£3-4k, Preferably Italian

giant_man

ugo.santalucia wrote:

Chip \'oyler wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

Well, I don't know you...

If you want carbon, you might as well save money and buy a Planet X or other horrible stuff you find on the web.

If you want to invest in a beautiful bike (and I would, with that budget), then I would go either for Colnago Master or Tommasini Tecno. Record components (or Chorus) and a good set of hand built wheels... something like Open Pro.
This would be a classy bike that rides well, and is a look at outside the cafe'

Why? There are plenty of carbon bikes out there that are beautiful. The Colnago EPS in the Zabel or Saronni retro colour scheme for instance.

I don't quite get it... why would i want to buy the latest carbon product that looks like Saronni's bike? If I want a bike that resembles Saronni's one, I should probably buy steel, no?

That's my opinion, anyway. I don't see much of a difference between an Italian carbon frame and an american or any made in Taiwan one... If you want something a bit more unique and exclusive and Italian... I think you are looking at a nice steel frame with tasteful components (NO to ZIpp or Cosmic wheels, for instance)

But there is a difference of course, and not just in the cost. The quality of the ride is everything, I would far rather spend 3-4k on a decent carbon frame than 1k on one that will do the job but not feel quite as good. Every carbon frame feels different, which is something I don't know you'd feel on different steel frames. That said I am a fan of steel as well, and rate the Milani Acciaio Puro is as Italian as you can get and the finish is A1, which it should be for a hand made frame.

Nuggs

upsetter wrote:

Don't know where you are based but if you are looking for some italian exotica you could do a lot worse than visit the guys at racescene in Barnsley - Casati, Somec etc... Take a look at there website - http://www.racescene.co.uk/.

Wow - pure bike porn...

felix500

Yes, a trip up to Racescene in Barnsley is on the cards. A mate of mine has a Casati Laser from there and doesn't stop banging on about it. Does look good mind, if a little on the heavy side (the bike, not him!)

upsetter

Re weight - frame is c 1500g so not really heavy.

If you buy steel then weight is not necessarily your main concern - comfort/feel/responsiveness probably rate higher. Unless you are a serious racer/pro then I don't really get the whole weight thing - the line 'are you gonna ride it or carry it' spings to mind!

I had a Carbon focus and sold it to get the Casati.

You won't be dissapointed by a visit to racescene - if you want a fitting session then you have to call them and book it. The Casati's are made to measure to your precise dimensions and cost no more than the off-the-peg frames (if they happen to fit you right).

miingram

You could also check out Scapin. Hand-made in Italy in carbon, steel, aluminium and various combinations. Delivery can be a bit slow, but it's worth the wait.

http://www.scapin.com/

mrc1

upsetter wrote:

Don't know where you are based but if you are looking for some italian exotica you could do a lot worse than visit the guys at racescene in Barnsley - Casati, Somec etc... Take a look at there website - http://www.racescene.co.uk/.

I have a Casati Laser Pui on order for the end of this month.

They do the full cycle fit service and are attentive to detail and your requirements, they are also extremely nice people.

+1 to Racescene. Italian central as they stock Casati, Ciocc, Somec and Gios.

I have a Ciocc Extro from there and absolutely love it. Pure Italian heritage and you are extremely unlikely to see someone else riding around on one unlike some of the more mainstream brands.

Budget wise you could have a field day in there and come out with something that not only fits perfectly but can be built to your exact spec (I don't work there, I am just genuinely in love with the place :oops:)

simonaspinall

+2 to racescene

I only went for the casati vinci, but they are super bikes and the service is outstanding - real class act.

It's in the sh*ttest area ever so it's a bit surreal to see a high-end shop there, but believe me if you're going to spend that type of money you won't leave there disappointed.

Individual, stylish, uber-classy bikes. 8)

I'd personally go for the somec with the ridiculously oversized BB area!

And shimano, but then I tend to trust japanese engineering where I can

Chip \'oyler

simonaspinall wrote:

+2 to racescene

I only went for the casati vinci, but they are super bikes and the service is outstanding - real class act.

It's in the sh*ttest area ever so it's a bit surreal to see a high-end shop there, but believe me if you're going to spend that type of money you won't leave there disappointed.

Individual, stylish, uber-classy bikes. 8)

I'd personally go for the somec with the ridiculously oversized BB area!

And shimano, but then I tend to trust japanese engineering where I can

What you trying to say about Barnsley?

calvjones

miingram wrote:

You could also check out Scapin. Hand-made in Italy in carbon, steel, aluminium and various combinations. Delivery can be a bit slow, but it's worth the wait.

http://www.scapin.com/

I have a Special steel frame in the shed waiting for a Centaur Alloy groupset

Buy direct from Scapin for £1100 inc tax and they throw in a carbon fork and seatpost. Delivery is slow on the Special cos they're built to order. If you want welded rather than lugged, I can't really see the benefit of paying the extra for de Rosa or Colnago tii etc. The detailing on mine is superb (e.g. internal routing).

Handmade in Padua.

simonaspinall

Chip \'oyler wrote:

simonaspinall wrote:

+2 to racescene

I only went for the casati vinci, but they are super bikes and the service is outstanding - real class act.

