Serotta Sports Inc. Colorado III

Price Paid:  $2500.00 at Cyclesport

Model Year:
2004

Favorite Ride:
New York City to Park Ridge

Bike Setup:
Full Ultegra 9 speed. Mavic Open Classic Pro( which will soon be replaced with mavic kysirium elite), Serotta carbon seatpost, Specialized Arial saddle. Look Keo Sprint, best bang for the buck in clipless. Continental attack and force rubber, sticky, fast and reliable. I have never gotten a flat doing my usual ride, now I have to go knock on some wood as I might have jinxed myself.

Summary:
This bike was purchased second hand so the actual purchase price was lower. The bike rides like an arrow. I often ride from New York City to Park Ridge New Jersey, where I got the bike and I must say I am never tired or feel banged up. Steel is for real. Finish is first rate, color (Porsche Bebe) spectacular, and my full ultegra components are butter. I just purchased a Specialized Arial saddle, light and very comfy.

Strengths:
Stable, light weight ride easy on the wallet. Great workmanship.

Weaknesses:
None.

Similar Products Used:
Old raleigh grand prix. Cannondale R700.

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Bicycle Ranch

Model Year:
2005

Favorite Ride:
Granite Dells

Bike Setup:
Ultegra 9 speed, FSA K-Wing Bars (love 'em), FSA Carbon Crank, Thomson seat post, Chris King headset, Ouzo Pro fork (another great choice)

Summary:
My first custom bicycle. It's great to have a bicycle made for my size, weight (heavy!) and riding style. Comfortable for long rides, stiff, but compliant. Tracks and corners as well as any bike I've ridden. Gorgeous paint (cobalt blue), great build quality (which is to be expected). I've got about 1,000 miles in and would choose this bicycle again. A significant step up from my 2003 Allez Cro-Mo Comp in stiffness, handling and confidence at high speeds - particularly the Ouzo Pro fork (I've had it over 50 mph without any drama).

Strengths:
Great steel at a minimal weight penalty.
Beautiful bicyle built just for me. Should last me until retirement.

Weaknesses:
A little pricey, but you get a special bicycle that you can keep for life.

Similar Products Used:
Specialized Allez, Masi Gran Criterium, Scattante Airplane, Trek 2300,

Price Paid:  $3000.00 at Racers Edge,Boca Rat

Model Year:
2004

Favorite Ride:
Florida Keys

Bike Setup:
Serotta Colorado III
Look Carbon fork
Mostly Ultegra with Dura shifters
Easto carbon bars and stem
Look Keo
Mavic cx

Summary:
Have ridden The Serotta Colorado III for two years and 7200 miles in Florida, Seattle To Portland, Austin, Wash. DC.Mostly 30-40 mile club rides.

Strengths:
Comfortable, easy to ride easy, easy to ride hard, easy to climb for a Floridian and light weight. Custom fit

Weaknesses:
Chips and dings from bike rack and condo bike room. $$$

Similar Products Used:
Giant Ocr, Specialized Allez

Price Paid:  $4400.00 at Bicycle Sport Shop

Favorite Ride:
Back roads in Central Texas

Bike Setup:
Serotta Colorado III
Reynolds Ouzo Pro Fork
Campy Centaur Components
Botrager Race Light Wheel Set

Summary:
I do 2 triathlons a year and ride on regular basis. I wanted a good road bike I could use for triathlons with minor modifications. After 4 months of research, I came across the Serotta brand. I researched Independent Fabrication and all the brands I test-rode (see below). I test-rode Guru, Moots, Quinatana Roo, Cannondale, Trek, Lightspeed, Merlin, Cervelo, and Look. I tried frames made of aluminum, titanium, carbon fiber, steel, and composites/combinations of these materials. I liked the steel ride quality better than any other material, so the fact that steel is cheaper made the desicion easier. I worried about corrosion, so I opted for the Serotta Brand. They use Columbus Nobidum steel on their CIII. I found it to be the most recently produced alloy out there that I could find for carbon steel with enhanced corrosion resistant properties.
I have used the bike 8 times (not as much as I would like but work gets on the way). I have no complains on the ride quality...it feels as good as the Serottas I tested and better that the other materials (Carbon fiber feels dead, Aluminum feels to stiff, and titanium is too $$$$$). The CIII is quick and feels very light. The custom fit feels great.

Strengths:
Ride quality/price balance
Ride quality (steel rules)
Custom Fit

Weaknesses:
It is expensive...but heck I wanted the thing.

Similar Products Used:
I have been a mountain biker for the last 5 years. Before that I had an old steel road bike...(very heavy and cheap)