Ciocc EOM

Price Paid:  $900.00 at Maestro-UK

Favorite Ride:
Skyline Drive

Bike Setup:
Campy Record 10, ITM Bars and Stem, Look Pedals, Campy Eurus and Proton wheelsets.

Summary:
I bought this all steel Deda EOM 16.5 bike from Mike Perry at Maestro-UK. It is the finest racing bike I have owned and despite the lightweight oversized tubing, rides like a true steel bike. The price paid included shipping and insurance to the U.S. and included frame, Deda Black Blade carbon fork, headset and all prep work. This bike has exceptional acceleration and cornering and very little lateral flexion, and I'm 6'3" and 185 lbs. It may not be as light or stiff as the new aluminum variants, but the steel ride quality is outstanding and it is plenty light for a guy who does criteriums and generally flat road races. It is also lighter than my previous titanium machine but not nearly as "spongy".

I can't say enough good things about Mike Perry at Maestro. He is the best bicycle dealer I have used. He answered every one of my telephone calls and e-mails personally and even after I received the bike, he helped me with some of the building process. Don't buy a bike without giving him a call first!!

I decided to put Campy Record on the bike since I bought it before Dura-Ace 10 arrived and I didn't want to buy an already outdated drivetrain. I have ridden Dura-Ace for the past 10+ years and enjoyed it, but I didn't know what I was missing. The Campy is hands down smoother, more reliable, and much easier to adjust and assemble. I just can't get over the difference between the two.

This bike is ideal for the USCF racer or top-level recreational rider who desires the comfort and ride quality only steel delivers but won't sacrifice on weight or performance.

Strengths:
Characteristic Steel ride, weight (light for a steel bike), lateral stiffness, great cornering and tracking, beautiful paint.

Weaknesses:
Thin paint, thin tubing (wonder how it will fair in a crash). These are not true weaknesses but compromises for the low weight. One issue arose while I was building the bike. Do not use the Front Derailleur braze-on clamp that Ciocc enclosed. It can crimp the down tube when tightened even below the recommended torque requirement. Mike said this has been reported before. Avoid it by ordering a clamp-on FD in the right diameter. He let Ciocc know about the problem and maybe they enclosed a different clamp or are just recommending a clamp-on FD.

Similar Products Used:
Basso Ti, Paramount OS (Waterford)