Serotta

pontarlier_pete

Went to Cyclefit in Lahndahn on Saturday. Some nice bikes in there - Colnago, Trek (Livestrong colours), re-badged Viner ("Glider"), but the ones that surprisingly (for me) stood out were the Serotta's. In photo's the classic look of (eg) Serotta and Parlee can look a bit, well, boring compared to all the bling that's out there, but in the flesh they looked amazing. Bloody expensive though.

giant_man

Serotta, wow ......... give me an Ottrot and i'll be a happy man ....

pontarlier_pete

Yep, the Otrott is veeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrryyyyyyy nice. There was one there on display, carbon/titanium and orange bits, colours worked surprisingly well. The ultimate sportive bike at a guess. When I'm 40 and just doing sportives, I'd be sorely tempted to get one of those to cruise around the Marmotte etc on. There was also a naked carbon HSG there with white decals that caught my eye. B-E-A-Utiful. I've got some photos on my iPhone that I might post when I get home.

Let's see... stock HSG at £3k, less my £200 cyclefit discount.... Hmmm..... Is there much of a market for an appendix these days? VGC, T&T, FSH, still intact, never used or burst....

What else can I sell? I'll leave it there as the only things I can think of left are going down a very dark path...

Pross

That HSG in naked carbon is a thing of beauty

giant_man

Pross wrote:

That HSG in naked carbon is a thing of beauty

Most Serottas are things of beauty I reckon ....

beancounter

giant mancp wrote:

Serotta, wow ......... give me an Ottrot and i'll be a happy man ....

Agreed, however I have the poor man's Ottrot - the Lemond Victoire.

bc

APIII

Pontarlier Pete wrote:

Yep, the Otrott is veeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrryyyyyyy nice. There was one there on display, carbon/titanium and orange bits, colours worked surprisingly well. The ultimate sportive bike at a guess. When I'm 40 and just doing sportives, I'd be sorely tempted to get one of those to cruise around the Marmotte etc on. There was also a naked carbon HSG there with white decals that caught my eye. B-E-A-Utiful. I've got some photos on my iPhone that I might post when I get home.

Let's see... stock HSG at £3k, less my £200 cyclefit discount.... Hmmm..... Is there much of a market for an appendix these days? VGC, T&T, FSH, still intact, never used or burst....

What else can I sell? I'll leave it there as the only things I can think of left are going down a very dark path...

I saw a gorgeous orange Serotta at the Marmotte a couple of years ago. It's the only bike I remember from a sea of thousands...

ugo.santalucia

Well, if you are looking for something a bit special, these days Colnago, De Rosa and friends have the same appeal of a Specialized or Trek, just with an Italian name.

Serotta frames still have that special feeling of something "hand crafted". If I had that kind of money, I would rather pay 3K for a Serotta than 2K for an anonymous Colnago EPS... and I am Italian!

giant_man

yeah I do agree. With the odd exception of a nice 'Nago or Pina (I don't rate De Rosa), I think Serotta have to be very desirable, Cyfac also. Roark, Baum and Passoni for titanium also.

pontarlier_pete

Yeah, there's a lot of bikes out there now which are much of a muchness, and Italians don't seem to have the cache they once did yet still with the premium (except maybe Viners). And I'm also not so keen on all the bling they have now, which in a couple of years will no-doubt look like an 80's silver suit does now.

How would you say Parlee fits into this area? As discussed in a previous thread, after quite extensive consideration my "stock" bike of choice is a Storck, which is in the pipeline for some time this year depending on circumstances surrounding my partner's job, but since seeing the Serotta's in the flesh and looking at those kind of bikes again, I've discovered the Parlee Z5, which is extraordinarily tempting. Apparently it's stiffer and more racey than the Serotta's. Given that it has a lifetime warranty, I think I can justify blowing £3k on it. Are Parlee's of the same sort of quality as Serotta's? I don't really know much about them.

