| Re: Need advise on a Serotta purchase
On Feb 7, 2:11 pm, loubla...@gmail.com wrote:
> On Feb 7, 2:28 pm, "Art Harris" <n...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > loubla...@gmail.com wrote:
> > > I'm considering purchasing a Serrota CDA. The dealer is quoting over
> > > $4900 for the Coeur d'Acier with carbon seat stays, standard paint
> > > with custom name option, Serotta F3, Ultegra 10sp Double Group,
> > > Easton Orion II wheels and eveything else needed to complete the
> > > package. I'm upgrading from a $800 Cannondale so I'm having a hard
> > > time accepting that you can put that much on top of an $1800 frame! If
> > > indeed this is what it takes to get a really good bike should I take
> > > the next step and move up to the La Corsa titanium frame?
>
> > Few riders really need a bike that expensive. Without knowing your
> > abilities, I'll reserve judgement. But beyond the "new bike phenomena"
> > that lasts a few weeks, I don't think the new bike will improve your
> > speed or distance ability a great deal. A bike half this price should
> > give you about 99 percent of the performance and motivation. Fit and
> > appropriateness to the kind of riding you do are the main factors to
> > consider. As with most products, there is a sweet spot in the
> > performance vs. price curve. Beyond that, improvements are very subtle
> > and costly.
>
> > Art Harris
>
> Art,
>
> Thank you for your very sound advise. I'm an upper middle age guy and
> the only excersise I get is riding - 100 miles a week weather
> permitting. Being tall and realizing I probably won't be buying too
> many more bikes the idea of having a frame custom built so that it is
> optimized to my physique and riding style is appealling, thus the
> Serotta.
There are plenty of builders in the States that can build you custom
without the Serotta up charge. But then, do you need a custom frame?
Are you proportioned properly so that a normal factory frame could be
dialed in with proper sized stem, post, bars, etc? A custom frame is a
fine thing, but you might not *need* one.
>Not be up on the road bike scene I was surprised to find that
> a completely built up bike would cost nearly three times the price of
> the frame. I guess my real question is where is my sweet spot? Are the
> components going into this bike over kill and would a bike costing,
> say $500 less provide the same benefit?
For one thing, your shop is wanting to spec you wheels that cost twice
what a pair of nice hand built traditional wheels would run you. The
hand builts wouldn't weigh more, and would likely be more reliable and
strong. This has been discussed ad nauseum around here. If your shop
doesn't build wheels, find one with a good reputation that does.
>If the component group is
> indeed that critical and important than perhaps it would also be wise
> to upgrade to a better frame. Of course, the dealers motovations are
> different from mine and his advise will reflect that perspective.
You can get Shimano Dura Ace or Ultegra and enjoy their long warranty--
or you can spend quite a bit less and get Campagnolo Veloce and have a
groupset that you can service and buy small parts for. If you want to
ride Shimano, 105 is as good as any recreational rider needs.
Remember, you can always get the expensive DA or Ultegra brifters to
shift 105 kit with.
If what you've mentioned is what the shop wants to sell you, then I
suspect their motivation is making a payment on a bass boat, not
getting you what would be most practical.
|