Pegoretti Cicli Palosanto

Price Paid:  $1164.00 at www.wrenchscience.co

Favorite Ride:
Trail of the Coeur D'Alenes

Bike Setup:
Mizuno fork. Mavic Ksyrium SLs with Conti 3000s mounted for this ride. Ultegra drivetrain. Durace brakes/levers. 3T bar/stem.

Summary:
I took the 2005 Palosanto out on my favorite century out-and-back over the Trail of the Coeur D'Alenes, a course that I ride regularly. While the handling felt "stable," it took the S-Turns at Plummer better than I expected, leaving me with the feeling that it was capable of more than I allowed. I warmed up on the 6-mile descent and then got down to business. The Palosanto passed everything on the trail, accelerating decisively around other traffic. The ride was so forgiving that a saddle aptly nicknamed "Bruise Butt" on one of my other bikes rode just fine mounted on the Palosanto. This particular ride ends with a 6-mile climb that, because I was feeling so well after 94 miles, I decided to take anaerobic. I have never seen steel climb like this! This is a fantastic ride!

Strengths:
Beat my course record by 1.5 mph. Amazingly light. Never has steel climbed so effortlessly. Brisk and responsive acceleration. Stable. Ride comfort enables use of even lightweight "Bruise Butt" saddle that I was about to sell on eBay. Value --- so much performance for the price. Unique and bright painting motif.

Weaknesses:
Having to explain why I didn't buy a plastic or Ti frame.
My answer, BTW, is to invest the money you would have spent on an exotic frame into a fine set of wheels under a modern, light-weight steel frame.

Similar Products Used:
Crescent Pepita. Miyata 912. Kona Jake (cyclocross).

Price Paid:  $2600.00 at Ski Rack

Favorite Ride:
Anywhere in Northern Vt

Bike Setup:
Flite TI saddle, Thompson post, TTT stem/bar,
Ultegra everything else

Summary:
I am totally happy with my purchase. This
bike does everything well IMO. It's a great
crit bike that loves to be in close, but
also is right at home on long rides and
pace lines. It feels slightly slower uphill
than my Serotta TI but for everything else I
feel it's far superior! The best bike I
could have imagined.

Strengths:
Very stable, light weight. It has that
"connected" feel - it goes where I want it
to to. I could thread a needle on this
bike.

Weaknesses:
Paint is easily damaged, plain paint job,
no visible chrome.

Similar Products Used:
Tommassini Competition, Serotta Legend TI,

Price Paid:  $929.00 at Competitve cyclist

Favorite Ride:
Williamson Co.

Bike Setup:
full campy chorus, deda murex-215 bars,
mavic open pro wheels, mich axial tires
flight gel saddel

Summary:
I am in love with this bike!
If i could afford them, I would buy all of pegoretti's frames, I spent 3 whole months shopping for my new bike, when I found this one it was hands down the winner. suppel yet stiff, feels like your part of the road, but not beat up by it..

Strengths:
Feel, classic look,

Weaknesses:
None

Similar Products Used:
specialized, lemond,

Price Paid:  $2950.00 at Bike Peddler, Nashvi

Favorite Ride:
South of Gun Lake Michigan

Bike Setup:
Campagnolo Chorus group, Campagnolo Nucleon wheels, Deda Murex stem and 215 bar. Continental GP Supe

Summary:
The Palosanto is a delightful ride. It's light, responsive, and extremely comfortable to ride for a long distance. It has a resilliant, feel that makes you feel like you really are in touch with the road.

Strengths:
Weight, comfort, and handling. It's also not bad that you don't see one on every corner. The 3.2 lb frame is nearly as light as a lot of alum bikes, and lighter than some Ti frames. And the steel feel is hard to beat. A steal at the price.

Weaknesses:
None that I've found. A carbon fork would make it lighter, but I've been reluctant to change the classic look and fine handling of the standard steel fork. It's beautifully matched to the bike.

Similar Products Used:
I also have a Colnago C-40 and a Univega Modo Vincere. The Colnago is also delightful, and a couple pounds lighter, but different. The Pegoretti "feels" lighter than it actually is.

Price Paid:  $0.00

Favorite Ride:
Bluemont/Mt.Weather

Bike Setup:
Ultegra STI with Flightdeck, Mavic Reflex Ceramic rims, Axial Pro's, 3T forgie Stem and bar, Flite

Summary:
Great bike overall. The Palosanto is very solid yet it feels lively and seems to want to go off on its own while descending. Great for climbing as the transfer of power from the pedal stroke is very good. With a carbon fork the set-up is very comfortable yet racy. Best of all the bike doesn't beat the body up in the long rides. Frame and fork are very light for steel (Dedacia Zero Uno) but with my Ultegra componentry and old Mavice Ceramic Rims the bike weights in at 21 lbs.

Strengths:
Handling, feel, look, craftmanship, comfort, responsiveness, overall feel of owning a special frame.

Weaknesses:
Paint chips easily.

Similar Products Used:
Lemond TSX