Price Paid:
$1095.00
at Bikes Direct Favorite Ride:
Anytime I can ride Bike Setup:
Fuji Team frame/Integrated headset, All-Ultegra group (53/39-12/23), Ritchey Pro Road wheelset, Weyless stem, Nitton "randonneur" bars, Vittoria Rubino Pro tires, "Spongy Wonder" seat, Ritchey Pro seatpost, Fuji Ultralite seat clamp, CRP full carbon fork, Nashbar wireless speedo. Summary:
This is a GREAT bike, and a GREATER value! I wanted to step up to a lighter bike with better components and researched the net and Magazines for quite a while before deciding upon the Team. I liked the frame/component package, and have yet to see a better one for the money. The bike is a ROCKET, and has proven to be very quick and responsive, with no bad habits. I'm a 60 year old, 145# biker/runner, and my plan is to ride this mount 'til the wheels have worn down to the size of donuts. I have swapped some parts, but only to secure a better fit, NOT because of any deficiency in quality or performance. I don't like ANY seat that reminds me of my annual physical, so I changed to a "Spongy Wonder", and can now ride, in comfort, in ANY type shorts without feeling as though I'd ridden a ridgebacked mule across the country. The bar/stem combo stretched me out too far, so I changed to a shorter Weyless stem and some Nitto "randonneur" bars that have a narrower top bar, with upward curving ends, a larger radius forward curve, and drops that fan out at the bottom to allow knee clearance and more ergonomic (for me) positioning. I also added Speedplay pedals, which contribute to the overall "lighter is better" theme. The bike climbs like a homesick angel, and descends like a falcon afer a pigeon.
It's very smooth, especially considering the light weight(16.8# minus pedals). The finish is great, and I really like the paint scheme (yellow & white, with black and grey accents). The composite-alloy aluminum frame, with it's diamond down-tube and all butted and tapered stays and integrated headset, is, in my opinion, as well designed a package as you will find for anywhere near the price. All welds are great, and haven't been ground down, but left as the welder finished them, as a testament to his/her skill. A full carbon fork(including the steerer) does a great job of damping vibration. The all- Ultegra drivetrain is adequate for anything I will ever demand, and it is Flightdeck compatible, so you can have front and rear gear selection, speed, cadence, distance, and time, displayed, if you chose to go that route. The Vittoria Rubino Pro tires are lightweight, and I have had NO problems with them and they seem to grip well in corners while having low rolling resistance. I have noticed that the tubes tend to lose air very quickly, but that is probably true of all ultralight butyl tubes. All in all, I'm extremely pleased with this bike, and frankly feel a bit sorry for folks spending four times as much and not getting anything but a fancy name that most can't pronounce nor spell correctly. This may be the last bike I buy, and if so, I'm one of the happy Fuji Flyers, on a quest for truth, justice, and the American way (well, it's listed as a Fuji AMERICAN team bike, isn't it?) Strengths:
Low weight, great parts mix, surprisingly good ride,established company, super value, and it looks SHARP (even better than the 2003 model)! Weaknesses:
Seat uncomfortable ( I don't blame Fuji for this, MOST bike seats just don't fit MY butt), Ritchey bars are too wide across the top,for me, and the forward curve radius is too small (once again, more of a personal preference than a weakness), slight squeak from non-drive side of rear hub(disassembled and lubed, no biggie), wheels needed trueing upon arrival, and once shortly thereafter, but since then, all's ok. Similar Products Used:
Raleigh Grand Prix, 531 frame.
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