Might be the only NOt c59 I have ever seen. Those wheels with the white spokes are hideous, they look like wagon wheels.

^nice hot. you seem to be based in Europe. May I ask why you went with a Specialized and Shimano Dura Ace combo? I'm just curious to know if/which american brands are popular down there.

Hello there! That's right. Im based in Sweden. Well, since I was introduced to cycling my father has been completely sold on Specialized and this was way back before they even got known as a "big brand" here in europe. Starting with road biking I got an Allez, moved on to a SL3 and when the time came to replace my SL3 I really had no doubts of what I wanted. I love the Specialized geometry, both riding them and visually, and the Tarmac seems to be the most efficient bike in their fleet now. Groupwise it's quite simple, Sram Red is always a choice here in europe - people want the lightweight here as much as everywhere else. But trying the Red gruppo I really can't get the double tap to feel fluid to me and that's something that I value personally. I'm sure it's all just a matter of what you're used to at the moment though! And oh yeah, what can beat the esthetics of the new Dura Ace 9000 crankset?

I'm working in a bike shop and the most popular brand we have is Scott. Both road and MTB. I'm sure this isn't standard for europe but more of a swedish flaw. The average swede (I could go down deep into this because it's actually quite interessting how the psychologics of swedish people work but I doubt that was what you wanted to hear.) doesn't want to stand out from the crowd or be more than average, so the mid-range scott bikes fit good in their bike-customer-profile; no overpricing, classic standard geometry, really swedish in other words... ha!

We deal with Scott, Cannondale, Trek and Specialized and they are popular in the order I mentioned. Caad10 and Caadx have sold really good because the pricing has been good. Trek's are always popular because people recognize the brand over here. But moving on to more expensive bikes I'd say that Specialized has a really large market here, where the other brands are lacking some.

Sorry for the long post, I'm sure I provided more information than you were interessted in, sorry!

Great build and HOT. Fully functional and an amazing groupo, but I just cant stand the looks of shimano cranks.

Hot, but after you spent all of that money, couldn't get a garmin mount? :P

Sexy!! Is that an S Works Romin Saddle?

Tarmac is hot. Dura-Ace crank if fine.

I would give the SWorks a hot as well. That said, it does look a bit stock, which is ok, but the rare, less common, unusual, unexpected bike, component combos are what get me excited and intrigued. But, again, this is a nice looking bike and I would enjoy riding it - if it had a Campy group....

S-Works Tarmac is definitely hot as is, the only way to go Specialized...

...although if it was mine, I'd put on a Zipp seat post for matchy matchy purposes (I've got a 31.6 Zipp carbon post if anyone wants to buy it)....

The S-Works has saved this thread. HOT!

Agree on garmin mount comment. Love the Dura Ace crank though. Also, if you want white bar tape, I highly suggest Fizik microtex so it will actually stay white. Cork looks great the first day...

Agree

Also agree. Bdopcycling (bob dopolina) also has a microtex style bartape that has a very similar finish which will maintain its color.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=322755
Opinions, suggestions?

Cut steering tube, more aesthetically pleasing crankset, black tape, rotate bars up a bit (bar ends are pointed up) chose 1 color for your cables (black) and get a zero setback seatpost.

I used to run the slick mount that puts it in front of your handlebar but after being in nervous pelotons and cracking the engagement base in an elite race I decided to have it on my stem for more fail-proofyness, but I agree, the other mount is far nicer!

Your levers are googly eyed.

I love this era of bike, but i know that this thread chews up bikes like this and spits them out.

I love the crankset reminds me of X-men logo (biased I have the same group)... If I were to critique one, and only one thing is that you don't need so much cable from the rear derailleur stop to the der, heck this isn't SRAM you know :)!

How do you define more aesthetically pleasing? Is that more aesthetically pleasing to you only, or should he take a poll?

Its my opinion so yes just to me. I'm not speaking for everyone. They are suggestions based on what I would do.

I was kinda of intentionally throwing it the lion's Dan ;)

Who is Lion's Dan? :p

This gets a HOT from me. I would've kept the brake cable housing white, but it still looks good. I also like how the inline barrel adjusters were installed; I did something similar on my S3.

Road Bike: Project Sea Lion. Care of Dan the man? ;)

Y'all better say hot about that Masi...
Why?
Because they are the bomb (oh yeah and the sponsor us)

^thanks for that! interesting stuff. I remember reading a lot of weightweenies introductions and it was always interesting to see a lot of guys from italy who had real american bike fetishes (like the ultimate Klein build) and similar people in France who love the trek stuff as well. It makes sense that sensible bikes are popular in Sweeden. In your case its great that you carried your father's loyalty to that brand and that its lived up to your expectations into the 2nd generation.

oh yeah hot or not: (not my bike but a retro Klein, mentioned above, with THE WORKS)

http://weightweenies.starbike.com/fo...bbde86936b8f74

http://www.youimages.org/public/images/221354a.jpg

+1...

pretty much anything except the one that's currently on it...as long as it isn't made by FSA...