Novara Strada

Price Paid:  $0.00 at REI Boca Park Las Ve

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Red Rock State Park

Summary:
Bike is really a 2009 model. Perfect upgrade from my first steed, a steel craigslist purchase. It is everything I wanted in my upgrade, lighter, and faster, with all the bells and whistels I could ask for.

Strengths:
105's are great. Love the 3 rings up front for climbing. Easy shifting (upgrade from downtube shifting)

Weaknesses:
wish it had other color choices
For $1000 it should come with at least regular pedals (wanted to ride, but unable to until I bought clipless)

Similar Products Used:
none. This was my first upgrade bike

Price Paid:  $1000.00 at REI Santa Monica CA

Favorite Ride:
Anywhere at sunrise

Summary:
This is the 2009 model. It's a Tawian made frame for REI in-house designers. Frame blends carbon into the seat stays. Forks are carbon. Shimano 105 derailluers, shifters, chain, and cassette. Shimano R500 rims and hubs. FSA seatpost, BB, cranks, headset, stem, and bars. San Marco Ponza seat. Vittoria Zaffiro Pro 700x25 rubber.

The bike is outfitted very well when compared to simular products of this catagory. At almost 500 miles, the bike still works as it did on day one. I probably should adjust everything but it just doesn't seem to need it. The Tektro brakes seemed mushy in the beginning but came around after a while. Perhaps this was a result of the pads wearing down a little, not sure. Seat was slightly uncomfortable for about the first week or so, but OK thereafter. I estimate the bike weighs about 21 lbs. Price was great, I love a good deal and this bike has delivered. Absolutely dug the orange and white color scheme. Anyone interested in this model should visit the store vs. looking online. When I looked online, they were out of my size (53cm) but there was a 53 hanging in the store.

Overall this is a great deal for folks who appreciate a great product and value financial preservation. Folks that are hung up on frames with branded-mass-market names will need to look elsewhere.

Strengths:
Plain and simple: value. Great components hung on a frame that has no objective differences from the larger conglomerate competitors at a higher price. Absolutely love the proliferation of 105 parts at this price. Many of the other bikes I tested were 105 rear dur but slipped a lot cheaper stuff in other areas (front derailluer, shifters, chain, cassette, etc).

Weaknesses:
Bar tape ripped fairly easily. My fault but it seems fragile. I will probably have to rewrap sooner than later.

Similar Products Used:
I tested quite a few simular products before purchasing. Simular models tested were the Fuji Roubaix, Fuji Team Pro (real nice but exceeded my set price point), Specialized Allez Sport Compact Double, Cannondale Synapse Alloy 7, Gary Fisher ARC, and Scattante R-660 (Performance Bikes in-house brand). I also own and ride an 02 Giant NRS 2.

Price Paid:  $869.00 at REI

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Santa Ana River Bike Path

Bike Setup:
Ultegra Pedals, Aerobars.

Summary:
This review site only allows 2007 to be selected, but my bike is a 2008. This bike is everything I hoped it would be. I was looking for a little bit of Carbon Fiber to smooth out my ride on a budget and this bike did that. The forks and seat stays are carbon and it really smoothed out the road compared to my all 6061 aluminum Diamondback. The 105 components are great. This bike sold all year for $1099 and I bought it for $869 and will still get my 10% REI rebate credit. This bike is the same as the Fuji Roubaix with slightly different component mix.

Strengths:
Smooth ride, handlebars are extremely comfortable. The bike handles like you would want.

Weaknesses:
Seat is too hard for heavy or novice riders.

Similar Products Used:
Raleigh Grand Sport, Bianchi Steel frame, Specialized Allez.

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