david58

Thanks for the help with your opinions! Pulled the trigger on a 60cm White BMC, killer deal at $999. Leaves me money for paying the deductible on my cars and house after the tree fell on it all, AND I will have significantly more to spend on my wife's bike. I like the idea that I can get a really nice bike, and have enough spendola left to up the ante for my favorite ride partner.

As an aside, I feel like less of a heel for buying a bike that isn't from my LBS. They were a bit grouchy that they didn't get to sell us the full retail shifter for my wife's bike, not really realizing that they were getting paid to install fenders (that we bought there) and a chain (that we bought there) and that I bought a handful of loot (at retail bought there) on top of paying for the work on the bike. I still will take my bike in for a 30-day tune, and will make some decisions based on how they act when I come in to pay them to work on a bike that isn't one they sold.


May be able to remove the tree from my cars and house (see my green bike thread) with a chance at still having bike money left.

Have found a Felt Z85 at $1050. The "Killer Deal" Al BMC wtih 105 and remainder in-house pieces and parts is $999+99 shipping.

Am I getting more bike with the BMC? Never ridden it - all I have is my Fuji Cross bike. I have ridden a Z frame Felt, it was nice enough. Really would appreciate you weighing in with your experience/advice.

So far, all I've been able to glean here from my question is that FSA cranks (as on the Felt) are, well, "no good."

tagaproject6

With proper fit...BMC.../thread

ColinL

The Felt Z series is an endurance road bike. It should have much different geometry than the BMC Street Machine.

Felt's bike that has similar geometry, or at least similar intended purpose, is the F series. I couldn't tell you which F series is in the price or component range you're after but I'm sure a few moments on their website and/or in the LBS could sort it out.

ColinL

actually it's probably the F85. Felt is crazy like that!

dayday82

BMC, without a doubt.

pmartin4665

Are you referring to this? https://www.competitivecyclist.com/fr...bike-8902.html

If so, I was looking at the same bike - I would like to try it out before purchasing it. Performance Bicycle has a carbon frame/Shimano Ultegra groupset for $1800 that looks pretty sweet: https://www.performancebike.com/bikes..._20000__400306 I have a Performance Bicycle shop close by so I was going to investigate further. Where was your Felt Z85 deal from?

waynesworld

From what I can tell, and I'm not great at bike geometry, it seems the SR02 is sort of between the Felt Z and F series bikes. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think the SR02 is as aggressive a geometry as the F series.

I think the BMC is a better deal (which is why I bought it), but all this discounts fit and feel. I tried to ride a Z85, but couldn't find one. I then tried to find a SR02 to ride, as the same local shop that sells the Felt had the SR02 on sale for $1200, but all those were sold. If I could have ridden both bikes to compare, I would have paid the extra money and bought one locally, or maybe not bought either after riding them. As it was, I had to order and hope for the best.

BTW, I really know nothing about the wheels on the SR02, except they are made by Alex. So I'm mostly basing my statement on the 105 vs. FSA Vero crank. Both bikes are pretty, but I have to give the edge there to BMC, as nothing really looks like it.

z90

It depends. The Z series has a more relaxed geometry, but you can still get in an aggressive, aero position if you like. It's a great geometry for club riders, but probably not for racing crits (can't speak from experience, as I don't race). I love my Z90. The Z85 has 105, too, so that's a wash. Does the BMC have a carbon fork? You could compare other specs, like wheels, etc., but ultimately they are probably going to be pretty similar.
Most important is fit.
Next most important is fit.
Next most important is who you are buying it from (hopefully a good LBS)
Everything else is much less important.
It might come down to what color you like.

pgjackson

I don't know if you are really getting "more" from one or the other. The only parts difference is that the BMC has a 105 crank. The BMC is generally considered more exotic and desirable. If I had to choose, I'd take the BMC in a second. I used to have a Z85 and it is a fine bike...I just have a hard-on for a BMC. If you have a few hundred $ more, they are selling a CF BMC for $1400 on competitive cyclist. The BMC wins on looks. If I could sell my Giant Defy 1 today for $900, I'd do it and get the BMC.

waynesworld

BTW, CC only charged me $75 shipping. I thought it was $99, per their site, until I saw my email receipt.

