It took 6 years to build the fastest bike we have ever made. Many ideas in our R&D effort never make it this far. Our promise has always been that we will never introduce a new bicycle simply because we think it will sell...it has to bring with it a valid reason for existence. The Colorado Concept Carbon main tubes deliver a new plateau of drive-train response coupled with a mysterious level of comfort. The Ottrott IT will reward your every effort- so responsive, stable, and comfortable,...the first ride will leave you speechless. The second ride will confirm the Ottrott IT is the best bike you''''ve ever ridden. It''''s better because it''''s not just another carbon or carbon hybrid bike....it''''s a Serotta.
Submitted by
Steve Berke
a Recreational Rider
from Middletown,NJ
Date Reviewed: July 16, 2003
Strengths: smooth, great climber, very stable, did I say smooth, responsive, beautiful.
Weaknesses: Pricey but I got at a great price
Bottom Line:
I found this dream frame on ebay and now everyone in my club wants one. Just completed my 3rd ride for a total of 91 miles. This bike rides like a dream. I was riding a litespeed ultimate and find this bike superior in almost every way except maybe quickness. I bought the frame and built up the rest. MSRP for everything would have been over $8200. The bike is exceptional climbing and desending. Its not the lightest bike in its price range (19lbs) but makes it up in handling and performance
Strengths: Absolutely stable handling, great descender, comfortable, reasonably light. Bike is deceptively fast.
Weaknesses: Price (if you purchase new). Not for sprinters, as bike takes a while to wind up to full speed.
Bottom Line:
Took a $2700 chance and purchased a slightly used Ottrott frame and fork on eBay. Turned out to be the bargain of the century, as the bike arrived in perfect condition. Was a custom built compact for someone else, but seller gave me geometry specs before purchase, and the bike turned out to be my size! Built up at 17.7 pounds. The bike is an exceptional climber and an even better descender. Most stable frame I've ever ridden. Fast bike, but not quick. Every ride is a revelation. Took 2 minutes off my local TT course (18 miles) just by hopping on this bike. If you can afford one, get it, you won't be sorry.
Similar Products Used: Litespeed Tuscany & Siena, Moots Vamoots, Seven Odonata (closest of any other bike I tried to the Ottrott - better climber and quicker, but not as rock solid), Trek 5500, Calfee Luna Pro.
Bike Setup: Dura-ace double, Thompson post, Deda Bar, Bontrager stem, Ksyriums with Michelin Pro Race, Time Impact Mag/Ti pedals.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
JayTor
a Recreational Rider
from Bellevue
Date Reviewed: February 17, 2003
Strengths: Very efficient yet super smooth. Custom built to your exact requirements. Build and ride quality are amazing.
Weaknesses: I guess you'd have to say price. But then you'd be hard pressed to find a bike with these qualities for less.
Compared to the Litespeed Ultimate which I have owned for a few years, the Ottrott isn't quite as nimble and doesn't accelerate quite as fast - both of which I attribute to the longer wheelbase of the Ottrott - but the Ottrott is superior in ever other way.
Bottom Line:
This is a review of the Ottrott ST which the pivoting carbon seatstays. Serotta is one of those few cycle builders that strives to build the best riding, best quality bicycles possible and the Ottrott is their flagship product. I started out looking for a frame in the $2K to $3K range, but decided to give the Ottrott a test ride even though it was considerably more expensive. Big mistake. Even after a relatively short test ride, I knew I wouldn't be happy with anything else.
This bike feels very efficient like a super stiff carbon frame, yet it still has the lively feel of a ti or steel bike. And its so smooooth - absorbing virtually all the road hash and even making fairly aggressive road imperfections tolerable. I've gone on roads that I would have normally considered mountain bike territory and felt fairly comfortable.
The frame is also just gorgeous. The ti welds and machined parts are the best I've ever seen on a bike. The carbon tubes are flawless and where they join with the ti is perfect. The whole package, particularly with campy record carbon components, looks just beautiful.
I have longer legs than "normal" for my body height, so I needed a frame with a shorter top tube (56cm) for the seat tube height (58cm) than is typical. The Serotta dealer did an excellent job fitting me and I've never had a bike that was so comfortable to ride. I've now done several century+ rides and felt great at the end of each.
This is a bike that many would consider outrageously expensive, and I'm not saying it's for everyone. But don't knock the price until you've had a chance to ride one on a lengthy ride. I had a hard time deciding on the value rating. It's hard to call a bike that is at the very top end of the price range a high value bike, but then there are few if any other bikes that offer this combination of ride and build quality.
Similar Products Used: Calfee Tetra Pro
Serotta Legend ti
Litespeed Ultimate, Tuscany
Trek OCLV
Bike Setup: Serotta F2 fork
Campy Record
Zipp 303 sew-ups, Campy Eurus clinchers
Serotta carbon seatpost
Fizik Alliante saddle
King headset
Ritchey WCS stem
TTT Prima 199 bar
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
dnovo
a Recreational Rider
from pleasant prairie, wi
Date Reviewed: November 17, 2002
Strengths: Build, character, handling, beauty
Weaknesses: Very costly, but no pockets in coffins, so you might as well spend it on something that is at least good for your health when you use it.
Bottom Line:
This is the Ottrott ST model, with the pivoted carbon seatstay, new for the 2002/2003 model year. Very light, very responsive, good blend of a carbon and ti, with the join of the two materials a sight well worth contemplating as you clean up after a ride. The ST stay gives a better response to pedal input and superior cornering to the all-ti demo I tried first. Usual (superb) Serotta fit and paint (a great in-house paint shop that came up with precisely the custom paint I wanted.) Built to my particular size, not a stock frame. Not cheap, but worth the price of admission
Favorite Ride: Lakeshore, Ill. stateline to Racine Wi
Purchased At: Alberto's
Similar Products Used: Calfee Tetra Custom
Bike Setup: Shimano DA triple, 12-21 cassette
Zipp 303 clinchers, Vittoria Open Corsas
Serotta Carbon Seat Post
3TTT Prima 199 bar
Shimano Flight Deck Computer
Selle Italia Prolink TransAm Gelflow Saddle
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Tanner
a Recreational Rider
from Denver
Date Reviewed: June 21, 2002
Strengths: Like butta.
Weaknesses: Good thing I could demo the bike, b/c I can't afford it.
Bottom Line:
I rode this 80 miles in a demo from Monte Vista, CO to Pagosa Springs, CO. What a ride, smooth, fast, went to almost 11K feet over WolfCreek Pass, only one rider passed me on this bike climbing, out of probably 100 that this bike (not me) passed.