It's in the sh*ttest area ever so it's a bit surreal to see a high-end shop there, but believe me if you're going to spend that type of money you won't leave there disappointed.

Individual, stylish, uber-classy bikes. 8)

I'd personally go for the somec with the ridiculously oversized BB area!

And shimano, but then I tend to trust japanese engineering where I can

What you trying to say about Barnsley?

Hmm...it could've been that on my first visit to Barnsley I was shocked by the run-down boarded-up shanty town area that Racescene is in, people pointing at the moon and throwing rocks at it, hoodies and truanting chavs...and on the way back from my racescene measuring there was a BNP rally in the city centre!!! :shock:

giant_man

simonaspinall wrote:

Chip \'oyler wrote:

simonaspinall wrote:

+2 to racescene

I only went for the casati vinci, but they are super bikes and the service is outstanding - real class act.

It's in the sh*ttest area ever so it's a bit surreal to see a high-end shop there, but believe me if you're going to spend that type of money you won't leave there disappointed.

Individual, stylish, uber-classy bikes. 8)

I'd personally go for the somec with the ridiculously oversized BB area!

And shimano, but then I tend to trust japanese engineering where I can

What you trying to say about Barnsley?

Hmm...it could've been that on my first visit to Barnsley I was shocked by the run-down boarded-up shanty town area that Racescene is in, people pointing at the moon and throwing rocks at it, hoodies and truanting chavs...and on the way back from my racescene measuring there was a BNP rally in the city centre!!! :shock:

Oh lovely!!

simonaspinall

giant mancp wrote:

You have quite a choice. The obvious ones are obviously Colnago, Pinarello and De Rosa, or Wilier but don't forget about lesser known marques such as Milani, Casati, Ciocc, Somec, Gios etc.

Right now, for a quality steel bike, I would go for a Milani Acciaio Puro, just gorgeous ....

http://www.ciclonline.com/videogallery/ ... -puro.html

and for a carbon framed bike I would go for a Wilier Cento Uno Superleggera, for if the budget was a bit more, a Pinarello Dogma.

That looks fantastic - How much?

giant_man

£2750 for frame and fork, well it is Italian and stainless steel I guess ...... :roll: but absolutely gorgeous.

simonaspinall

giant mancp wrote:

£2750 for frame and fork, well it is Italian and stainless steel I guess ...... :roll: but absolutely gorgeous.

Ouch! But still, it is nice. I don't think an italian purist would like me sticking dura-ace on it though. I don't think they'd sell it to me even! They'd see it like putting pineapple on pizza. Which i'd also do.

giant_man

lol funny you should say that. Celeste Milani who was on the stand at the London show apologised for the show bike having Sram Red on there, I could only agree with him!!

Chip \'oyler

giant mancp wrote:

lol funny you should say that. Celeste Milani who was on the stand at the London show apologised for the show bike having Sram Red on there, I could only agree with him!!

I met Celeste in the Ronde Museum the day before this years Flanders Sportive. He's such a nice, friendly man. He seemed dead chuffed I recognised him from a ProCycling Test Ride article - so he arranged for me and my mates to meet Freddy Maertens

giant_man

Chip \'oyler wrote:

giant mancp wrote:

lol funny you should say that. Celeste Milani who was on the stand at the London show apologised for the show bike having Sram Red on there, I could only agree with him!!

I met Celeste in the Ronde Museum the day before this years Flanders Sportive. He's such a nice, friendly man. He seemed dead chuffed I recognised him from a ProCycling Test Ride article - so he arranged for me and my mates to meet Freddy Maertens

yes he is nice isn't he - so is his daughter

Chip \'oyler

giant mancp wrote:

Chip \'oyler wrote:

giant mancp wrote:

lol funny you should say that. Celeste Milani who was on the stand at the London show apologised for the show bike having Sram Red on there, I could only agree with him!!

I met Celeste in the Ronde Museum the day before this years Flanders Sportive. He's such a nice, friendly man. He seemed dead chuffed I recognised him from a ProCycling Test Ride article - so he arranged for me and my mates to meet Freddy Maertens

yes he is nice isn't he - so is his daughter

Sadly I didn't have that pleasure

knedlicky

giant mancp wrote:

don't forget about lesser known marques such as ... Somec ....

Right now, for a quality steel bike, I would go for a Milani Acciaio Puro, just gorgeous ....
and for a carbon framed bike I would go for a Wilier Cento Uno Superleggera

I like Somec, had one in the past, but find it hard to find out price info on them nowadays.

For other quality steel bikes, there is the company Passoni in Lombardy. Their top model is about £8000 and weighs only 6700 grams with Campa Super Record, but I think they do cheaper models too.

I agree about Wilier Cento Uno, and would even take the ordinary version (i.e. not necessarily the Superleggera version).

upsetter

The Somec frames start at about £1500 for the Rex (Columbus Spirit) up to £3k for the Revolution Carbon.

simonaspinall

To throw a curve ball.....how nice do the storck german bikes look? Looks like the bike batman would ride.