I want a Colnago....

redddraggon

I've started my hunt for a new bike and have a new budget of about £1700. I'm normally a performance over brandname sort of person and so I'm quite fond of Wiggle's Focus bikes, namely the Cayo Pro 2008. But I'd like a nice Italian frame, but what can I get for my budget? I seem to be only able to get a bike with an Al frame and lesser components.

What sort of Classy Italian bike can I get for £1700?

richa

Wilier Mortirolo ???

http://www.epic-cycles.co.uk/wilier.htm

Down the Road

redddraggon wrote:

I've started my hunt for a new bike and have a new budget of about £1700. I'm normally a performance over brandname sort of person and so I'm quite fond of Wiggle's Focus bikes, namely the Cayo Pro 2008. But I'd like a nice Italian frame, but what can I get for my budget? I seem to be only able to get a bike with an Al frame and lesser components.

What sort of Classy Italian bike can I get for £1700?

De Rosa Team.

And you'll have change for upgrades.

giant_man

You could check out the usual suspects ie. De Rosa, Pinarello, Wilier as Rich A says, or for steel you could look at Casati or Tomassini.

Monty Dog

It depends whether you want an Italian name on the side or whether you want the full 'built in Italy' experience. Firstly, I'll state my case - I have four Italian bikes, so not exactly unbiased in my opinions, but I find that the design and geometry of their bikes makes them really nice bikes to ride. You've also identified that certain brands come at a 'premium' in comparison to mass produced bikes from Taiwan - sadly you can't have it both ways. That said, if you're prepared to shop around you can find a bargain - for example look at Comobike in Italy - www.comobike.com - their prices for DeRosa and Wilier are significantly less than the UK - please remeber to add vat at 19% but they're still cheaper than UK - some people on here have bought from them with no problems. Finally, if still hankering for a Colnago, check out Maestro - he's cheapest in the UK as he doesn't deal with the 'official' UK box-shifter. Other Italian brands to consider without a big price premium are Viner and Gios.

Gussio

http://www.sigmasport.co.uk/home.html

Some sweet 2007 framesets on offer here. Also plenty of stuff to save up for / drool over.

Monty Dog

Hmm - Sigma Sport - never knowingly underpriced! Like most London shops - quality of service is often dictated by when you visit and how much they think you're going to spend.

Gussio

Monty Dog wrote:

Hmm - Sigma Sport - never knowingly underpriced! Like most London shops - quality of service is often dictated by when you visit and how much they think you're going to spend.

Agreed on the price front, but you have to admit that it is a great shop for browsing. For what it is worth, I have always found the staff to be very helpful, regardless of what I've been looking for. They are all riders and generally know what they are talking about.

morrisje

What about a Viner Magicus. More or less within your budget. Look good and have a decent spec.

http://www.epic-cycles.co.uk/images/Vin ... %20Big.jpg

aracer

Why not just get one of http://pedalforce.com/online/product_in ... cts_id=348 comes in bare carbon so you can put Colnago decals on it (or even if you want get it sprayed). Less money, better performance, yet everybody will still think you're on an overpriced Italian branded machine :twisted:

redddraggon

aracer wrote:

Why not just get one of http://pedalforce.com/online/product_in ... cts_id=348 comes in bare carbon so you can put Colnago decals on it (or even if you want get it sprayed). Less money, better performance, yet everybody will still think you're on an overpriced Italian branded machine :twisted:

I'm don't want a nice Italian bike for everyone else to see, I just want one because I want something special. I don't really intend to show it off, as my ability on the bike would let me down as soon as I rode with anyone serious and look like a bit of a poser. I like a lot of Italian stuff, and just think it would be nice to have a classy Italian bike.

Anonymous

aracer wrote:

Why not just get one of http://pedalforce.com/online/product_in ... cts_id=348 comes in bare carbon so you can put Colnago decals on it (or even if you want get it sprayed). Less money, better performance, yet everybody will still think you're on an overpriced Italian branded machine :twisted:

What a load of unmitigated b@llocks.
Bet you wear a phoney Rolex watch and kid yourself that no-one can tell the difference.

dennisn

If you're like me, when you've got to have something, then you're just not satisfied
until you get it. I have a friend who made monthly payments on a Colnago C50, Record
equipped, hign dollar, machine. I think payments are a bit much but he does love that thing. Maybe you could rob your childrens college fund. Whats more important - a
great bike or a
college education.

Dennis Noward

Down the Road

Also you can look at Man Machine from Cinelli.

Full Carbon from from the oldest in the game.

http://www.birminghamcitycycles.co.uk/p ... sp?id=1080

for more

aracer

Anton de Lacey wrote:

Bet you wear a phoney Rolex watch and kid yourself that no-one can tell the difference.

Nah, cause I'm not interested in people thinking I've got more money than sense.

Anonymous

aracer wrote:

Anton de Lacey wrote:

Bet you wear a phoney Rolex watch and kid yourself that no-one can tell the difference.

Nah, cause I'm not interested in people thinking I've got more money than sense.

