I’ve spent some time on my new bike so here is my review/feedback ...
PROS
I’m comparing this bike to my old Titanium Campy Record bike which was about the same size but with slightly milder head/seat tube angles (72/73.5) and a lower bb.
First off, I wanted a steel bike with a classy retro look, clean and understated, and a pimped out parts package. That I accomplished easily with this bike though I did swap some parts out. Love the skinny frame tubes and traditional straight top tube. The lugs give a nice clean look to the frame/fork. This bike definitely stands out in a crowd of bikes that are mostly big tubed, hydroformed, shaped, carbon this and that. My favorite honey colored Brooks swallow saddle and matching tape complements the look just right.
The Ride: It’s definitely a lot more nimble than my old bike. I like the quicker handling on the climbs. Especially when I’m shifting around on the bike and going from seated to standing. At first, it was a bit sketchier riding down some of the same mountains I use to blaze down on my old bike. However, I’ve gotten use the bike and ride downhills in the drops more. I also ride with my bars higher this year which has attributed to some of the handling changes. Overall, the bike feels smoother on rough roads than my old Ti bike.
Wheels: immediately sold the Mavic Ksyrium Elites on ebay and replaced with Revolution Wheel Works Rev-22’s. I wanted a sub 1400 gram all around wheel set. Nothing wrong with the Mavics. I use to own a pair of Mavic Ksyrium SL’s and they were super strong, stiff, and never needed truing. My new Rev-22’s are very light and great for climbing. Not as stiff as my old Mavic’s which could also attribute the smooth feel of the bike.
SRAM Red: Lighter than the competition and a bit more affordable to replace. I’ve owned Dura Ace and Record. They all perform and shift nicely when you get to this level. I do miss the flat surface on my previous Campy Record levers. The SRAM 50/34 with 11-28 is great for riding around here in Colorado. I can now ride the Gunnison east portal (5mi, 16% grade) without completely blowing up or stopping.
CONS
I don’t like the built in cable guides under bottom bracket. Over time, your cables can wear into the paint and frame. Would have preferred a plastic bolt on cable guide. I remedied this by cutting/applying thin strips of frame saver as that’s what I had at the time. A better fix would be a thin plastic/Teflon tube that can be fitted over the cables at this point to avoid wear.
NEUTRAL
Handlebar, seatpost, stem, and saddle. There’s nothing wrong with them, not bad, but just generic. Would be nice to have Ritchey WCS parts as they would either be keepers or have a higher resale value on ebay. Some of these parts are now on my Surly Travelers Check. The Conti UltraRace folding tires are nice and light but a bit puncture prone. I replaced one tire already with a tougher Conti ultra gatorskin tire.
BOTTOM LINE
Where else can you buy a brand new bike, with this high end parts spec, and at this price! It’s been a long time since I’ve worked at a bike shop and I don’t have the industry connections like I used to. I’ve replaced a few parts, sold some to recoup costs, and spent a little bit more on the bike (as most cyclist do) to customize it. In the end, I still saved $$$$, have exactly what I want, and have a bike I enjoy to ride. It’s a good deal on a good bike.