Monty Dog

I'd have a Moots, Parlee or a Crumpton over a Serotta - bit of an 'old man's bike' IMO - most of the ones you see are ridden by people who have bought them from Cyclefit because of the name and the need to get a custom fit - they typically have the Cyclefit long headtube and the bars level with the saddle.... I don't know why they don't just give up and take up golf

on-yer-bike

Monty Dog wrote:

I'd have a Moots, Parlee or a Crumpton over a Serotta - bit of an 'old man's bike' IMO - most of the ones you see are ridden by people who have bought them from Cyclefit because of the name and the need to get a custom fit - they typically have the Cyclefit long headtube and the bars level with the saddle.... I don't know why they don't just give up and take up golf

I get the feeling the Serotta is a banker or traders bike judging by some of the people I saw in Cyclefit London. They can afford them too. They can hang them on the walls of their loft apartments. Where are Serotta and Parlee on the UCI circuit? Saying you've got a Cervelo in cyclefit is like saying you bought your bike in Halfords.

giant_man

I think Serotta do have the reputation of being a rich man's play toy which is very unfortunate as, to me they're the epitome of a decent custom carbon bike. As Monty says, Crumpton are another quality manufacturer as are Independent Fabrication.

Parlee are also desirable, especially the custom Z1s and Z2s, and the new Z5 when they start doing them in different colours. I think a lifetime warranty is always a bonus and good incentive to buy over any Italian bikes, with the exception of Viners which I believe come with 5 years. Colnago and Pinarello are what, 1 year? Quite unacceptable considering their cost now.

APIII

I believe the Pinarello is 3 years, so yes, that's not good. Time's come with a lifetime warranty, which is partly the reason I've just bought one.

mrushton

Monty Dog wrote:

I'd have a Moots, Parlee or a Crumpton over a Serotta - bit of an 'old man's bike' IMO - most of the ones you see are ridden by people who have bought them from Cyclefit because of the name and the need to get a custom fit - they typically have the Cyclefit long headtube and the bars level with the saddle.... I don't know why they don't just give up and take up golf

Perhaps you should just read your catalogues and carry on dreaming or understand the Serotta concept. I own three Serottas, all of them bought s/h or ex-demo. My partner has one an I'm fortunate to own both an Ottrott and a MeiVici. I can't tell you if they are better than Parlee/IF/Crumton/Viner or even a Cervelo because I have a very limited ability on a bike. I do know that the Serottas will always be better bikes than I am a rider so I'll never reach their limits and they are supremely comfortable, especially the Ottrott. Extended headtubes are great, everyone is different in terms of flexibility and that simple idea allows more options in terms of fit. I don't think I'll be taking up golf, even tho'I'm 50. I'm not rich and I don't work in a Bank

ugo.santalucia

Most of a bike attractiveness is down to beauty. Anyone with a developed taste would have to admit Serotta bikes are beautiful. I'm not arguing whether they are better or worse than... they are simply beautiful in the same way a leather brooks saddle is.

Cervelo are performing bikes, which appeal to someone with an undeveloped taste for beauty... big logos all over, oversized and curvy tubes, stripes, all things you would expect to find on a japanese sportscar...

Monty Dog

Oh dear, old fat guys waving their d*cks about makes me queasy!

incog24

on-yer-bike wrote:

I get the feeling the Serotta is a banker or traders bike judging by some of the people I saw in Cyclefit London. They can afford them too. They can hang them on the walls of their loft apartments. Where are Serotta and Parlee on the UCI circuit? Saying you've got a Cervelo in cyclefit is like saying you bought your bike in Halfords.

A) why do you care who else rides your bike?
why should a bike be defined by what team uses it? Do you only ever buy endorsed products?? Personally I find it almost reassuring when a company is able to survive on its own reputation.

mrushton

Monty Dog wrote:

Oh dear, old fat guys waving their d*cks about makes me queasy!

Well 50 is the new 30 but I don't know how old you are. I'm certainly not fat and if I did wave my d*ck about you would run away screaming

Pross

on-yer-bike wrote:

Monty Dog wrote:

I'd have a Moots, Parlee or a Crumpton over a Serotta - bit of an 'old man's bike' IMO - most of the ones you see are ridden by people who have bought them from Cyclefit because of the name and the need to get a custom fit - they typically have the Cyclefit long headtube and the bars level with the saddle.... I don't know why they don't just give up and take up golf

I get the feeling the Serotta is a banker or traders bike judging by some of the people I saw in Cyclefit London. They can afford them too. They can hang them on the walls of their loft apartments. Where are Serotta and Parlee on the UCI circuit? Saying you've got a Cervelo in cyclefit is like saying you bought your bike in Halfords.

