That's what you said about the bmc and I'm sure that's what you say about the XXXXX you buy next.

Upgradeitis - you have it!

:)

Where are you seeing the Excalibur with Rival for $1600? It's listed at CC for $3322.

CC has a clearance 2008 Excal with full Rival for around that price... check their Specials / Frames page.

Damn. Only in a large though. Nice price.

Local race team has had a half dozen Cannondale's go crack and fail this year alone. One guy is on his third frame. Two friends have also had Cannondale frames fail within the last two years. I'd be hard pressed to recommend the brand to anyone right now.

As far as Ridley, and 7000 series aluminum; their original niche was cyclocross, where they were consider one of the if not the brands to race, their original frames were all 7000 series, which BTW has a fairly long list of specific alloys within the group, it's not just one type of aluminum. Cross tends to beat frames up a bit.

Unlike Cannondale, they didn't go belly up then resource their manufacturing, they've been working with the same factory for years and the bikes are finished (paint, Etc) at Ridley's own facitlity. My own experience with their product has been quite good. They tend to err on the side of overbuilding; these are Belg designed rigs where weight weeniedom dies in a pool of beer and frites.

Your issue will be sizing; based on your measurements you're a bit of a tweener. I'm slightly bigger than you and ride a small Ridley frame with a 120 stem, but I have a much more aggressive position than some people. A 90 or 100 stem would be about right for you on this frame.

You could do worse at that price.

Hmm, so does this mean that the Ridley would weigh more than the CAAD9-5? I'm no weight weenie, but a weight difference of 2-3lbs would make me a little hesitant. I did attempt to add up all the components on the bike, unfortunately I couldn't find weights for a few of the parts so it's off.

I really wish I could just test ride the compact, but I guess that's not a possibility.

Weight difference for frame and fork would only be a quarter to a half pound give or take.

You could test ride it, worst case you'd be out shipping, worth considering at that price point:

http://www.competitivecyclist.com/ro...ns-policy.html

They're both going to be good frames. Pick the one that fits. If they both fit, then pick the one that's prettier.

As promised :) and yes, I have a horrible case of Upgradeitis!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...n/DSC01686.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...n/DSC01702.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...n/DSC01701.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...n/DSC01700.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...n/DSC01698.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...n/DSC01694.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...n/DSC01691.jpg

Wow, that bike is gorgeous! What saddle is that?

Thanks!

Saddle is a 2010 Specialized Team Toupe

Ride report on the frame?

That Excalibur on CC is my size exactly. Where can I find mafia job postings?

Would I benefit more with the CAAD9 then as it has a much more aggressive geo, and my main purpose with this bike will be racing.

Possibly. Ultimately, the geometry that you will benefit the most from is the geometry that fits you. All things being equal, a more aggressive geometry would benefit a racer (technically).

At 133 the head tube is plenty aggressive if you're getting a small. Actually looking at the geometry compared to my Noah a small would probably fit you well. The difference between it and a CAAD9, other than the frame breaking, is that the Ridley will steer a touch slower but be a bit more stable. If you go down to a 50 in the CAAD the frames are very very close in geometry, while the Cannondale has a shorter head tube often the type of headset changes this number.

Unless you're slammed onto your headset now and need to get lower, the headtube would be a non issue.

I'd consider the groupo, if you prefer the SRAM over Shimano or vice verse that might be the swing vote.

I wonder how that patented Ridley triangle shape feels like on an Al frame. I have a Damocles in one home and an Excalibur in another, and I find the Damocles (which has the same tube shape but in a carbon) to be noticeably more responsive when I step on the pedals (more so than the Excalibur).

That's one hot looking bike, the Compact!

Yes, very nice bike. I probably would have gone with that frame had I not bought a Boreas from Excel. I actually considered buying it as my Boreas is a Medium and a Small would be a slightly better fit for me.

Nice bike... :)

Yeah, I've had my eye on that bike, as well.

But CC also has the BMC Road Racer SL01 in my size for $50 more than the Ridley.

Can't decide between the two... What a nice problem to have.

So my choice got even tougher.

I went to a shop that sells Felt bikes, and they gave me a quote of $1600 on a Felt F5:
http://www.feltbicycles.com/USA/2010...s/F5-Team.aspx

Then, the owner of the shop actually offered to sell me his 2006 Felt F3C which has all Dura-Ace, and Easton mid profile clinchers for $1500.

Is $1500 too much for a 4 year old carbon bike?

I got a kuota kharma all 105 and easton wheels for 1500 brand new like 2 years ago.

CC has a ridley excalibur also in the super deals, hope it is your size because no way u'll get a full ridley excalibur for 1600 bucks.

Personally, I wouldn't consider it. It seems like you already have some pretty sweet new bike options that will come with warranties.

And buying a used carbon bike freaks me out. But to each his own.

Amazing bike Steve! Are those Yokozuna cables? If so, how do you like them? I have a 2009 BMC SLT01 (thanks CC) that I'm thinking of swapping cables out on.

JD

OK, so I got the frame in last week and components came last night.

Started on the build this morning,

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4076/...d10035da9e.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4136/...7f1beea680.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4079/...2f9bb9e555.jpg

As everyone can see, everything is going along fine.

I am ready to run the cables and ride!! :D

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4098/...b67fef585a.jpg

Yup, took a minute or two, head over to tool box to grab cable cutters...
NOOOOOOO

:eek:

:twitchy:

:mad:

:crash:

Cable cutters are gone. Forgot that I returned them to my cousin. Guess I have to finish up the build tomorrow. :(