Wilier Izoard today

over-the-hill

I picked up my Wilier Izoard today, first road bike for a long, long time. It has a Selle Italia Filante saddle which is pretty hard, will I get used to it? Will it wear in? Or will it have to go? Dealers say Specialized Toupes are the best but I was trying to keep the bike Italian, however comfort is ultimately more important. Any suggestions?

Slow Downcp

Give it a go - you've nothing to lose.

I also had the "I want to stay Italian" thinking, and borrowed a Fizik Arione from a wrok colleague - fantastic saddle (for me anyway), and now all my bikes have one.

That said - saddle are a very personal thing.

redddraggon

Slow Downcp wrote:

I also had the "I want to stay Italian" thinking, and borrowed a Fizik Arione from a wrok colleague - fantastic saddle (for me anyway), and now all my bikes have one.

Well Fizik are Italian......

over-the-hill

I'm wondering if the saddle has just been made for Wilier as I can't see it anywhere for sale.

Lagavulin

This it?

I'm assuming mine will likely come with the same saddle.
I'll give it a bash (seems daft not to at least try it) but I did plan on sticking my current Toupe Gel on it.

over-the-hill

Lagavulin wrote:

This it?

I'm assuming mine will likely come with the same saddle.
I'll give it a bash (seems daft not to at least try it) but I did plan on sticking my current Toupe Gel on it.

No it's not there. It has got manganese rails and two rows of white stitching running front to back. Which model are you getting? Mine is a Centaur alloy but with Racing 3s (for the same price as 5s). The saddle actually came off a higher spec bike.

Lagavulin

Red/white/black with Centaur carbon compact and Fulcrum 3's.

Brian1

Hi OTH
I'm hoping to get my Izoard this week.Post a pic if you have one.Thanks

over-the-hill

how do you post a pic? Soon there will be more Wiliers than Specialized![/img]

Stormtrooper

I know its not a izoard but heres my evasion soon to be fittted with new wheels.

Lagavulin

That's a really smart looking bike Stormtrooper.

There was one in the shop I ordered my Izoard from and I started having stupid thoughts about something like the Evasion or Escape as a trainer or "the roads aren't bone dry and there's more than a 5% chance of rain" bike Very nice.

The emu

As someones already mentioned, you couldn't get anything more personal on a bike than saddles.

If someone tells you a specialized seat is the best (or any other brand for that matter), they are talking utter rubbish. Their probably the same dealer who will try and convince you their specialized range of shoes, gloves, helmets, pumps, tires, cranks, tubes, pumps, wheels and everything else under the sun are also the best. (although on a side note my spesh s-works shoes fit the bill nicely 8) ).

I'd recommend giving it some time before you decide to part with your cash. It's not so much a case of wearing the saddle in, but rather play around with the saddle position on the seatpost as well as the saddle height.

It may even be worth getting your bike fitted if you haven't already done so and get some independent advice as it also depends a lot on your weight and riding position.

If it helps my old bike had a Fzik Aliante. Great saddle, nice and comfortable but I found myself bouncing on it a bit too much because of my weight (90kg) so have gone with the Arione. It was initially a bit more uncomortable but on the long rides I'm a lot more stable and my back thanks me for it.

over-the-hill

I've had 2 dealers recommend Spec saddles and both of the assistants owned Spec bikes

The emu

I've had 2 dealers recommend Spec saddles and both of the assistants owned Spec bikes

My case in point

Try buying a spesh saddle from an "independent" LBS.

bobpzero

still the fizik aliante would be well comfortable even tho well expensive.

gkerr4

The emu wrote:

I've had 2 dealers recommend Spec saddles and both of the assistants owned Spec bikes

My case in point

Try buying a spesh saddle from an "independent" LBS.

in fairness though - the specialized toupe (and the BG saddles in general) do have an impressive reputation - so if the LBS sells specialized at all they are quite often likely to recommend a specialized toupe

I have a toupe - and it's excellent - looks like a torture device, but is amazing comfortable - design over padding and seems to work

it also weighs next to nothing if that is important to you

for what its worth - i think that the specialized "body geometry" range - saddles, shoes, gloves etc - are all excellent - well thought out and designed products at fairly reasonable prices.

halfmanhalfsnookermachine

Hi all

Just to let you know, if you buy a Selle Italia saddle at the moment, they (RJ Chicken) are offering a 30 day money back guarantee via your LBS. I read the small print and so long as you have blatantly not come off or leant it up the wall, you can effectively have a free trial, so long as you fill in the feedback form - seems a good deal.

On the subject of Izoards, I have ordered a red / white Centaur with carbon cranks and Fulcrum 5's for £1999. My LBS have been waiting 3 weeks for my size and told me today that I will have to wait another 3 weeks - or I could have a Izoard Pro spec - Centaur carbon and Fulcrum 3's (in white / blue) for £2250 - instead of the new price of £2500.

Anyone got any thoughts, I quite like the white /blue combo - is it worth upgrading to Fulcrum 3's for an extra £250?

Thanks

HMHSM

PS - Lagavulin - how is your new steed?

gkerr4

well - fulcrum 3's are about £200 more than the 5's and the carbon crank adds about £90 so £250 more is a good price to upgrade

I would - mainly 'cos I would want wheels of the 3's standard on the izoard - they feel as though they should go with a bike of that caliber - the 5s are a bit 'budget' to go on an izoard (although - that said, they are very highly regarded and good wheels by all accounts!)

