Currently running a '10 Trek 2.1 with old 105. I like it, it doe s apretty good job overall. That said, less than positive thoughts: My fit on the bike is mediocre at best. I've had a pro fitting, which helped a lot, but I still feel cramped on the bike, and upper neck compression / pain shows it after an hour and a half. I posted a "How's my fit" video on here, general consensus was the bike is too small. I'm 6, almost 6'1, it's a 56.

Secondly, while I like my grupo, I made the mistake of trying a friend's SRAM Rival bike a while back. I now pretty much love sram, and want it something fierce.

Thirdly: I'm not a weight weenie, but it's a heavy bike. I'd trade weight for stiffness, but I'm not the most powerful rider by far, and I can flex the frame pretty easily. I'd like something stiffer.

Lastly: I'm not a huge fan of the wheels on the bike, I have ridden stiffer wheels (Again, that sram bike,) and noticed it. I don't want to go drop $1K on Psimet wheels for a bike I don't love, when most of the higher end bikes are coming with already better wheels.


So, now that I know more of that I WANT, I'm considering upgrading. My only real requirement is full carbon, simply because at the 2-3k price point, no reason to not have it. Leaning very heavily to sram, but I am also wanting to testride some Ultregra, maybe I'd like it more. That said, I dig doubletap and, more noticeably, the solidness of the brake lever.

I went to a couple LBSs today and explained. The one bike that REALLY stood out to be was the Pinarello FP2 ($2700). Gorgeous bike, sram Rival, very stiff. I was very impressed. That and, I won't lie, I would love to own a Pinarello.

Took a look at a couple Scott CR1s. I don't remember the exact ones, these had Ultegra on them, shop said they could get it in SRAM if I wanted. Also nice, but for some reason, it wasn't doing "it" for me as much as some others. Can't justify it.

Ridley Orion: Gorgeous bike, right price, right built. I liked it a lot, but I don't know enough about them to form an opinion.

Cannondale CAAD10: Don't have a dealer super near me, but I want to look at some CAAD10s.
I couldn't testride any today, as it was an impromptu run, didn't have my gear with me. That said, going back next weekend.

Fondriest TF3: Thoughts? My LBS guy said it was comparable to the Pinarello, but that he would have to order the frame, and they'd do a build for me with Rival. He and I were both worried about ordering a frame I might not like, but he said it's another bike to keep in mind. Thoughts?
Overall thoughts, suggestions, comments?

Thanks much everyone.


Update on Post 24.

You seem to know what you want, but not what you NEED.

I would suggest finding the most highly-trained/acclaimed local fitter and paying them what they need to figure out what YOU need geometrically from a frame. All you know in THAT regard is that your current bike is too small it seems. If they have their stuff together, and know what you want/can do on the bike, they can run you through their ringer and give you a set of numbers. Start there, and everything else should be preference, aesthetics, and how much dough you want to spend.

Thanks for the advice, but that's actually kinda what I did. I took my current bike into the shop with me (Actually went to three, but one is far and above the best shop. That's the shop that I spent about an hour talking with, not just "Hey, can I see x bike... thanks.")

He measured my top tube and we did talk geometry a bit. He's also their fitter. This is the shop that sells the Orion, Pinarelo, and Fondriest. He was leaning towards the FP2 for me the most, next the Orion, with the Fondriest as the wildcard due to my inability to actually test ride it. They didn't have the FP2 in my size (It's coming next week,) so I'm going back with gear, and I'll ride it and the Orion.


He was actually really good about what I do on the bike, how I feel on my bike, what I want, and how much I want to spend. Mostly I'm coming here for the x factor of, "Ok, all these bikes are technically pretty comparable, but what else do I need to know?"

I knew when I bought my Trek I was only getting the best for what I knew I wanted then, and that I'd eventually upgrade. For this purchase though, I want it to last me at LEAST 4-5 years, so I want zero regrets.

The Pinn FP2 would be my choice. Italian style and design. I like SRAM, running 2010 Force on my pedal force rs2 and it is very rugged

All I can say is ask your local bike shop or cannonade dealer.

If your only requirement is full carbon, why are you looking at a CAAD10?

Ridleys are very good bikes, so no worries on that account. Ultimately, for 2500 bucks, you'll be getting a very good bike no matter what, provided it fits. So get the bike that inspires the most drooll/lust in you - if the Pinarello floats your boat, get that (again the caveat is that it should fit you and the geometry should be suitable for your needs - the LBS should be able to help you with that).

There are a few basic types of bikes for the road.

Hybrid/tour/sport/performance/race

While there are many bikes that straddle categories... what category do you want to be in?

My bike is a sport. Literally, it's a Gunnar Sport. This used to be what people meant
when they said road bike. If you are going to get one bike, and keep it for a long time,
a change of tires will be all you need to change. Put on light wheels and skinny tires and it
is quick enough for most group rides. Put on medium size tires and you have a great bike
for centuries or commuting.

Next, what's the budget.

When you test ride a bike, give it a good thrashing. Find a hill, get out of the saddle and
accelerate up the hill. Find a pothole and go through it, see how harsh the ride is.

If you're already looking at Ridleys, and want stiff, look at the Damocles, too. It'll be a bit stiffer than the Orion, with larger downtube and an oversize, tapered headset. The Damocles is probably also a bit more expensive. I know a couple of guys who race on Ridley Damocles bikes and love them.

And FWIW, you probably wouldn't notice much difference between your current 105 and a new Ultegra bike. IMO the new Ultegra is better, but I don't think the overall "feel" is significantly different from 105. And you seem to like the "feel" of SRAM.