BillyD

I tend to think the BMC is a better bike for the money. However I have no direct experience with either, just that the wife loves her Felt.

BTW, FSA cranks are fine . . . don't put ANY credibility in that FSA remark you heard from that character in the other thread. He's a tool.

waynesworld

I don't think FSA cranks are 'crap' either, however I have read of quite a few people complaining about early BB failure with them. I don't think the FSA Vero is comparable to Shimano 105 though. If it is comparable in quality, then it is one heck of a deal, at approx. 1/3 the price.

himespau 

Ooh, that carbon option looks cool.

RollCNY

My FSA Vero crank used a square taper BB, but FSA doesn't make the BB. My cheap Shimano UN26 failed fairly quickly (original to the Specialized Sirrus), but replaced it with an IRD and had no issues. I honestly think FSA makes some nice value cranks, some are overpriced, some underpriced. Lots of folks seem to drool over the SL-K.

ColinL

I would bet you that those are BB30/BBright/BB90 cranksets. The BB30 issues aren't limited to FSA by any means, so I think it's mainly installation issues. Could be bearings. Possibly frames, but seems least likely to me.

Ramjm_2000

FSA Vero is more like a SORA crank in quality.

ahsposo 

I looked at that CC BMC offer this morning. Looks like they only have small and BIG sizes. I could be wrong but I think if you're average size you are SOL.

waynesworld

Looks like they're only out of the 54 in the SR02. The fact that they have a 57, instead of a 56 and a 58, makes it look worse.

ahsposo 

^^^Aah, you're right.

david58

Went for it! Stoked to get my new bike!

Vicelord

Moderator talking ****. Hmmm. Ironic.

z90

Enjoy it!

david58

I already am!

I had a bad BD experience (actually turned out good - learned a lesson, they took the bike back, only cost me $100 at the LBS). These guys, I am preparing to be amazed. Competitive Cyclist builds the bike, test rides it after the build/tune, THEN packs it up. No need for anything but putting the bars, pedals, and wheels on till it is ready to ride. Am kinda stoked - they are trying to get it built and shipped in time for our last local organized ride of the season - our Harvest Century up in the Portland area. Will be my wife's first long ride, but its short enough my tail will be able to handle the new bike. Then I have a week of vacation to do chores - I think bike time might eat up some chore time.....

dayday82

Are these bikes already built up before shipping to you? Or do they build them after you place your order then ship it to you? I was wondering if they could build it with Apex... and pay the difference, if any.

ColinL

Here is my honest assessment of my Competitive Cyclist experience.

The cockpit they setup was not ideal. However, this was my first road bike and my MTB and hybrid setups were very different and I did not want that position on a road bike. (I realize that some people do setup all their bikes identically, and this is fine.) I used their fit calculator and talked through the fit on the phone.

I had a 110mm -6D stem with 30mm of spacers under it and a 5mm above. I had a 25mm setback seatpost.

After 3 weeks of riding, I changed to a 90mm stem at my own cost because I wanted to keep the 110mm as an option, and I have 20mm spacers under and 15mm above-- haven't cut the steerer. I changed the seatpost to a zero setback Thomson. The bike fits me a ton better now.

About the setup-- The tech who built my bike did a pro job with the bar tape; it was perfect in every way. I liked where he put the brifters, which was a very conventional position, except one of them was skewed a little. Pulled back the hood, fixed. The brakes were firm which I prefer.

The derailleur setup was not good which I discovered on my first ride. The FD was at the proper height but it wasn't properly in plane; it was tilted slightly in on the front side. The low limit wasn't gapped right and I dropped the chain going big->small. The rear derailleur was clacking and trying to jump up, but the barrel adjuster was all the way in, actually it was so tight I couldn't move it by hand and had to use pliers (with cloth over the jaws, of course) to get it moving.

Long story short-- whoops too late -- I did the full derailleur tuning myself on a stand, front and rear.


TL;DR
I hope your CC build is better than mine. It was OK, but nowhere near perfect. At a LBS I would've made them fix these things at delivery. From CC, I had to adjust it myself. I think that's the point of the internet vs retail sales model.