Description The Concours is a highly engineered titanium bicycle that incorporates Serotta''s sophisticated tubing with efficiency and style. Responsive in the drive train and compliant in the cockpit, the Concou...
Summary: THIS IS A HEAD TO HEAD COMPARISON OF A HIGH END TI BIKE WITH OCLV CARBON (TREK 5500) 3 HR DEMO THROUGH NY'S GORGEOUS WASHINGTON COUNTY: RELENTLESS STEEP HILLS, EMPTY COUNTRY FARM ROADS.
THE CONCOURS IS LIKE A MERCEDES SPORTS CAR - SMOOTH, SUPPLE, WITH A DYNAMIC RESPONSIVENESS THAT GETS MORE LIVELY THE MORE POWER YOU PUT INTO IT. IT'S A DOUBLE EDGE COMPLIMENT HOWEVER. THE STIFFER,"DEADER" CARBON FRAME IS MUCH QUICKER REACTING. ON THE STEEP CLIMBS THERE'S NO COMPARISON, THE CARBON IS SUPERIOR. IT'S ELECTRIC.
ON FLATTER ROADS THE TI BIKE MEDIATES A WONDERFUL MERGER OF RIDER AND ROAD TO TRANSFORM ANY RIDE INTO AN EXPERIENCE UNKNOWN TO THE PERSON ON AN OCLV FRAME. THE LATTER, IN CONTRAST, IS ALL BUSINESS.
SO, THE BIKE FOR YOU IS HIGHLY DEPENDENT ON TERRAIN AND INTENTIONS. STRONG RIDERS WILL GETMUCH MORE PERFORMANCE OUT OF THE TI FRAME. PLEASURE RIDERS WILL LIKEWISE ENJOY TI MUCH MORE. BUT SERIOUS CLIMBERS NEED TO SERIOUSLY INVESTIGATE IF TI CAN GIVE THEM THE RESPONSE THEY NEED.
Strengths: SUPPLE,DYNAMICALLY SINEWY RIDE
Weaknesses: STEEP CLIMBING
Similar Products Used: TREK 5500, CILO CROMOLY, CANNONDALE 5000, 500
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Bike Setup: Concours Ti frame, Campy Chorus/Record 9 triple gruppo, Reynolds Ouzo Pro fork, Mavic Open Pro 650c wheels, Speedplay pedals, Terry Butterfly saddle, Profile clip-on aerobars
Summary: LOVE it. Titanium rocks! Once I got on it, there was no going back. It didn't make me faster (drat!), but it did make me want to ride more. Great selection of stock sizes (plus custom) and paint/color schemes. Some glitches with ordering from Serotta BUT Serotta did come back and try to make good on it. It does feel like there is a nice little "community" of Serotta fans.
Strengths: I have a whole new appreciation for the beauty of drop-outs now. The frame is lively and seems mildly springy ...as you put energy into it, it gives back to you. Serotta customer service wasn't too proactive, but DOES come through when you push them.
Weaknesses: Price - $1900 for frame only (but I'm much happier with it than I would have been with any Trek). Fit - although Serotta invented the "Fit Kit", a bike fitting is only as good as the person doing it, so you can't assume that because you get sized on the Serotta fit bike AND you buy a Serotta that it will fit like a glove without an additional professional fitting. There are a whole host of nagging issues with small (46cm, 650c wheels) frames ... toe overlap, short chain, etc.
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Bike Setup: Serotta Concours Ti, EMS Pro Carbon fork, Campy Chorus 10-speed, Cinelli stem and handlebar, Brooks
Summary: This is my third road bike in nine years but the first Ti and first custom frame. I just completed a 377 mile ride on this bike and my ankles, back, shoulders, knees, and wrists were all pain free. This tells me the extra cost of a custom build frame was worth it.
The Ti frame and carbon fork are strong, yet comfortable. The bike is light and, I hope, durable.
I bought the bike with Chorus 10-speed and Cinelli stem and handlebars. After the 377 mile ride I replaced the saddle with a Brooks B17 which seems to have solved the only area of pain I experienced.
I can't praise this bike highly enough. The Ti frame, Carbon fork, and custom fit have made me a very happy endurance rider.
Did I mention it weighs much less than my prior composite bike? I'm climbing better too.
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