Price Paid:
$750.00
at Criagslist Favorite Ride:
anything fast and long Bike Setup:
LD-736R 57 cm frame, carbon fork, Mavic Cosmic wheels, D-A 9 spd, Conti GP 4000 tires, Specialized Toupe saddle, ITM stem, Cane Creek headset. Summary:
I picked this bike up from Craigslist as an upgrade from my Trek 1000. The price I paid could not have covered the full D-A component group alone, so I considered it a good deal.
Like others, I cannot overstate how incredibly stiff this bike is. I test road a full carbon Specialized Tarmac, and it was not much stiffer than the Leader. Stomp on the pedals and this bike will GO!
Make no mistake, this frame has an "R" in its name for a reason - this is a racing frame. It is very stiff, and VERY responsive. The wheelbase is 98.5 cm: on the short side. It definitely verges on being called "twitchy".
On descents and at high speeds though, this bike is rock solid. I've personally had it near 50 mph and it just gets steadier and steadier the faster you go. Through corners, the thing rides like it's on freaking rails - just push on the inside bar and the bike punches straight for the apex. The eagerness with which it goes round corners can be terrifying on steep mountain descents.
Let's talk about those welds. They are, without a doubt, the most perfect, beautiful welds I have ever seen on aluminum anywhere, period, no holds barred. Just the welds themselves are works of art. I get asked every group ride if the frame is carbon, simply because the welds are so smooth.
Cost-wise, for a racing bike, you cannot beat this frame. If/when you wreck and destroy your bike, a replacement frame can be had for a mere $300, as opposed to nearly twice that much for a carbon frame. Strengths:
Stiff, ungodly responsive, corners well, stunning near-flawless welds, 100% hydroformed tubing, did I say stiff? Beautiful paint job, and definitely not a bike you see everyday. Weaknesses:
Will eventually beat you to death on long rides over rough roads. Not a touring frame by any stretch of the imagination. Low bottom bracket. Similar Products Used:
Trek Alpha 1000
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