Whining - Nothing to See Here
 

As the title says, this is just me whining about the one that I can't have. Feel completely free to disregard, or to commiserate, or to offer me my dream ride....

I swear the guys at my LBS know I'm a sucker. I went in today to talk about fit on a compact frame for a new (to me) road bike. I left with a hole in my heart exactly the size and shape of the 2011 BMC Roadracer SLO1. Oh, how I covet.

It was a simple enough thing - I had an offer on a 2010 54cm Orbea Onix with full Ultegra for $1200 and was ready to jump on it. I know that the Orbea frames run a bit big, so I wanted to get a leg over one. Sure enough, it was too big for lil' ol' me. The 51 fit all right, and rides very nicely if my brief (and cold!) parking lot excursion is any indicator. Then he springs the trap. When I walked back inside he had pedals on the BMC and offered me a ride to compare. I should have run away.

This bike rides like butter tastes. The fit is as perfect as any I've ever had on a bike. The reach is just right for a change (stubby legs on a 5'6" frame is just the littlest bit awkward). I'd swear the bike knows that I want to move without me even touching the pedals. And the ride. Well, it's actually pretty dead, but after too many days on a nashbar frame with numb hands and feet, it was dreamy. The Ultegra groupo doesn't hurt any either.

I can't feel like the price matters, but I just don't have it. So now I'm sad for the day. I'd ask Santa, but I've been just a bit too naughty this year.

So which is the one that got away from you?

No reason to feel sad... save your pennies and buy one next year.

they don't have a lay-away plan?

"Roadracer Slo-1"?

Somebody in BMC marketing should get fired for that name.

Your LBS had a full Ultegra Onix for $1,200**********??

In my dreams. Well, everyone's dreams, I suppose. No, it was an '09 model with a few hundred miles on it being sold privately nearby. I just used one at the LBS to get an idea of fit. If it had fit, I'd have gone too inspect the other one in a heartbeat.

Of course they do, but by the time I have the pennies socked away it'll be time for next year's model. So I'll wait until then and find one on clearance. I hope. /fingers crossed

Just buy one on layaway if it fits. I mean, are you really going to be freaking out that you don't have the current model? You're already looking into buying a used model of a previous year. It's hard to put a price on proper fit and comfort when it comes along.

FWIW, my 2010 BMC SL0-1 was love at first pedal, and it only got better after that! If it fits, you could do worse than to save for it.

(And yes, what a dumb name. My friends refer to it as the "slow one" - or maybe that's the engine they're referring to.)

True and true! I may still do just that - I mean, what is a tax refund for if not new toys?

I was more thinking of a price drop biting me later. Most layaway plans don't allow you to take discounts offered later, because you've prevented the sale from occurring for someone else. Even so, just knowing it's waiting for me could be the incentive to work just a little harder....

+1 on the name. Thanks for the encouragement. Was the 2010 the final year of the AL main triangle, or is yours the full carbon?

I know this won't help, but two weeks ago I took possession of a 2011 SLR01. It is totally freakin' awesome in ride quality, handling, and weight. But of course if the SLO1 is the "slow one", the the SLR 01 must be the "sloweR one".