The Final Cut
 

So after weeks of searching i will be buying one of these bikes.. as always forget about the components which frame would you choose?

Ridley Icarus SLS
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...sls__78452.jpg

Specialized Allez Elite
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...1286882677.jpg

I got a Specialized Tarmac Elite three days before Christmas so I have to vote for the Specialized. But the Ridley looks more exciting.

Specialized. Based off nothing other than I like the bendy top tube.

Did you ride them? What did you think? Which one looks the best to you. Looks does matter, as you will tend to ride more if you are proud of the looks of the bike. What about the LBS. Is it the same one or different bike shops? Which bike shop do you like best if they are different? Good luck.

Never rode either one of them so the gamble is equal. Two diffrent LBS neither of them have the size/color in stock. I do not have a relationship with neither. The one LBS i do like only sales treks and unfortunatley i do not want one. So basically i'm just going off looks and the geometery of the frames.

Specialized: Top tube is 54.8 Seat tube is 51
Ridley: Top tube is 54.5 Seat tube is 51
My Current rig: Top tube 54.5 Seat tube is 54

Specialized... have a friend who has a Ridley and he likes it only so-so but have many friends with Allezs and Tarmacs and they love them

Had an Allez, hated it. Have a Roubaix, love it. That has nothing to do with YOUR opinion!

neither

Go with the Allez and get a white wheelset and you'll have a Creamsicle bike. Then you get all the girls.

http://www.sbaileyillustration.com/P...lustration.jpg

Another vote for Specialized cause I'm a fanboy! :p

Specialized

Bendy top tube does it for me as well.

so for those who voted for specialized... Why?

of those two, i like the ridley better. of course, i have no time on either ride.

Cervelo

All of you seem to be forgetting that the Ridley is the better bike spec wise. 105 vs Tiagra.

that 105 crank vs. the tiagra crank was the 2nd thing i noticed. even equally speced, i probably would choose the ridley.

love the ride of the new allez, that really is a great budget ride. fully upgrade worthy youll love it! Frame is stiff and responsive but still has a decent ride. Put a Tarmac Fork on it and it really starts to sing.

Havent ridden the ridley but have a ridden a ridley cross bike and was disapointed

Tiagra on an Elite...WTF happened there..

the ridley actually comes with full Sram Apex

Clarified.

I can't think of any reason in the world I would not go with the Ridley.

Allez!

I test rode the Ridley a while back. I was hell bent on getting one with the Flandrien scheme. The Icarcus convinced me not to. I came away from my test ride very, very underwhelmed. It felt very sluggish and flexy, and I'm not a terribly heavy or powerful rider (160 lbs). The whole bike just felt a little dead.

I still have my '08 Allez and I love it to death. If I were in your shoes I would pick the Allez each time. It feels much more nimble and it's one of the best cornering bikes I've ridden.

But that Flandrien paint scheme is incredible looking IMHO... If you decide to go with the Icarus I would look into that paint.

I saw the thread title and thought we were going to discuss non-linear editing systems. I was all set to push Avid.

That IS a gamble. Most people would try to ride them before buying one.
And the numbers you gave aren't the geometry. They're just the size/length of the tubes. There's a lot more to the geometry of the bike than just that. And that's why you should try to ride one/both. They may feel vastly different.