Diamondback Podium 3

Price Paid:  $895.00 at Mobile Cycle

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Pelican Point

Summary:
Quick, Stiff but comfortable, Great entry bike! I love to ride it. It makes 4:30 mornings enjoyable! Dont see many on the road.

Strengths:
Price
compnent value
responsiveness

Weaknesses:
Seat (not so good on long rides)
wheelset is weak

Similar Products Used:
Giant OCR2

Price Paid:  $629.00 at Sport Chalet

Model Year:
2006

Favorite Ride:
110th loop and crit training

Bike Setup:
DBR podium 3 Ultegra ? 105 mix, C. record post, Mavic Aksium wheelset, Form E3 Ti saddle

Summary:
Was looking for a secondary bike at my work location. I have about 1000 miles on it and it's pretty solid. Tektro brakes are a bit scary in descents. Corners well and very responsive. Chnaged the wheels to Aksiums, I'm 6' 235 and the Shimano 500's were a bit loose.

Strengths:
Price was a major factor. Good 105 / Ultegra mix. Salesman upgraded my seatpost to a Campy record at no charge.

Weaknesses:
Shimano 500 wheels (replaced) the derailleur hanger bent and Ultegra rear d. cage broke. replaced free, bottom bracket was wearing funny - replaced with Ti at no charge. Saddle stiff.

Similar Products Used:
Scattante R660

Price Paid:  $1650.00 at LBS

Model Year:
2006

Favorite Ride:
up mt soledad and down

Bike Setup:
DBR Podium 3, 06
Time RXS Carbon pedals
cateye met8?
-all you need to go fast

Summary:
Read the strengths and weaknesses.
I love this bike personally. The weaknesses are more mental, besides the seat post and the r500 wheelset, but they work fine in reality.

Strengths:
-Comfortable
-105's that come with shift great (sora/tiagra = don't get)
-half aluminum, half carbon (comfort, again)
-fast (passed upon many madone's)
-good crank

Weaknesses:
-Fake carbon post (looks neat)
-Saddle can be a pain on longer rides
-r500 are not good at staying trued
-if platforms are on it from factory, make sure you get them loosened up. Mine were a beast to take off and was even hard for my LBS (B + L bike shop). It's as though they forced it on way too hard.
-handlebar isn't curved for comfort, standard original type

Similar Products Used:
Specialized Allez