Wilier Alpe D'Huez

Price Paid:  $2000.00 at Acquaintance

Favorite Ride:
Inverloch, VIC

Bike Setup:
Dura Ace drive and wheels. Look 457 pedals. Selcof seat post. Pro stem and bars. Selle Italia saddle.

Summary:
I've ridden a few bikes in my time, but this bike outshines all in terms of 'bang for your buck'. Like a sportscar it sits squatted ready to take off. Tokk a little getting used to but now love it. Great climber and even better on the way down. An Italian classic!

Strengths:
Light and agile. Once fitted correctly, moulds to riders positioning. Quick. Solid feel feel evn though very light. Finish is immaculate. Mine is the 'tarditional' Wiler colour copper top section and black with red and white highlights.

Weaknesses:
Lightness. Slightly stiff on rough roads.

Price Paid:  $799.00 at Schwab Cycles

Favorite Ride:
Mt.St.Helens

Bike Setup:
Campy Record 10 speed; Campy Eurus Wheel set; Time pedals ; Fizik saddle; Deda stem and bar; Conti tires (clincher)

Summary:
Very nice to spend hours in the saddle; climbs well; very neutral on high speed descents; great when you are out of the saddle! Quick handler! Very good for road racing.

Strengths:
No noticable flex; neutral steer; great for long days in the saddle; great bike for long climbs.

Weaknesses:
Seat tube diameter 31.4 thou Selcof will get the post from italy (Red Rose Imports)Not a Crit bike

Similar Products Used:
Trek 5500 OCLV is the closest to it's feel; but the Wilier feels a bit more solid, and does not have the whell hop with large wall rims at high speed.

Price Paid:  $2700.00 at Bicycle express adel

Favorite Ride:
Wilier alpe d huez

Bike Setup:
Record Ultra 10 speed 2006 group set
Ritchey WCS wheels and hubs,bar and stem,durace pedals,oval concepts carbon seat post .SLR carbon saddle.

Summary:
Great handling,very little flex for such a
light bike.Very well built.Great looks love the red yellow combo with rest of bike black and carbon parts.Even though carbon,aluminum combo,does not feel the bumps.Geometry is great,mine has sloped bar and accelerates like a rocket better than my brand new racing bike.Cant
go wrong for the money.Excellent race training Bike.

Strengths:
Responsive,Comfort,looks and quality

Weaknesses:
Paint on cabling gets worn if you don't keep replacing with stick on clear pads .Sometimes a little to light ,like on very windy days Would like to have had 31.8 bar instead of 26,of course you could change it.

Similar Products Used:
Trek 1400,Giant tcr zero,Orbea

Price Paid:  $2600.00 at Atlanta Cycling

Favorite Ride:
Long rides in the North Georgia mountains

Bike Setup:
FSA Team crank & BB, Campy Chorus derailleurs and cassette w/record carbon shifters, Selcof carbon post, Selle Italia Trans Am TI saddle, Deda Newton bars & stem, Ksyrium SSC SL's, Look 396 pedals.

Summary:
I bought my AdH about 9 months ago and have put ~ 2,500 miles on it. It climbs great in the mountains and doesn't shimmy on the descents. I've touched 55 mph and felt very comfortable in the saddle. The alu/carbon combination is very comfortable, but I haven't ridden too many other machines for long distances so can't really make a fair comparison.

Strengths:
Beautiful look, red/yellow and carbon galore. Solid machine and a good value for an aluminum/carbon frame and all carbon fork with Chorus. Not seen every day of the week. Awesome dealer support. Italian cache.

Weaknesses:
I have read complaints of the cable routing rubbing paint. Rubber cable guides installed over the housing came on my bike, so no problem. The paint, although gorgeous, is not very durable. Lots of chips on fork and actually rubbed off of the bottom of the top tube after carrying on a trailer hitch Thule rack...this never happened to any of my mountain bikes!!! Soft clear coat or something. I have not had a problem with the integrated headset; however, I'd prefer an external Chris King.

Similar Products Used:
My first road bike since my steel Viner in the early '80's. I'm test riding an Izoard and Lampre team bike in the next couple weeks...always room for a new bike!

Price Paid:  $1800.00 at www.veloimports.com

Favorite Ride:
Alp D' Huez

Bike Setup:
Dura Ace components (comes with a carbon seatpost), Mavic Cosmos CD wheels, Veloflex Pave tires, Deda Newton bars/Magic Stem.

Summary:
This is for the 2003 ALP D' HUEZ.
I elected to purchase the standard geometry model, but this one is also available in compact geometry.
The ride is smooth thanks to the carbon seat-stays, yet suprisingly responsive for the sprinters.
I'm considered a fast descender by my cycling friends and I've been able to bring the speed up a notch with this frame under me. Spectacular.
Blends the best of both worlds (sprinting/responsive vs. smooth/comfortable) perfectly. A+ ride. If you want a cool looking bike that also rides as well as it looks, BUY ONE!

Strengths:
Quite responsive yet smooth as silk. Corners like it's got suction cups. Frighteningly fast on the descents.

Weaknesses:
It's perfect. I can't think of a single one.

Similar Products Used:
I also ride a Calfee Tetra Pro (very responsive and stiff), a Gios A-90 (smoother, nice long ride bike), and a Columbus Genius steel Rock Lobster (it's steel..).