Please recommend: Kilo TT Pro or SST AL for short commutes
 

Hi,

I recently sold my entry-level aluminium road bike (Schwinn Fastback Comp) and am looking to get a SS/FG. I've been reading threads here for the past few days, but still couldn't decide. (I read the threads for maybe 10 hours last night.)

I am 175 cm tall (5'9", I think) with around 81cm (31-32") inseam. I'm pretty light (145 lbs). I would be using this bike to commute very short distances, maybe 5-6 miles a day. I live in the bay area, so it rains some time. I'm a student so I don't really have a regular roofed space for my bike. I plan to keep this bike for a long time after I graduate.

My choices are now down to either Mercier Kilo TT Pro (50cm C-C?) and Dawes SST AL (54cm C-T).

Below are some of my concerns/questions. It would be great if any experienced users could help me.

1. The geometry of the two bikes look very different. Is 50cm C-C on the Kilo TT the right size for me? Or should I go with 53cm C-C? I read that the Kilo's geometry is more "aggressive." Looking at my old bike's specs, the top tube is around 550mm and I was ok with that. Would I have trouble adjusting to the "aggressive" geometry (shorter top tube?) of the Kilo?
2. Component-wise, which has better stock components? Another way to put this might be, how much more do I have to spend on each bike to make necessary upgrades? (I'll be getting 17T cog and a new lockring for either bike anyways... since SST AL doesn't come with it, and I need to replace a crappy cog on the Kilo TT.)
3. I'm vain... but I kinda like the look of the steel frame a bit better. Is the SST AL much lighter? Should I worry about rust, etc. on the steel frame?
4. Is there other things I should consider or worry about?

Hopefully I'd be able to pull the trigger by today, as my friend suggested that I've been spending way too much time looking at bikes >.<

Thanks so much you guys!

SST AL isnt much lighter than a Kilo TT would be from my experience. I saw some Kilo TT's today and was very impressed by them.
(There is a guy local who is selling a SST AL and says it weighs in at alittle over 21lbs, which is heavy for alum.(Also cant comment on how right/wrong he is.))

I would say go for the Kilo TT , im betting that alot of others will say the same.
Regarding the size if you have a 31-32" inseam, i would go for the 50cm if your 5'9". Dont know how long your arms might be but i think it would be best to stay on the smaller side since your 5'9".

personally, i would go with 53cm tt pro. i am 5'10'' and ride a 55 normally, which is the 53 in the tt. although, i have pretty long arms and legs, lanky.

my friend has the sst al and loves it. its fine but i think the looks of the tt are much better.

Yup did that earlier and get something like this. Sorry I forgot to post this earlier. These I get from quick measurements though... so might not be entirely accurate... but shouldn't be that much off.

As you can see, this doesn't match very well with the Kilo TT 50cm :(

<<Please see updated fit below>>

You put garbage in, you get garbage out. Do it right.

You can't determine an accurate fit from "quick measurements". Take 10 minutes, have someone help you and do it right.

edit:

http://www.blacktoptens.com/wp-conte...6/tag-team.jpg

when will these posts end

Okie. Will do that and update ASAP.

Edit: Here's the updated fit.
Thanks so much for your inputs, you guys!

[TABLE="width: 618"]
[TR]
[TH="align: center"] [/TH]
[TH="align: center"][h=4]The Competitive Fit[/h][/TH]
[TH="align: center"][h=4]The Eddy Fit[/h][/TH]
[TH="align: center"][h=4]The French Fit[/h][/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: left"]Seat tube range c-c[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]51.8 - 52.3[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]53.0 - 53.5[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]54.7 - 55.2[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: alt, bgcolor: #F5F5F5"]
[TD="class: left"]Seat tube range c-t[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]53.4 - 53.9[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]54.6 - 55.1[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]56.3 - 56.8[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: left"]Top tube length[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]52.7 - 53.1[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]52.7 - 53.1[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]53.9 - 54.3[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: alt, bgcolor: #F5F5F5"]
[TD="class: left"]Stem Length[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]10.7 - 11.3[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]9.6 - 10.2[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]9.8 - 10.4[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: left"]BB-Saddle Position[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]68.4 - 70.4[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]67.6 - 69.6[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]65.9 - 67.9[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: alt, bgcolor: #F5F5F5"]
[TD="class: left"]Saddle-Handlebar[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]50.7 - 51.3[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]51.5 - 52.1[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]53.2 - 53.8[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: left"]Saddle Setback[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]4.3 - 4.7[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]5.5 - 5.9[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]5.0 - 5.4[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

