Smokehouse

Ha!

Yeah...the bike is a bit "loud" but it grew on me. When I was shopping for a bike, I wanted a 105 Tarmac and was set on getting a white/red '13. I landed up with the 2012 Saxo colorway when I found out I could get it on discount for $700 less than the '13.

At first I wasn't quite sure...but I like it now. Funny, it's louder in a pic than in person. For $700 less...I can live with a ton...heck, that $$ bought those wheels which a far better than what it came with stock.

PatrickGSR94

Hot, but man the frame would look sooo much better if the little short piece under the ST/TT and the seat stays actually lined up.

plpete

Thanks! I kind of like it like that. On a 50cm and 47cm I think it almost does but not quite exactly but then it will look too similar too some older GT bikes that had the seat stays run through the seat tube and attach at the top tube.

slowride454

Is it just me, or is that the happiest speed sensor ever.

plpete

It is very happy. The chainstays are quite beefy and close together leaving no room to flip the arm down.

primov8

HOT. Btw, what happened to the RS-Giro frameset?

bianchi10

Presactly

Its ok to have Not's in the thread. I see this thread as a place to post your bike after putting money and time into it, with an effort to make it HOT. just because someone has a stock bike that has potential to be hot doesn't make it hot. Don't post a stock bike out of the box and expect it to be hot just because you are excited about a new bike.

PatrickGSR94

^^^lol I did that

bianchi10

But thats when a Not is at least acceptable. A completely stock bike with jacked up set up ("because, I just set the bike up and haven't dialed anything in yet") is always going to be a NOT and a wasted "entry". those bikes should be posted in the what road bike do you have thread.

Smokehouse

Are you referring to my bike?

bianchi10

No, not in that post. I'm just speaking in general. There have been a crap ton of bikes lately that are completely stock posted, hoping that someone will throw them a HOT because it is a new or new to them bike.

I dont particularly like the aesthetics of your bike, but that doesn't mean it is a bad bike. This thread is based strictly on how the bike looks/appearance and is very subjective to different opinions, though a really hot bike usually speaks for itself.

Smokehouse

That's what I was hoping for when I posted the picture of my current setup. I was pretty sure such a loud frame would generate much love...but I was hoping sheer $$ spent on a kit would make it good or not so good in the eyes of members here. If that were the case...a thread of that nature should just be called "who has the most expensive parts stuck to an expensive frame".


Whether or not something is "hot" is completely subjective. There are some pretty darn "hot" bikes out there that are bone stock...most however, not so much. This is what prompted me to post my bike here...I figured someone may like my current setup...


Personally...I don't care for "murdered" bikes. You could have a $20K rig that looks like a pice of charcoal in the shape of a bike and I wouldn't give it a "hot" thumbs up.


But...that's personal opinion...and ultimately, what beauty is all about.

acw622

Let me know what you guys think. Just upgraded to 9000.

plpete

Thanks! On display in my living room Possibly looking for a good home...

Jaymadd

Giant is Hot!

bianchi10

but you are missing the point. its not about money spent. It is on pure aesthetics. you could have a $1000 bike, but if set up nicely and colors/parts coordinated can equal a hot.

"set up nicely" FOR ME means:
-good saddle to bar drop
-bar tape color flows and is coordinated with bike
-color/type of crankset that works well with the bike. staged at 3 and 6 'O clock
-hoods are in good position, usually level depending on the bars.
-bars are in good position, usally bar ends pointing to rear caliper. I dont like large ergo or deep drops
-wheels compliment bike. meaning stickers aren't overwhelming. doesn't always have to have deep carbon wheels, but usually helps.
-Stem flipped down, generally speaking acceptable degrees are -6, -10, -17 degree and usually nothing less than 90mm
-Seatpost color matches stem (usually)
-no high stack of spacers
-Tires match and logo's equally spaced on wheels, generally over the valve stem.
-Too many logo's on frame, wheels, stem, seatpost and anything else makes for a very busy and distracting billboard.
-No saddle bags in photo
-No lights in photo
-No bottles in photo
-chain on large front ring and smallest rear cog
-Wheels staged in photo so that decals (if have any) are equal, generally speaking valve stems at 6'o clock

I also dont like when people try to add accent colors by adding colored cages or cables. If one wants accent colors they should get a bike that has accent colors in it already. Dont try to create color in a boring bike.

A fair amount of the presentation is the photo also. Plain background (Doesn't HAVE to be a white garage door) helps show off the details of the bike and isn't distracting for the eye to follow all the lines of the bike. Picture taken level with the bike. Good lighting.

Seems like a lot but it is a general rule of thumb for others as well. As said before, it is all subjective. Some will break the rules and still be hot. Get a majority of those boxes checked and it will usually end up with a HOT for me.

bianchi10

Giant is Hot, would like to see decals on wheels taken off though.

Youngin

New to me. Not too many of these around here.

jerrayy

i like the lapierre
have you tried black bar tape?

longbeachgary

Love it. What's up with the seat post?

KantoBoy

Very nice. Compact crank?

Bathwater

It's a Thomson. That's just how they engineer their setback.

acw622

Nope, running standard crank with 11-28 cassette.

Youngin

Not yet, I'll probably run the cinelli stuff until it wears out. It's feels nice, but black will be the color of choice when it wears out. That caad9 looks solid!

NathanC

LaPierre is hot.