Strengths: CARBON SEATSTAYS WITH STEEL GIVES THE BIKE SOME GIVE. WHEN HAMMERING I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED ANY FLEXING PROBLEMS OUT OF THE SADDLE. AN EXCELLENT LONG RIDING MACHINE.
Weaknesses: HAVE NOT EXPERIANCED ANY DIFFICULTY WITH THE RIDE. HAD TO CUT THE SEAT POST THOUGH TO GET IT LOW ENOUGH FOR MY RIDING POSITION. THE CARBON/STEEL JOINT WOULD NOT ALLOW THE SEATPOST TO GO AS LOW AS I NEEDED. I HAVE A 31IN INSEAM ON A 53CM FRAME. PROBLEM SEATING THE BOTTOM SEAL ON THE FRONT FORK. BOTH FIXES EASILY COMPLETED. NO COSTS INVOLVED
Bottom Line:
THE RIDE CHARECTERISTICS OF THIS BIKE ARE EXCELLENT COMPAIRED TO THE FEEL OF MY FULL CARBON ORBEA ORCA. IT IS JUST AS QUICK IN THE CORNERS, AT SPEED, AND HANDLES REALLY WELL WHEN THE SURPIZE ROUGH ROAD IS AHEAD. MOST BUMPS/JARRING OF THE ROAD ARE SOAKED UP REALLY WELL WITH A THUD LIKE FEELING COMING FROM THE CARBON SEAT STAYS/SEAT TUBE. REPLACED THE HANDLE BARS WITH A NICE SET OF FLAT CARBON ONES. NO BIG CHANGES IN FEEL DEPARTMENT, MORE A PREFERANCE. CAMPY COMPONENTS ARE SMOOTH AND SHIFT FLAWLESSLY. THE TRUVATIV CRANKSET WORKS FLAWLESSLY WITH THE CAMPY EQUIPMENT. NO SHIFTING PROBLEMS AT ALL. THE EQUIPMENT SEEMS TO BE QUIETER THAN THE FSA/CAMPY SET UP I AM RUNNING ON MY OTHER RIDE. AFTER SETTING MY RIDING POSITION UP I HAD NO PROBLEMS ADJUSTING TO THE BIKE. IT HAS A PLUSH OR SLOW FEEL TO THE RIDE CHARECTERISTIC. NOT SAYING IT IS SLOW HANDLING JUST SLOW COMFORTABLE FEEL OF THE RIDE. HARD TO EXPLAIN. WOULD SUJEST THIS BIKE TO SOMEONE WITH RIDING TALENT LOOKING FOR A SECOND RIDE FOR COMMUTING OVER A RACEY CARBON BIKE AND FOR A RIDER WHO IS MOVING IN TO LONGER RIDES. NOT A RACER AND MORE THAN A RECREATIONAL RIDER.