I have a Kilo TT and I love it, I've only changed out the handle bars, the stock 16t cog, and pedals. I love the look of the bike, its sleek, and it does seem at least for most people I know that the fitting for the bike is 2cm shorter than on a different bike, ive ridden on a 49 before, but the kilo tt I bought was a 47 and it fits me just right. I probably should get myself fitted for a bike properly (maybe this weekend i can measure myself).

Talked to a guy at a LBS who owned a kilo tt before I decided on the purchase, and he also helped me determine which size to get.

On a side note, where are you commuting around in the bay area?

It's because when people google reviews or "what size should I get" this forum along with a few others pop up...so people join and ask the question over and over again without searching or using a fit calculator.

Could just make a sticky, "so you're buying a bikesdirect bike" with the fit calculator and links to the longer bikesdirect bike posts - throw the windsor hour post in there, the kilo post, etc.

Then when someone asks, just post the link to the sticky and the mods can close the thread.

Quite the opposite. I googled a bunch of things and, if you read my original post, I did not just go, "Hey, bikeforums! This looks cool and I should just join and post a question." I spent the whole last night and half of today going through the threads, not counting hours here and there this past week.

A lot of time I see conflicting responses, and some questions ware not answered, or (I think this is the most common scenerio) people just think their circumstances might be different than older posts (which might or might not be the case). I know the fit, but I wondered how it will make a difference in the area I'm riding, etc.

I think this is a great forum and a lot of experienced riders out there want to share their experiences. I'm sorry if this little thread costs you one scroll more to get to the post you want. Just thought it might be also helpful to others as well.

where are you a student? just curious

Good fit is good fit is good fit. There is no difference between a good fit in one region and a good fit in another region.

There is a difference between a relaxed fit (typically more upright/cruiser style), performance fit (this is the most common), and a TT fit (aggressive - not applicable here).

Sounds like you want a cruiser, basically, so you're looking at a more upright/relaxed fit. Typically you want to err on the side of a larger frame for this as smaller, more compact frame geometry lends itself to a more aggressive fit.

@kite991 and @seanifred, I'm around Palo Alto area.

Seems like a lot of yes to the Kilo TT. Might go ahead with that then...

alright, hope it fits you well.

:rolleyes:

Are you trying to confuse the OP?

No?

What part of that was confusing?

Give the Windsor Hour a gander - its in the same price range(cheaper, actually) and from what I've been told it has a more relaxed geometry(easier on the back). I've had one for about a year and a half and I love it.

Best of luck, for short jaunts like that I think you would be happy either way you go.

Not ripping on you, just saying there are a lot of threads that pop up similar to this.

For example, this thread was posted 45 minutes prior to yours:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...around-300-400

The larger vs smaller frame comparison.

How is the larger bike going to be more "relaxed"? The bigger bike will have a longer TT and stem, making the rider's reach longer.

If the rider wants a more relaxed/upright position, he should get a cruiser/townie, not a different size .

If he is set on the bikes in his OP, then it would be better for him to go err on the side of larger for a couple reasons:

-taller head tube (not necessarily a longer stem)
-lower saddle height relative to top tube. The smaller you go, the more compact the geometry gets and you have to compensate.

It's just something to keep in mind, especially if you are between sizes. You're right in that a townie would be best but given the choices he gave us, that was my suggestion.

So basically the french fit, which would be good for commuting. It's on a larger frame where that setup allows a more upright stance.

Thanks so much for your advise/suggestions, guys! I just got a Kilo TT Pro 53cm in white! :D

Nice. I had a white Kilo TT Pro once. It was awesome.