jay said he had a 2004 Colnago Dream. Colnago uses a very relaxed head tube angle and in order to match the trail numbers of the PedalForce he would have to have a fork offset so large that I doubt he would be able to find one. The trail on the Colnago would make it steer like a cruiser, and that is the biggest compliment/complaint from its owners, it is a very stable and neutral to slow steering bike. It's all part of the Colnago mystique.

I noticed that he has removed his posts from this thread, I think he basically made up an excuse to sell it because "buyer remorse" just doesn't sound all that appealing.

Now can we get back to pictures of the new builds! I am looking to see if anyone is building them with color, or are they all going to be stealth!

djbowen1

too much talk not enough pictures.

grahny

+1... this thread is making me sad