Likewise with the carbon cranks - i'd just 'want' carbon cranks on a bike of that value / class!

a_n_t

halfmanhalfsnookermachine wrote:

I have ordered a red / white Centaur with carbon cranks and Fulcrum 5's for £1999.

red/white wiliers.............................NICE! [if i say so myself]

Lagavulin

halfmanhalfsnookermachine wrote:

PS - Lagavulin - how is your new steed?

I haven't got it yet mate. I believe I'm in the same position as yourself. I ordered mine on April 5th and on 7th April when my LBS put the order for the bike in to the distributor he was told there were no mediums left and the next delivery won't be until at least April 30th.

From what I read of your post it could even be later than that. I'm having to absorb much of the price increase but I really don't care now I just want my bike. I fannied on choosing between a De Rosa Avant, Colnago CLX, Izoard or the outsider of a mail order Orbea Orca from Epic long enough that I really just want to get fitted for my shiny new bike and som decent weather to enjoy it on.

Not too distraught as yet. Other than today (which was glorious) I can't think of a day since I ordered it that I'd of gone out on it. Windy and wet manky roads of late (my Allez's downtube has a crust on it).

As for the light blue/white colour scheme I didn't really like it other than the fork. I like the whit/black fork. Being a complete bike tart that'd look better going into the white hubs of my DT wheels. Guess I'll just have to live with the red fork (prefer the red overall, plus I've a collection of red Fortezza Tricomps).

If you do decide to go for the offer of the blue/white (seems a very decent offer) Michelin at least offer Pro Race 2's in the same duck egg blue colour.

halfmanhalfsnookermachine

Hi

I spent far too long last night trying to decide which colour I definitely wanted, trying not to let the extra 3 week wait for a red / white Izoard cloud my judgement.

I even had the wife involved in an advisory capacity - "oooh the red and white is much nicer, plus it matches your cycling shirt" etc etc

Anyway, I have decided to wait for the red and white as the white / blue just does not look as good for my £2000. I may even go to my LBS and negotiate an upgrade to Fulcrum 3's as I am 85 kg, and they may suit me better than 5's.

The wait time is now up to about 6 weeks, but I am having to be patient (although very frustrated!)..............everything good comes to he who waits etc.......

In anticipation

HMHSM

Lagavulin

halfmanhalfsnookermachine wrote:

The wait time is now up to about 6 weeks, but I am having to be patient (although very frustrated!)..............everything good comes to he who waits etc...

So you've been told June? Oh dear. I've booked a week off in early June and I was really hoping to have it by then.

Nuggs

The emu wrote:

I've had 2 dealers recommend Spec saddles and both of the assistants owned Spec bikes

My case in point

Try buying a spesh saddle from an "independent" LBS.

What's an independent LBS? All LBSs will have manufacturers that they stock, and will almost certainly recommend a product they can sell you.

Surely, if it's not a store owned by Specialized etc, then it must be independent?

over-the-hill

When I asked my LBS last week, who are not a Wilier dealer, if they could get me an Izoard Centaur they said they could immediately from the importer. That was a size L. I ended up buying from the cycle surgery in London because of the deal with 3s instead of 5s.
Alloy cranks though. Just out of interest what height are you needing a medium?

phelim

i am an independent cycle shop and an agent for Willier, i ordered my le roi at the end of feb and told 4-6 weeks, hasn't arrived but sales manager informed me that the frame has been redesigned so i don't mind waiting for a my uptodate bike in another 3weeks as i know it will be worth the wait. willier uk would usually have a good stock of bikes so no waiting too long for them.
i have an izoard pro in blue/white in shop and it looks and rides very well.
enjoy

check out the new le roi at willier.it.

over-the-hill

phelim wrote:

i am an independent cycle shop and an agent for Willier, i ordered my le roi at the end of feb and told 4-6 weeks, hasn't arrived but sales manager informed me that the frame has been redesigned so i don't mind waiting for a my uptodate bike in another 3weeks as i know it will be worth the wait. willier uk would usually have a good stock of bikes so no waiting too long for them.
i have an izoard pro in blue/white in shop and it looks and rides very well.
enjoy

check out the new le roi at willier.it.

As a dealer do you know where Wilier carbon frames are made?

phelim

they are made in Itlay.

Lagavulin

Oh. It was my understanding that only the Cento and Le Roi are made in Italy, the rest being manufactured in Taiwan.

over-the-hill

I have heard so many versions as follows:

They are all made in Italy except the Mortirolo
They are all made in China and finished in Italy which means they can say made in Italy
The carbon tubes are from China and assembled in Italy (do monocoque frames use tubes?)
Wilier say they buy the carbon from Toray which is a Japanese/ Global company
Wilier send their moulds out to China.

The emu

duck egg blue ahahaha I like it.

Yeah I got the duck egg blue Izoard, thought about getting the red but didn't like the red forks and just knew everyones else was going to get that colour. I like to be a bit different.



I bought my pride and joy with upgraded specs including campy eurus wheels, arione seat, stella azzura post, stem, handlebars, and a pair of keo carbons for 2350. Funnily enough I had to get my frame on back order from Italy, but there was no delay on that but rather the wheelset. (it is an XXL though).

Surely, if it's not a store owned by Specialized etc, then it must be independent?

In theory yes, in practice not very often.

With regards to where they are made, there seems to be a bit of mystyque over the Wilier. Last I understood it, the Izoard an below are made in Taiwan, but then tested on the italian jig and then hand painted.

over-the-hill

You must be very tall, a frame that size and the saddle that high. That's an amazing deal, you got all that for the same price as a regular Izoard pro. Are the handle bars carbon? How do those wheels compare in price to Racing 3s?