Serotta Sports Inc. Concours

Price Paid:  $5200.00 at Ocean Ride

Model Year:
2002

Favorite Ride:
Anywhere

Bike Setup:
Chorus 10 speed. Bontrager RaceXLites.

Summary:
Destroyed my old Trek 2300 in an accident and went for this Bike as it was a demonstrator(therefore a good buy).
Bike from day 1 until now has been astounding in it's performance. Wickedly responsive- the transfer of power to the road is like a straight line, as if it's not going through a drivetrain at all. On rails handling- very accurate handler and extremely stable at high speeds. Quiet- No noise has emanated from the Bike since I've owned it.

Strengths:
Fast, Stable, Great Handling, Responsive, Good Looking Bike-Immune from trends(timeless), Feel of Titanium

Weaknesses:
None. Some may say cost, but if looked after, and you don't need the latest bike under you, then it could be your last Bike purchase(which in itself could be a negative!)

Similar Products Used:
Merlin Cyrene

Price Paid:  $2999.00 at Park Ave Bike, Roche

Model Year:
2005

Favorite Ride:
Highlander Century

Bike Setup:
2005 Serotta Concours CS with full Ultegra 10 gruppo, Ouzo Pro fork, Mavic Ksyrium Elite Wheels, Specialized Carbon Handlebar, Terry Dragonfly Saddle.

Summary:
2005 Concours CS. Great titanium feel for the road. Responsive to power pedaling. True line steering on sweeping and sharp downhills.

Strengths:
Titanium ride, light weight, responsiveness and in touch with the road feel.

Weaknesses:
None.

Similar Products Used:
1998 Sshwinn Peloton, 2006 Giant OCR C1, 2005 Felt F2c, 2003 Trek 5200

Price Paid:  $5500.00 at Altheus , Rye, NY

Model Year:
2005

Favorite Ride:
Still looking, they are ALL good.

Bike Setup:
Full Ultegra, Mavic Ksyrium SSL WHeels, Conti FOrce/Attack Tires, Easton Carbon Stem and bar, Thompson seatpost, WTB Seat, Ouzo Pro Fork.

Summary:
I was loaned a demo of this bike for a 60 mile charity ride with lots of hills. Fell in love with it instantly. In shopping, I took 6 more months and rode many other titanium and carbon bikes. No other bike I rode had it's combination of liveliness and comfort.
Has Ouzo Pro fork and Carbon seatstays.

Strengths:
Road feel, a combination of making the vibrations and small bumps disappear, but still having a lively connection to the surface. Confidence inspiring on fast downhills. Responsive to pedal input, accelerates briskly.

Weaknesses:
None - The bike is expensive, but so are any other bikes of it's caliber, and it fits like a glove because it was custom made for me.

Similar Products Used:
Trek Pilot, Orbea Orca, Felt F4C, Specialized Allez Comp.

Price Paid:  $6000.00 at Brittons, San Antoni

Model Year:
2005

Favorite Ride:
Rolling hills

Bike Setup:
Campy Chorus CD, Carbon crank
Mavic ES wheels
Michelin Pro Race2 tires
ITM K Sword bar
ITM carbon stem
ITM carbon seatpost
Fizik Aliante saddle
Look Keo pedals

Summary:
This is a Concours CS, Ti with Carbon seat stay and Serotta F3 Carbon fork. Has Campy Chorus CD and the new special edition Mavic wheels.

I selected the brushed Ti finish without paint and Serotta 'decals' that were made using a mat finish brush technique directly on the Ti frame. Very classy, but low key look, not a loud (albeit very high quality)Serotta paint job as I tend to see on other bikes.

I bought this bike to get a custom fit as my previous bike (Orbea) simply would not work for my needs, even with changes in stem,spacers, etc, etc.

Although price was high, it did compare VERY favorably with the other 'top of the line' off the shelf bikes I considered.

In value for money terms, I think I did much better with this Serotta. I could have easily spent much more for a stock bike with same components that did not really fit me.

Strengths:
Ti frame looks great, is light for my needs, lifetime frame, designed exactly for me without the need for any odd adjustments in components.

Rides smoothy on various road surfaces, very stable at higher downhill speeds, very sexy visual appeal, climbs well and is very comfortable from 1st to last mile I ride.

Campy Chorus is simply wonderful. My Orbea had Ultegra with a FSA Compact drive carbon crankset. I could never get a consistently smooth shift between chainrings, tossed chain off time and time again.

With the campy compact drive, I get perfect shift every time, easy shift to big ring, no exception, smooth as butter, small thumb shifters are great, never knew how badly the FSA and Ultegra mix was until I tried my new Serotta with pure Campy.

Weaknesses:
Price, need to wait 6 weeks for delivery in prime riding season (worth the wait, but I should have ordered in winter!!)

Could have done without the one red spoke on my wheels, but love them anyway.

Similar Products Used:
None, previous bike was an Orbea Onix