New for 2004! The Roadie has been completely revamped with the new OS2 tubeset. OS2 represents advances steel technology using a 1 3/8" downtube and 1 1/4" top tube. We also added a 10mm head tube extension for easier fit. The result: less weight and a livelier ride! We also added a 10mm head tube extension for easier to fit. Also, Gunnars now come with clearcoat over decal.
Similar Products Used: various aluminum, steel, carbon fiber over my 25 yrs of cycling. This bike rides better than my last bike which was a Bianchi 928 lugged carbon fiber
Bike Setup: Full Dura Ace with control tech carbon bar and seat post. Fizik saddle, Alfa Q carbon fork, cane creek headset and Williams system 38 carbon wheels.
Strengths: - Light
- Fast
- Great build quality, made in the USA!
Weaknesses: - Some of the welds aren't that great looking
Bottom Line:
This bike rides like a dream. As stiff as any aluminum bike and as light as titanium. This True Temper OX platinum steel is no joke, it soaks up bumps and provides great stiffness when hammering out of the saddle. It climbs like a goat, descends like eagle, and corners like it's on rails.
Not only does it ride great, it looks great too! I wasn't a fan of semi compact geometry but this thing is a beaut to look at and I get compliments all the time.
Bike Setup: - Full SRAM Rival group
- Easton EC90 SL full carbon fork
- Thomson stem and seatpost
- Ultegra hubs to Open Pro rims
- San Marco Rolls saddle
- Chris King headset
- FSA Wing Pro compact bars
Strengths: it's steel....the frame is what you'd expect, but the fork is super lightweight. my for weighs a little over 1 pound!
Weaknesses: paint chips easily, other than that no weaknesses found
Bottom Line:
typical product you would expect out waterford. very nice paint, but chips easily if you didn't pay for the extra coat. Mine has the old style sweeping fork as opposed to the new straight(it's an older frame and fork). turned mine into a fixie and it's a blast!
Strengths: Weight - My 51cm weighs in at 19 lbs. with mountain bike pedals, cages, lights and framepump. "Race weight" is probably closer to 18 pounds, which is one-fourth more than the Specialized Roubaix we just had in the shop. If I put got some Ksyriums or Zipp wheels, it could also get into "weight weenie" territory.
Stiffness - I notice no discernible flex in the frame, no matter how hard I am pedaling, or what hill I'm climbing. It rides extremely similar to my old Giant TCR, which I consider to be a very stiff bike.
Steel - As cliché as it sound, steel has a ride quality that was absent in most of my other bikes. It's also durable, which I fortunately don't need, since I don't crash much, but it's nice to know that it's there. This bike should last me a lifetime.
Geometry - I honestly don't know how Gunnar could have done it any better than they did with the Roadie. More than one person has asked me if it's a custom job, because the bike fits me so well. Maybe I just got lucky, or maybe the Waterford guys know how to design bikes. I like this geometry so much that if I were ever going full-custom (doubtful), I would have the builder base my bike on this.
Weaknesses: Paint chips if you look at it wrong.
Frame seems to attract water if you ride in the rain. Somehow, it gets wetter than my other steel bikes. I applied Frame Saver, but you never like to see water dripping out of your chainstay.
Bottom Line:
I adore this bike, just ask my girlfriend. I bought this Roadie, which is from 2001, on eBay other this winter, and I regard it as one of the best purchases I've ever made. I'm logged nearly 3000 miles on it, despite the winter and the exceedingly wet spring, since February.
I'm hardly nationalistic, but I take a bit of pride in knowing that my bike was handmade in America by a skilled builder working in the legendary Waterford plant.
I find this bike is great for the type of riding I do, which is local road races and lots of long, fast rides through various locales and terrain. The Roadie definitely has "aggressive" geometry, which is exactly what I wanted. The steel frame does a great job of absorbing road vibrations, which is nice if you live somewhere where potholes never get patched.
Since February, this bike is my daily commuter. I own a car, but it's rarely used since I work less than a mile from my home, and everything I need is within reach (or my girlfriend brings home for me). It's definitely NOT a do-all bike, for that, I have a Surly Cross-Check, but I love this bike so much, that I find every excuse I can to get on and ride. I'll leave the panniers at home and take my messenger bag with me to the store, just so I can get more quality time with the bike, even if it means that my cans of orange juice concentrate stab me in the back on the ride home.
If you're considering getting a Gunnar, I wouldn't hesitate. It's far and away the best value is handmade steel around. It'll probably be the least expensive lifetime investment you'll ever make.
I have to confess I didn't ride today. We were supposed to get snow last night and it never happened. It was sunny and nearly 40 today and I had the day off. I know I know how coul Read More »
hello everyone....new guy here!! im a mountain biker for the most part but decided to try some road riding. im a big guy weighing in at 265lbs ,lost 155 from mtn biking and eating Read More »
Hi from Fountain Hills AZ. (I'm not from Maryland anymore ... Arizona now.)
[I][B]Anyone interested in starting a semi-regular pre-work weekday morning lap around FH?[/B][/I]
Read More »
Here are some pics of my new Gunnar roadie. I swapped parts over from my 2009 Trek 1.5. I won't get to ride it outside for another month or two, but it will see some trainer time Read More »
