FANTASY PRO TEAM - PART 1: Choose your bike manufacturer

geeteewmb

There is a lot of talk about new teams starting for next season, so I thought it might be an idea to start a little 'Build your on team from the ground up' game to take us through to the start of the 2010 season.

Each week I pick different aspect of the team, e.g. Bike Manufacturer, Directeur Sportif, Sprinter, Groupset Manufacturer, Team Leader, Domestiques, Team Name, Team Base, Team Cars etc.

Hopefully make for a good fun debate.

So, first up - the most important decision: Which bike manufacturer?

My vote would probably be Cervelo, but I'm happy to be convinced otherwise.

What about you?

Anonymous

BMC for me.

Chirg

Let's give the guys custom rigs. In order of preference Crumption, Seven or Serotta.

Chip \'oyler

Chirg wrote:

Let's give the guys custom rigs. In order of preference Crumption, Seven or Serotta.

Give them all Viner Maxima's. Proper custom rigs.

Chirg

Hi Chip, what do you mean by 'proper'? What does Viner do that the others don't? I am not been funny, just want to know why the guys would be better on Viners.

Ruari

It would have to be Bianchi HoC 928 SLs!

jimycooper

i think my team would ride pimped peugeot's 8)

Jez mon

Mercians, some nice English steel!

On a more sensible note, it has to be DeRosa or Colnago! Preferably the former!

Le Commentateur

Or Roberts of Croydon.

volvine

Trek for me most successful bikes in the tour in recent years plus they look the dogs dangly bits (but not when painted in butterfly's).

volvine

So, first up - the most important decision: Which bike manufacturer?

listning to the commentary the bikes by all the top manufacturers are all that good these days that there is very little difference in any of them according to Sean Kelly the riders can jump on any of the top end bikes with no problems.

nicensleazy

Colnago!

Chip \'oyler

Chirg wrote:

Hi Chip, what do you mean by 'proper'? What does Viner do that the others don't? I am not been funny, just want to know why the guys would be better on Viners.

The Maxima's main tubes are custom drawn/manufactured depending on the riders weight, preferred riding style etc. They are then bonded to custom laid lugs. This gives a ride which is tailored to the rider as well as the frame angles, measurement etc.

Magnus Backstedt is riding a Maxima this year (the rest of his Swedish team are riding Viners too) - according to one of the Viner reps he phoned him after riding the bike a few months. Said he liked it but wasn't getting much feedback from the wheels when descending. So the rep spoke to Viner - they said he hadn't pushed it hard enough!

Harry182

Cervelo! Top frames and Canadian too, eh?

takethehighroad

They should ride Penny Farthings, and all the riders should be forced to cultivate handlebar moustaches.

Seriously though, I like the look of the Boardman ones that Sky will be riding next year.

butcher_boy

Colnago

Yes other brands have jumped ahead on the carbon but they are still THE brand

Classic bikes that represent bike building to me

Slow Downcp

Whichever manufacturer stumps up most cash :twisted:

pugwashcp

Gary Fishers Cronus Ultimate. (see front page)

How annoying would it be to have your a$$ whipped by a guy on a bike built by a mountain biker. They also sound like they'd be plenty stiff enough for the pros.

Chirg

Chip \'oyler wrote

Chirg wrote:
Hi Chip, what do you mean by 'proper'? What does Viner do that the others don't? I am not been funny, just want to know why the guys would be better on Viners.


The Maxima's main tubes are custom drawn/manufactured depending on the riders weight, preferred riding style etc. They are then bonded to custom laid lugs. This gives a ride which is tailored to the rider as well as the frame angles, measurement etc.

Magnus Backstedt is riding a Maxima this year (the rest of his Swedish team are riding Viners too) - according to one of the Viner reps he phoned him after riding the bike a few months. Said he liked it but wasn't getting much feedback from the wheels when descending. So the rep spoke to Viner - they said he hadn't pushed it hard enough!

Wow, for the price they charge that is great.

dbb

Enigma!

this should stand out from the crowd

that person wot rides a b

condor

bikeboy123

probalys scott...

jedster

good to start with a criterion than makes no difference to whether the team will be competitive!!!

Chip \'oyler

jedster wrote:

good to start with a criterion than makes no difference to whether the team will be competitive!!!

OK what about our fantasy team turns up on BMXs. Don't worry - they'll still be competitive.

Red Rock

Kuota for me please.

robdaykin

Now they have a TT frame, surely Parlee.

sudholz

My vote is Serrotta.

Touch of class. Reassuringly (read ridiculously) expensive, sounds Italian but isn't (like Colnago).