Do not buy a bike without riding it first. It is the 2nd most intimate relationship between man and machine.

Out of those choices, I'd get the Pinarello, and it sounds like that's the one you want anyhow. Go for it.
Also, keep the Trek as a backup/beater/trainer bike.

I have the Damocles and it is a mindblowingly amazing bike.

Live your dream, get the Pinny.

You don't need us. You're already doing all the right things.

That's what it's about - which bike feels more like the bike you dreamed about.

Ride 'em, and get the one you WANT. They're all great bikes.

One thought, though: ride 'em on the wheels you WANT, too. If you're not going to keep the OEM wheels on the bike, do your test ride on the wheels you WILL put on the bike.

Cervelo RS. The more I learn about Cervelo's commitment to excellence, the more I think this would be my next bike.

The more I learn about Cervelo's commitment to broken bottom brackets, peeling paint and 12 week lead times for frame replacement the more I think it will NOT be my next bike....

I thought they were, actually, oops.

Can't keep them both, the Trek would be sold to help pay for the new one.

I'll almost certainly just be staying with stock wheels for now. I like that the Scott comes with Ksyrium Elites, I've heard good things about them.

Cervelos are obviously nice, but I don't really want to buy one.

Eek.




I went to a couple more shops today, took a look at the Specialzied Tarmac SL2 Comp and Roubaix SL2 Comp. Both nice, both right in the same price range.


So far I'm leaning towards the Pinny, the Orion, and the Scott, in that order. The Cannondales don't do much for me, and I wouldn't want to spend that much money for one.

I'm interested to ride the Specialized next weekend.

Probably going to end up with the Pinarello, though.

Hey, what's BF's thoughts on the Cannondale Supersix 4? All carbon and Rival, $2649.

Secondly, is the tapered headtube actually a big deal or not? It seems like brands that have it (Specialized, Cdale) like to tout it up, whereas the Pinny doesn't have it, don't know if that matters too much.

And yes, going testriding this weekend (Well, next weekend), but it's hard (for me at least) to gauge a WHOLE lot on a ten minute ride.

Did you ride any of the bikes you looked at? Seems like your basing a lot of what you "like" so far based on brand and looks. You said Cannondale's don't do it for you but have you ridden one yet. Supersix is a great bike and i would definitely consider it as one of your choices. I came from the same bike you currently own, a 2010 2.1. Upgraded to a BMC Pro Machine with full Force and its a fantastic bike compared to the Trek. Still keeping the Trek as a rainy day/back up bike. I'd ride everything you can even if its a short test ride to somewhat get a feel of the bike.

Ridley Damocles. Do it. Absolutely beautiful bike.

I'm going on Saturday, I just want to "know" as much as possible going into it, so I can just focus on the variables that matter on the different bikes.




It looks freaking amazing, but I think it's just beyond my price point. It does seem to get great reviews, and seems to be a great package. I'll ask my shop what they could build up though.

Fantastic Ridley!

And back from the dead!


Update. Sorry it took so long, the Pinny was late to arrive at the shop, and I wanted to do all my testing as side by side as possible so as not to forget details.

First off, Specialized Roubaix: Nice enough, okay ride. Rival group on it felt good, but the shifting wasn't as 100% dialed in as I would've liked. Got it a little better with barrel adjusters, but meh. Not the bike's fault. It had a pretty good ride, but the geometry felt weird to me. Can't explain why.

Cannondale SuperSix: Not one available to ride within 200 miles. Cannondale: Step up your dealer situation.

Pinarello FP2: I thought it was okay when I was on it. The one I rode had new 105, which is a definite step up from my current 105. I felt myself overshifting (2 or 3 cogs instead of 1 or 2.) I didn't like how it moved into the big ring. It was dialed in, just took a lot of effort, imo. That said, a shorter throw.
The bike itself... Not that awesome. The I didn't have any real climbs to test it on near that shop, but it felt pretty stiff. That said, it also felt really bumpy and rough. I defintely felt the road through the frame, I'd say as much as my current Alu bike. I loved the stiffness, but the ride made me question me decision to upgrade at all. I wanted to love this, but it wasn't happening.

Scott CR1. Hello.

What an amazing frame! I don't know if it was the frame of the wheels (Mavic Ksyrium Elites, which I've heard great things about,) but WOW, what a fantastic ride. Frame felt as stiff or more as the Pinny, but at the same time, it felt like I was gliding compared to any other bike I've ever ridden. I was riding this on part of the path I usually take, which has a couple mile long chip/sealed, potholed, tree-root-bumped up section of misery. Not to say it was a marshmallow of a ride, but I was VERY impressed with how the ride felt there. This shop has my only real climb near it, and it climbed and descended fantastically. It was built up with Ultegra, and wow, I was very impressed. Even the big ring was great and effortless. First ride on Ultegra, and it lived up to expectations.

The only real thing wrong with the specific CR1 I rode was it had recently been built up for a woman who apparently backed out last minute, and they hadn't yet put it back to stock. They were nice enough to take the huge women's gel "your ass goes here" saddle off of it before riding, but it still had the 38mm bars on it, which were definitely narrow... Haha.


Ignore the dork disc and wrong gear combo, it was just a quick shot I snagged on the test ride.

my vote goes to scott for sure!! i would rather have and addict but would gladly take a cr1 any day.

the pic above is even the color i would get. i just read your post and it seems like you are sold on it and i think you made the right choice.