Pista vs Capo
 

Why: commute & lack of maintenance
Where: Toronto
Stored: My bedroom or the bike locker

Which one is the better SS/FG bike?

commuter?

Redline 925

capo > pista. but if its a commuter the 925 is a great deal and pretty comfortable on the road. i love my capo, but its also around 250$ more (MSRP) than the pista. the redline can be found cheaper than both. theres also the mercier kilo TT and Windsor Hour from bikesdirect that are in the 350 range.

+1 (again) on the 925. That's a pretty good package for the price, and it's really set up far better for commuting than the other options. Of the other bikes mentioned, I believe only the kilo tt even has fender eyelets. But even there, it seems worth upgrading to the 925 for the better components and commuting perks (fenders, moustache bars, and brakes).

I use my capo as a commuter. It is a solid bike and it's so light that carrying it up to my 3rd floor apartment is a breeze. That being said, I think the Redline 925 would be a better commuter if you never intend on track use/performance isn't too much of an issue.

capo? jim jones? dipset? I'm lost

Commuter?

IRO Rob Roy GB - $150

Capo. It's sweet. I have a pista.

This is important. This means something.

actually $160 and a 4 month wait.

pwned

I just sold a Cannondale CAAD8 road bike (an evolution of the CAAD5 frameset which is what the Capo uses) and the aluminum tubes are super thin and would not do well locked up. It's a helluva lot stiffer torsionally than the Pista however, which I also own.

I have a CAAD9 right now, so I know what you mean; OTOH, Cannondale's frames are the ****.

I have been riding the Capo for over a year now (in addition to a 2001 Cannondale Track Caad5) without a single dent; the key is locking the bike in a position from which it cannot easily fall/move. Take the extra minute to make sure the position is stable, and you can avoid many of the dings/dents experienced with locking frames (especially aluminum) around the city.

I have not a single complaint about the bike, but then again, I have not a single stock part left on the bike. The frame stood up to the forces of a Toyota Camry...the fork, well, not so much:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/94/26...a5ad65b4_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/91/26...d9d735df55.jpg

Reborn:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1003/...e226b82e_o.jpg

JAH

I lock mine up all the time and I don't have a single dent or scratch from the lock, either. I'm the same way with no stock parts (I bought the frameset because the stock components all suck).
here is a shot of my Capo just for fun:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y24...2/Photo174.jpg
Anyways, what's the story with the Camry?

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1144/...3ac0f122_o.jpg
here's my capo since everyone else is posting pix. no dents so far. the only complaint is the headset is a little squeeky so imma swap it out for a campy record IS or a FSA orbit carbon..

oh and i have champ grips on the deda bar and a ttpad coming soon. tape is a little tacky but it does the job. and the straps are temporary till the toshis come


edit: just noticed from the pix thread. my seat is low, its been adjusted already so yeah lol

As of a couple of weeks ago Dukes on Queen had a 56cm Capo in black for a grand and Sporting Life Bikes had a silver 54cm Capo in silver for nine hundred bucks (if waiting times are an issue for you)...
The only store I know in Toronto that sells Pistas is Urbane and, based on the setups on the bikes I test rode there, I don't think they have the best mechanics in the world (undertensioned wheels, loose bb, horribly set up brakes)...In addition, the sales staff didn't seem to really know how to fit me properly to a road bike...
Bikes on Wheels has IROs in stock but, if you want the best setup possible, I'd stick with Dukes or Sporting Life since BoW has a sketchy rep at best for their mechanical work...
I've bought new bikes from both Dukes and Sporting Life over the years and both shops did a great job setting them up for me...
Cycle Therapy might be able to hook you up with something too (either a Lemond or a Jamis most likely)...I bought a Jamis Sputnik off of them for nine hundred with brakes and a freewheel installed and they did a fantastic job building it up for me...You could buy a Sputnik off of BoW for a bit cheaper but it won't have nearly as meticulous a setup (which is worth the extra cash in the long run)

The Capo in vintage red. Hands down.

Uh, grease?

Gambutrol, what kind of stem is that?

yeah i was thinking of that but im new to theadless and intergrated headsets.. and i kinda wanna excuse to buy new parts.. :D

Warning: I am such a Cannondale shill.

The Capo is an amazing frameset and fork bolted to completely uninspiring parts. I think that some of the parts on the Pista are better. So if you were to get a Capo frameset and build up all the parts yourself, you'd probably end up around $1000 for an excellent bike. Now, because the frame is lightweight and the fork is carbon, it's not the best choice for commuting. I commute on mine, but I'm gentle and I weigh 125lbs. On bad days, though I ride my steel conversion. So if you want a sweet bike you can commute on occasionally and use for recreational rides on the road or track, get the Capo frameset and build it up.

If you want a bike to commute on every day, as everyone has said, get a Redline 925: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/redline-925.html
About $300 cheaper than a complete Capo and it has slightly better parts, includes fenders, has a frame more suited for commuting, and comes with moustache bars (which may or may not be your thing.. though they are very comfortable).

Oh, and Rokphotography: The previous owner of my Capo had switched out the headset for an FSA Carbon (Orbit, I guess.. It doesn't say), and I had some squeaking issues with it. Nothing a little grease on the rubber bit on the bottom of the dust guard (right below your spacers, turns with the bars) couldn't solve.

FSA Vision Sizemore, I got it for my short torso.