Blue RC4

Price Paid:  $0.00

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Phill's 'extended' Skyline Loop (PDX)

Bike Setup:
Grouppo- Dura Ace Shimano
Wheels- Easton Orion II
Seatpost/stem/handlebars- Aerus Composites Carbon
Headset-Aures Integrated
Saddle- Blue Comp Cycles
Tires- Maxxis Columiere

Summary:
I bought this bike mid August and have put a thousand plus miles on it. From day one I fell in love with this bike. This bike is a rocket; light yet stiff, while still being compliant and smooth over the rough stuff. The handling is quick, sharp, and responsive without being twitchy. Descending feels stable at speed, and climbing and sprinting it feels very light and responsive.

Strengths:
Lightweight- with Shimano Ultegra pedals my ML weighs approx 16.75 lbs. Rockets up hills and in standing sprints, but without feeling flexy.
Responsive- reacts to rider input and turns on a dime but without feeling squirly.
Fast- it's got giddy'up
Comfortable- suprisingly comfy for a crit-type race bike on longer rides.
Value- try to find a quality carbon frame with Dura Ace and carbon goodies for $5,000.00... you won't. AND they have these on closeout with Dura Ace for $3,000.00 on line.

Weaknesses:
My only complaint should probably be directed at Lufthansa Airlines. My rear wheel went out of true after about 100 miles, but this may have happened when I flew with the bike from the US to Europe.

Similar Products Used:
None. Prior to this I was riding an old hand-me-down Strawberry custom built frame from '83, with a Campy grouppo.

Price Paid:  $2500.00 at custom built

Model Year:
2006

Favorite Ride:
Blue RC4, Dura-ace/ultegra/fsa. Full carbon and build for speed baby!

Bike Setup:
Blue RC4 frame, ultegra components (soon to be sram red!) dura-ace hubs laced with cx-ray spokes to mavic cxp-33 rims. fsa carbon crank, seatpost, stem. Syntace bars and aerobars.

Summary:
I have always ridden trek, but decided that I would break out of the mold and do something different. I picked up this frame from a friend of mine at a great price, and have completely LOVED it! It is definitely more aggressive than the trek design and it is super light!

Strengths:
Super aggressive feel, light, very strong (I am a 200lb rider), and cool different graphics. It really stands out from the crowd.

Weaknesses:
The only thing I can think of is the white paint around the head tube looks dirty after the cables start to ware on it. But that is kind of expected since I have put nearly 7500 miles on it.

Similar Products Used:
Trek pieces of poop