Do you really think that is a sign of their relative quality? The pro teams ride the bikes that the giant corporations pay them the most to ride. These are relatively small custom build companies that don't have the budget to pay the top pro teams to ride their bikes. The money spent on the bike buys you quality rather than paying for a large marketing department and sponsorship deals.

giant_man

on-yer-bike wrote:

Monty Dog wrote:

I'd have a Moots, Parlee or a Crumpton over a Serotta - bit of an 'old man's bike' IMO - most of the ones you see are ridden by people who have bought them from Cyclefit because of the name and the need to get a custom fit - they typically have the Cyclefit long headtube and the bars level with the saddle.... I don't know why they don't just give up and take up golf

I get the feeling the Serotta is a banker or traders bike judging by some of the people I saw in Cyclefit London. They can afford them too. They can hang them on the walls of their loft apartments. Where are Serotta and Parlee on the UCI circuit? Saying you've got a Cervelo in cyclefit is like saying you bought your bike in Halfords.

What a load of rubbish, I mean really to say that. Good god! You really should get out more mate :evil:

APIII

Have you been in Cyclefit? Snooty would be an apt desription based on my visit (some time ago I'll admit)

giant_man

No I must admit I haven't. So in actual fact it's the complete opposite to the last poster's comments about being akin to shopping in Halfords?

redddraggon

giant mancp wrote:

No I must admit I haven't. So in actual fact it's the complete opposite to the last poster's comments about being akin to shopping in Halfords?

I think you misunderstand what Monty said.

He basically said that Cyclefit would think a Cervelo "common"

pontarlier_pete

redddraggon wrote:

giant mancp wrote:

No I must admit I haven't. So in actual fact it's the complete opposite to the last poster's comments about being akin to shopping in Halfords?

I think you misunderstand what Monty said.

He basically said that Cyclefit would think a Cervelo "common"

I disagree with that. They showed me a Guru which they said "caters for the people who would usually buy a Cervelo", and not said at all in a snooty way.

redddraggon

Pontarlier Pete wrote:

redddraggon wrote:

giant mancp wrote:

No I must admit I haven't. So in actual fact it's the complete opposite to the last poster's comments about being akin to shopping in Halfords?

I think you misunderstand what Monty said.

He basically said that Cyclefit would think a Cervelo "common"

I disagree with that.

What did Monty mean then?

giant_man

redddraggon wrote:

giant mancp wrote:

No I must admit I haven't. So in actual fact it's the complete opposite to the last poster's comments about being akin to shopping in Halfords?

I think you misunderstand what Monty said.

He basically said that Cyclefit would think a Cervelo "common"

i was actually disagreeing with on-yer-bike's comment Redd

redddraggon

Well Cervelos are a bit common, even NapD has one now.

pontarlier_pete

redddraggon wrote:

Pontarlier Pete wrote:

redddraggon wrote:

giant mancp wrote:

No I must admit I haven't. So in actual fact it's the complete opposite to the last poster's comments about being akin to shopping in Halfords?

I think you misunderstand what Monty said.

He basically said that Cyclefit would think a Cervelo "common"

I disagree with that.

What did Monty mean then?

You've been reading too many interviews where quotes are taken in isolation and out of context I meant I disagree with Monty's comment, as quoted in your reply, that Cyclefit would think a Cervelo "common".

eh

I can't get interested in these at all, I would far rather a Colnago or Time for racing and a steel custom build from someone like Chas Roberts for general riding.

Monty Dog

I think folks are attributing some comments to me about Cyclefit - I've visited popped in a few times to browse but not really a place I'd be inclined to buy because I can usually get a better deal elsewhere and don't feel the need to have a fitting consultation or pay their premium pricing. I know a few folks who have bought bikes / had fittings with variable results. I once rebuilt someone's Serotta from Cyclefit which had been assembled from components transferred from another bike with a disappointing lack of attention to detail which may prejudice my perception. Nice frame but nothing outstanding. On a related subject, if I was in the market for a Canadian bike I go for a Guru or an Argon 18 in comparison to an overpriced Taiwanese bike with a dodgy reputation.