for some reason my eye is caught on a bcm sl01. the orange/white one.

is there any reason one doesn't see very many of these? durability issues? funky geo (i took a look, it didnt look thatttt odd, i could fit onto a 52 or a 54)? something else? i know its a bit heavy....but is it thatttt bad?

i dont know why, but i am LUSTING over one of these frames

http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CCY?PAGE=PRODUCT&PRODUCT.ID=1836

also, any advantages/disadvnates over the streetfire ssx?

thanks

Don't bother, dude. BMC bikes are pretty, but the aluminum versions are just ... well, it's the cool carbon bike minus the carbon. Comparing the two, the SL01 has nicer aluminum, and the carbon seatstays, the SSX is all AL and a little heavier.

Nothing especially wrong with them but the only way it would be an upgrade from your lemond is aesthetically.

that isnt what i wanted to hear, but what i prbly needed to hear

thanks.

i dont have even close to 1/10th of the $$ anyway.

go for the sexy frame. may not be an upgrade but if you love the looks you will love the bike . heck tire pressure can change ride quality as well as carbon fiber can.

"Love the looks, love the bike" -- maybe, but, when you are a college kid without a lot of money, if you're going to drop the dough for a new bike, it needs to be something different than your current ride.

On aluminum road race bike to another, you probably won't notice much...

And don't you have that custom 'cross coming?

Save your money for the real thing http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CCY?PAGE=PRODUCT&PRODUCT.ID=3674
A little here, a little there and pretty soon you've got the scratch for the real deal. Patience grasshopper.

hooper, mel :

first off. i love my current ride. its cheap, stiff, light, and highly crashable.

to be fair, hooper doesnt know me as well as you do (and likely doesnt know im a broke college kid who cant afford a $5 t-shirt) and yea, my custom frame hasn't been finalized yet, but it is in the works. it will happen, I just need to take care of some things and then it will get built. 'cross isn't for awhile.

the bmc is hawt, i must admit. im not one for bling for bling's sake, or fancy looks. i ride a pretty boringly plain bike (its mostly black/grey). i like it. it works. its not too flashy (well, those carbon hoops are pretty flashy). it is a tool, plain and simple.

if (knock on wood) my current ride needs to be replaced, and i have the cash......the bmc it will be. or the cervolo solist (alu). i wouldnt feel comfy racing a carbon bike. i already feel nervous (not the ride word, but somewhat apprehensive/scared) racing my carbon wheels.....just dont want to destroy them.

mel - is the "real deal" really better? from what i read, the bike started off alu, and then bmc wasnt selling enough so they added the carbon. i think it was moos or some other guy who had been w/ phonack for awhile (and ridden the various bmc offerings over a few years) who said the original was the best, and they just went downhill from there. i could be wrong. plus, that astana paintjob is not nearly as classy as my orange/white

anyways, this thread is pretty pointless, i guess.

Yeah, it's the real deal. There's no comparison between the carbon and alu jobs. Night and day. Are they worth the price? Only the buyer can make that call. Are they really good frames by any estimation? Yes, they are that good. But, there are many others in the same class. Now, for something really classy take a look at this.

eww.

i like there old ones better for some reason. (Based on looks alone).

ive ridden a few alu orbea's (2 of my teammates have them) but never their carbon. to be honest, i didnt love their alu offerings (or maybe the fact that both bikes are toooo huge for me to really ride)....just didnt seem to offer anything over my ride, other than better looks.

for some reason my eye is caught on a bcm sl01. the orange/white one.

is there any reason one doesn't see very many of these? durability issues? funky geo (i took a look, it didnt look thatttt odd, i could fit onto a 52 or a 54)? something else? i know its a bit heavy....but is it thatttt bad?

i dont know why, but i am LUSTING over one of these frames

http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CCY?PAGE=PRODUCT&PRODUCT.ID=1836

also, any advantages/disadvnates over the streetfire ssx?

thanks

I threw a leg over my friends SL01, and I found it surprisingly comfortable (and stiff) given it's aluminum. Based on my short ride, I would recommend it.

Hope this helps.

I have an 06 Road Racer SL01 and it rides awesome. I was gonna go with the Streetfire SSX, but the lbs gave me a sweet deal on the racer. The SSX is more of a sprinter than an all day rider. My SL01 frame is 200 grams lighter than the 06 Cervelo Soloist and built up is right around 17lbs.

I have an 06 Road Racer SL01 and it rides awesome. I was gonna go with the Streetfire SSX, but the lbs gave me a sweet deal on the racer. The SSX is more of a sprinter than an all day rider. My SL01 frame is 200 grams lighter than the 06 Cervelo Soloist and built up is right around 17lbs.

if you dont mind my asking, how is built up, and pictures?

if you dont mind my asking, how is built up, and pictures?

Full Ultegra, FSA cockpit and crankset, Ritchey DS Pro wheelset, Selle Italia saddle, Easton EA70 seatpost and fork, KMC 10spd chain. The weight is without the pedals.

I posted pictures here http://forums.roadbikereview.com/showthread.php?t=87613