Price Paid:
$700.00
at revolution bike and Model Year:
2006 Favorite Ride:
all of them Bike Setup:
stock except for spd pedals, mavic ksyrium elites, and new tape. Summary:
this was my first bike and did it's job. I was nice enough that it didn't limit my enjoyment, yet after about 1000miles i realized that i was going to need a better bike. I have put 3500+ miles on it now, and now i'm saving for a full race bike. When i first got it i weighed about 220 i now weigh 195, so i'm confident in my torture abilities. This bike has seen it all! I've commuted off road at times, wrecked it multiple times, ridden on some of the worst road in Indiana, raced it, spent long hours on it, and climbed some STEEP ascents. It goes as fast as i want, it climbs well enough, the triple saved my fat butt a few times, but it does have some weaknesses set up as stock.
The wheels sucked!! which, sadly, is all but expected at this price point. They didn't last 1000miles before the rear wheel melted down(broke spokes galore, stayed out of true, kept giving me flats because of burrs). As for the front wheel, it's as true as the day i bought it.
Shifting, what can i say? sure front shifting sucks, 700bucks doesn't get you record, but it got me on the road. But the shifting had not been as bad as some of the reviews i have read. If the chain pops off, I just shift up or down in the opposite direction of dismount, and then take it to my shop so they can re-adjust the limit screws in about 2.5 seconds for free. Sure, the front won't shift under pressure, you're not supposed to do that anyway if want to keep your drivetrain any amount of time. I haven't had any problems other than the parts that should be upgraded anyway.
In the end, I think this is a great starter bike that is sure to get anyone hooked on cycling.
Strengths:
will get you hooked on cycling!
Geometry is all but identical to 2009 Tarmacs.
Frame is super durable! i am heavy guy that can pound the pedals and the frame has never cracked. Add in rough roads, pot holes, and road rash (on me not the bike) and you have a rider that is surprised his bike isn't in two pieces.
rear shifting is good (so is the front if you keep it adjusted properly)
front shifting is 100% better than the sora you get on $700 bikes nowadays.
Zertz handle bars are sweet
my bike shop has to be the best in the country, free adjustments for three years, coffee, and all the bike porn you can stand.
This bike can be fixed no matter what happens (for those of you that gave it bad reviews)
Weaknesses:
-brakes are spongy with stock pads, add dura-ace pads for $9.00 and you're set.
-wheels blow, i upgraded to ksyrium
elites
square taper bottom bracket has to be rebuilt from time to time
i have had issues with it creaking, sometime bars, stem, b-b, seat but always fixable by tightening bolts
Similar Products Used:
little 5 bike, test ridden almost every bike in production
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