Santa Cruz Mountain Bikes Roadster

Price Paid:  $2300.00 at Carolina Fatz Cyling

Favorite Ride:
Roadster so far

Bike Setup:
Stock Ultegra group with EC90 carbon fork and EC70 carbon seatpost. Ksyrium wheels.

Summary:
The Roadster is a very fast, stiff bike. The roadster tracks very well on fast descents and climbs just as good. The ride quality is a little harsh for those coming off a steel frame, but the EC90 fork and EC70 seatpost eliminate most of the vibration. Absolutely no problems with the bike or the Ultegra group after 6,000 miles. Santa Cruz quality at its best.

Strengths:
Super stiff frame and light weight. Aero tubing makes the bike very fast on descents. Climbs well.

Weaknesses:
I have noticed some flex in the top tube, but relate that to my large 200lb frame pushing on it!

Similar Products Used:
KHS Flite 500, Univega.

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Cyclon Cycle Industr

Favorite Ride:
Penang Coastal Road Ride

Bike Setup:
Medium, Black, EC90 fork, USE seatport Large, Deda Newton 110mm, Deda 215 handlebar 44cm, DuraAce 175mm crank, 12T-27T cogset, Selle San Marco Aspide, DuraAce WH-7700, Vittoria Corsa Extra TT

Summary:
The bike is fast. I'm comparing this to my experince with my Trusty Eddy Merckx. It's a huge different between this bike. Roaster can take cornering faster and accelerate so much faster than Merckx. It's also so much stiffer than Merckx. The USE seatpost really state-of-art carbon post where it absorb the harshness of the road very very well. Easton EC90 too work extremely well. EC90 is stiff yet comfortable ride.The Santa Cruz package is fantastic!

Strengths:
Fast, light weight, stiff yet comfortable.

Weaknesses:
I dont find any.

Similar Products Used:
1990 Eddy Merckx Corsa Extra Columbus SLX with 8sp Dura Ace. CXP33 rims, Cinelli Handlebar, Cinelli 1-A Quill stem 120mm, Tioga tires

Price Paid:  $0.00

Favorite Ride:
a Fast one

Bike Setup:
Campy Chorus with a Mizuno Time trail fork, easton EC70 seatpost Ritchey WCS bars and stem, Mavic brakes, mavic Cosmic front wheel.

Summary:
After breaking the first 3 frames I got the 03 model after waiting 7 months. I looked it over and discovered that the frame had been redesigned. The downtube barrel ajusters now worked, the fame looks good. I wish I could give it a better rating. I am a big rider and I break things. I expect an overwieght 3.3 lb roadframe to be stiff and solid, this one isn't. I ride a 19lb (2.75 lb frame)mtn bike that I have had for 4 years. I have never broken a part on it, I think that makes a road frame that is almost half a pound heaver a little suspect when 3 of them break in exactly the same place.

Strengths:
The frame looks fast. The bottom bracket area was redesigned. The swapable dropouts are cool. Plush ride. Great frame for small or light riders.

Weaknesses:
The top tube flexes like a flyrod fishing pole, pushed hard, the bike is scary. The front triangle feels like its not attached to the back end. After finishing a time trial, I sat up, took my hands off the bars and the thing developed a highspeed shimmy that nearly caused me to crash. This wasn't due to rider error either. The botom bracket was lowered causing me to strike pedals while pedaling through corners. The bike is so close to being the ultimate crit/time trail bike its scary. All it needs is a much larger diameter toptube. Large riders will have flex issues.

Similar Products Used:
2 first gen and 1 2nd generation frames

Price Paid:  $0.00

Favorite Ride:
Anything with a 10%+ grade.

Bike Setup:
Replaced bar with Easton carbon road bar.

Summary:
To address reviews of earlier models of the Roadster: The '03 fixes all of the shortcomings. The BB welding has been redone. Oh, and it's got a GODLY Easton EC-90 carbon fork on it now.

Anyhow, I love this bike. It's a speed demon. It loves to be sprinted on. The stiff, aluminum frame combined with the Ksyrium wheels make it oh so fast and rigid.

It handles extremely well. It cuts corners effortlessly. No shakiness or unpredictability here.

I rode a Ritchey frame road bike in comparison.. this one feels so much more responsive (well.. aluminum vs. steel).

Get it!

Strengths:
Stiff, responsive, light. Ksyriums. It looks so so sexy.

Weaknesses:
Less comfortable than a steel bike. Ultegra may not make everyone happy (buy the frameset then)

Similar Products Used:
Bianchi Boron, Ritchey / Dura-Ace setup, Lemond Maillot Jaime.