Wilier Lavaredo

Price Paid:  $2400.00 at Buyl Sport

Favorite Ride:
Marmotte France

Bike Setup:
WILIER Lavaredo:
Shimano Ultegra 10 speed/FSA compact crankset, Mavic Ksyrium SL wheels, Ritchey alum WCS seat post, Pro stem, San Marco saddle, 3ttt handle bar, total weight 8.3kg

Summary:
After my Alu VITUS, a purchased this WILIER Lavaredo, good price/quality, great driving; more then 10.000km already, great for taking curves, strong but light, looks nice, my best bike so far!

Strengths:
It's a solid, strong frame, with great comfort, good tractability, fast acceleration, ideal price/quality bike

Weaknesses:
Matt painting work is difficult to clean, further no complains

Similar Products Used:
Sometimes I use a Cannondale Synapse?from a friend, not easy to handle in curves (for me), less comfort, where is the design?

Price Paid:  $1650.00 at Bicycling Australia

Favorite Ride:
Homebush

Bike Setup:
2001/2002 Wilier Lavaredo
Full 9spd Ultegra Groupset
Columbus Lynk carbon fork
Columbus Carve carbon rear seatstays
Ksyrium Elite wheels
Ritchey WCS bars
Ritchey Pro stem
FSA K-Force Light carbon post
Fizik Pave Gel saddle

Summary:
This is my first high-end road bike. Prior to this, I rode very old steel roadbikes and mountainbikes. My last roadbike was a woman's touring bike (ie. with the step through frame) that I bought on ebay for $20. It was actually quite fantastic and I commuted 30kms on it daily. However, I felt the need to buy a really lightweight top-end bike and the Lavaredo was just absolutely beautiful. I have it in a very bright gleaming yellow. And the feel of the bike! It's just something else. It accelerates so fast, I often beat cars off the mark at traffic lights. And it lets me scream down hills at 65km/h while letting me feel I'm in complete control all the way. The best way to describe how this bike feels is: "tight". Everytime I ride it, it feels better and better. If you ever get the chance to get a Lavaredo, you should take it. Awesome value for money (unless you're lucky enough to get a $20 old steel bike on ebay). I recommend this bike very highly. Just love it!

Strengths:
Tight feel.
Very light.
Beautiful paintjob.
Horizontal top tube.
Extremely fast acceleration.

Weaknesses:
None!
Except: yellow paintjob is difficult to keep clean.

Similar Products Used:
Old steel bikes from the 1970s.

Price Paid:  $0.00 at www.atabike.com (ATA

Favorite Ride:
Every chance I get

Bike Setup:
Wilier Triestina Lavaredo
Reynolds Ouzo Comp Fork
Campagnolo Daytona 10spd
ITM handlebars
Ritchey Pro Stem
Selcof Alum Seatpost
Selle Italia Ti Flight Seat
Look P396 Pedals
Equation Wheelset

Summary:
Happiness. This bike really lived to its hype. The carbon rear seat stays and the Reynold’s Ouzo Comp fork made my ride more comfortable as I upgraded from a full aluminum bike. I was very doubtful about riding a carbon enforced frame at first since I’m about 200 lbs and fearful that one day they will just shatter beneath me. Ok.. ok, that’s a bit of an exaggeration. Seriously, with all the weight limits out there regarding light alloy and carbon, I was really hesitant to do the leap of faith.

Anyway, 500 miles after my purchase, I am still very happy and excited to hop on my bike every chance I get. The matte blue finish made it even prettier to look at. There’s only one drawback that I noticed. Since I’m a heavy rider, I would expect to torque anything I’m on during a climb, the bottom bracket to be specific. It’s not as bad as I expected but it still noticeable. Apart from that (which can be remedied by losing some weight) I’m a happy rider, only if I can pronounce the Wilier brand correctly every time I’m asked, “So, what bike do you ride?”

VERDICT: Stop dreaming GET IT!

Strengths:
The 10 speed campy it came on really helped me flatten hills. The componentry and performance of the bike justify the cost.

Weaknesses:
Flexing bottom bracket (if you're a heavy rider)

Similar Products Used:
Orbea Marmolada, Trek 5200, Cannondale 800

Price Paid:  $2500.00 at various (self built)

Favorite Ride:
Austin, TX Ride for the Roses

Bike Setup:
Full 2003 Dura-Ace 9-speed, Easton carbon bars, American Classic 420 wheelset, and I kept the GIANT Aero carbon seatpost. Weight with LOOK pedals, computer and two bottle cages is 17 lbs. 1 oz. on certified for trade scale.

Summary:
Typical Italian quality. Excellent! I purchased a 2003 Lavaredo in red to replace my Giant TCR2r frame. What a difference. I loved the Giant but this frame rocks! Great ride, awesome sprints, billy goat climing and carves corners like a knife.

Strengths:
Great looks. Excellent paint and welds. Carbon fork and seat stays. Lite-weight. Stiff power transfer yet comfortable ride.

Weaknesses:
No complaints.

Similar Products Used:
TCR2r Giant

Price Paid:  $2200.00

Favorite Ride:
all Belgian race tracks

Bike Setup:
-Itm carbon seat stay and headset
-mavic Cosmic wheels (not a good choice, now replaced by Campa Proton)
-Campa centaur

Summary:
I bought this bike because of the carbon rear stays and looks. The frame looks great in its matt blue finishing. It feels very stiff and strong on heavy or long climbs (even with my 100 kg). But the most fun thing about it is the way how it corners. You can take your turns much easier with this frame.

Strengths:
-great looks
-taking turns
-climbing

Weaknesses:
-noise in the headset bearings when climbing
-Maybe the frame is a little to small for me

Similar Products Used:
old bike was a Vicini (campa veloce). Very good bike