pharding

Two reasons. 1. As an architect I really like the aesthetic of those bikes. The seat mast on the Madone is a fine idea but it is visually crooked in relation to the seat tube. It looks stupid and sloppy. An expensive bike should not only ride well, but it should look elegant and refined. 2. I want to get the new 2009 Campy Super Record Gruppo.

The Madone rides fine and the Dura Ace shifts smoothly. Trek has been a fine, stand up company to deal with excellent customer support.

I will test ride all of those bikes except for the Parlee. If I had to choose today, considering the price, I would probably get the Orca.

celerystalksme

the orca is a wonderul rig. BUT...from everything i have read, the new 2009 iteration is an all out race rig. light weight. extra stiff. fast fast fast. and doesn't give a damn about your comfort.

i want one...

it looks gorgeous...

bbattle

Worse, they cannot stand the fact that others can afford them.



Back on topic, OP, why did you suggest these three bikes? You like the way they look? Well, Hell yes, they look damn good. Top of the line racing bikes do look very sexy. They don't exactly jive with what you stated you were looking for in a bike. My aluminum Orbea could give you all you wanted and more and for a whole lot less.

So fess up, you want a bling-bling bike and want us to tell you which of the three is the blingiest. Well, they all work for me but I'd go with the one that fit me the best. That rule applies to whatever your budget may be.


Elegant and refined? Get a Waterford with some nice chrome lugs and a superb paint job.

kukusz

You are a fine troll. Do you like "start a company, sell it" type of luxury? You should buy an Acura in that case.

uke

It's so easy to forget the difference between needs and wants. I want another road bike. I certainly don't need one.

With enough training, I could maintain a 25mph+ average everywhere on my Coda. A professional rider certainly could.

kukusz

I don't need a roof over my head either, right? You are going down a slippery slope. I would argue that my bike contributes to my health and happiness, if buying a sweet ride contributes to someone's life somehow, so be it. It's all relative.

uke

Notice I didn't say there was anything wrong with having a want instead of a need. I simply said they were two different things, and that people have a tendency to confuse the two. I would love to use a Jamis Xenith 2 for commuting. I'd love to push it to 30mph down the road in jeans and a backpack and take the lane at speed. It would be awesome. But I'm well aware that a Xenith 2 is a want, and not a need. The knowledge is key.

kukusz

That's sweet, does it have road geometry? I need it.

patentcad

At least you're in the correct price range.

uke

What do you plan to do with the Trek once you buy the Orbea?

pharding

Where did you read about the 2009 Orbea Orca?

pharding

My current intention is to sell it. I am still weighing my options. As many posters have stated I need to ride the bikes that I am considering. The Orca, as several posters has suggested may be too stiff. The Cervelo S3 has the seat stays of the R3 which will yield a more pliant ride than the S2. Unfortunately they are not available at this time. Rather than purchasing a new bike, another option would be to purchase a frameset and move the Trek components over to it.

Or another option is to defer the bike purchase until next year altogether and buy the RacerMate CompuTrainer for training this winter indoors when the weather is too cold here in Chicago in December, January, and February. In addition to the obvious conditioning benefits, this would allow more time to test ride the new Cervelo S3 and let the supply pipeline catch up so that I can get a better deal on the bike and the Campy Gruppo.

NealH

I saw this review linked on RBR a few days ago. I would say the reviewers pretty much liked the bike....a lot.

BHBiker

2009 Orca has an SL as the top of the line...naked carbon.

BHBiker

Don't rush...wait for the S3 then decide.....you have a madone to beat up while you are clearing time for winter anyway.

The S3 should be an interesting concoction..ride comfort of the R3...aerodynamic slicing of the SLC = sweetness!

Carbon Unit

You can include Calfee on this list as well. They custom carbon and bamboo bikes.

RParker

I disagree with this I have a 09 and find it comfortable, I am sure there are more comfortable bikes out there. The orca has a great balance of handling, stiffness and comfort.

SKYLAB

I've got a Z4 - no need for me to spend the custom bucks - and it is one extremely sweet ride. Rails high speed downhill corners. Stands up and takes notice when I stand to sprint. Not complaints at all.
All that said....the Prince is a very blingy ride.

MadeInItaly

^^^^ If you are gonna plagiarize Bicycling Magazines generic review at least use quotations.

SKYLAB

If that was the review they gave it, then they got it absolutely right.

MadeInItaly

It's the review they give every bike.

SKYLAB

you admit to reading Bicycing?? the shame the shame....

celerystalksme

Bicycling reviews are so pointless...every bike is friggin dreamy...

BananaTugger

Nordischer Rahmenbau

They are custom. They are carbon. They freaking awesome.

You won't see another one on the road.

The graphics are also ugly, but for $7000 USD for a frame, they'll make it look like whatever you want it to look like.

StanSeven

That's good advice. Don't make a choice based on what people tell you here regardless of now many own these bikes. Go for test rides and pick what feels best to you. Even if a dealer isn't local, use trips and vacations to try different bikes out.

I did that and road three of the the four - didn't try the Parlee.