They wouldn't though would they?:
They'd think you were short of both.

pjm-84

Have broken 4 carbon frames in three years (all £1000 + framesets) I've taken the plunge and ordered an 2008 Extreme Power Colnago.

Did I want to spend that much? No!

However would I ride the Pedal Force having broken Isaac Force x2 , an Isaac Impulse and a Trek Madone 5.5.................... NO, NO, NO , NO

aracer

How have you broken the frames, and how do you know the PF would break when you've not ridden one but broken 3 different frames (which are mainly more expensive due to marketing)? Also, why do you expect the Colnago not to break?

I'm really interested in your answers, as you've broken more frames than anybody else I've heard of.

pjm-84

I had the first 60cm Isaac Force in the country.

Picked this up in Septmember 2004. Noticed a cracked drive side chain stay the day before the Dragon Ride in 2005. Had a replacement Force a few weeks later and again following a similar period of time I had cracking around the rear of the seat stays where they connect with the chain stays. To add insult my front forks, which were the original pair, were also cracked. They upgraded me to an Impulse on which I rode the 2006 Etape and upon my return the seat tube was cracked above the front derailleur ... clean crack which extended around 40% of the circumference of the tube.

I'm afraid this was slighty worrying and I considered going to titanium but then decided to give the Trek Madone a go in August 2006. I really like this bike and I was a little dissappointed when I ended up cracking the BB shell which in turn cracked the carbon wrap under the BB area. I had a replacement Madone 120 OLVC in June 2007 but to be honest I don't expect this one to last either. I do however think the new one will be better.

I have a team mate who has a Pedal Force and he is currently buying a replacement frame for his son. His son had a small off a week ago and snapped the chain stay in half. But that not to say it fragile it's just, taking marketing aside, you don't get something for nothing. So if I paid £400 for a frame which is ultra light ,with my record, then I'm asking for trouble.

With the CF I don't know. I like the "marketing "on their website about "ultra light frames". It reasurring for me rather then the marketing of how little this bike or frame weighs

http://www.colnago.com/en/tecnologia/ctb.php


Having looked at the frame in detail this Saturday I can see the quality of the construction. Put it beside a C50 and the C50 looks like a old steel bike with skinny tubes. Compare the BB area and the chain stay. The frame is built for the stronger / heavier rider. Having spent months looking around I cant find anything, off the shelf, that is as suitable.

I did also break a Cross Bike in the same period but the replacement is going strong so I'll forget this. It does however mean I give the lightweight aluminium frames a miss.

On the plus side I have a trusty 7005 frame that still going strong 4 years down the line. Still stiff and quick and must have around 20000km on it.

I have a nice set of carbon bars hanging on the wall in the garage!

aracer

I'm guessing with a 60cm frame that you're quite a big chap!

To be fair I don't think I'd get a PF with your record either, but then it seems more expensive lightweight frames don't do any better! Going for something sturdier and heavier sounds like a good idea for you - good luck!

Of course a different interpretation of their spiel about why they don't make ultra-light frames it's just marketing to hide the fact that they can't...

Monty Dog

I'm always intrigued by people who make allegations about over-priced Italian marques, particularly when they've never ridden one! I race in vets races and the most popular bikes are usually Colnagos - often ridden buy guys who've been racing for 20 plus years, probably have enough disposable income to choose anything they like, but funnily enough choose a Colnago. I was in the same position 6 years ago and have never regretted it.

Lagavulin

Does a CLX count or would the snobs laugh at you.

Is it more of a sportive bike? I'd be interested in one if it is as I think the '08 CLX looks stunning (in white or red) and I'm in the market for something like a Synapse or Roubaix but I think the nearest Colnago dealer is some miles away.

I see Winstanleys are flogging 2007s at a significant price reduction. I bought a MTB from them years ago but not sure I'd buy a road bike from them.

HarryB

pjm-84, can I ask how tall you are and how much you weigh?

pjm-84

1.95m and 100kg however I'm not as strong as I used to be..... something to do with turning 40.

I've also lost 7kg since the Isaac days. Certainly helps the climbing.

pjm-84

I think I saw a CLX on Saturday and the guy was none too impressed with it..... He showed me the top of the aero seat tube which looked a touch flimsy and whilst it was ISO stamped it didn't appear to match the quality of the Italian made frames

HarryB

Wow pjm, you're a big unit. I reckon 107kg would test most bike frames. Having said that, I don't think many bike shops would dissuade big big fellas from parting with a couple of grand for a frame.

campagsarge

Wonder what road bikes the Olympic track squad ride - judging by the size of Chris Hoy's legs I bet he has gone through a number of frames...

...
http://81.137.246.130/chrishoy/CURRENT%20PHOTOS.htm

Do some Italian marques manufacturer their frames in Asia then ship them back to Europe?

julianm

Somewhere in the archives there might be a link to a group test C+ did several years ago - it included a *****go & when they measured it up & checked the mitreing etc it was way off compared to a ??Longstaff or other British top spec builder. I`ve got an OLD Gios which I love but have heard they `were rubbish`, but don`t agree or care much. Can`t speak for the curent lines, but the `build it way out East & flog it over here` is probably a problem for some brands if the robots are a bit out that day.