I can tell you about my SLT01
velo-blue said:
Thanks to everyone for the thoughts. It's hard to get a feel for some things during a short test, but so far, the input matches up pretty well with what I've been thinking.
- BMC should be more relaxed (less twitchy, less responsive - spin it how you will )
- BMC offers a little more flexibility in terms of sizing options (a 53cm matches the top tube of my current ride) and taller head tube
- Weight is something we obsess on, but I can probably use to lose a pound or two
- R3 will maintain caché of being a "pro bike" but BMC will remain caché of being unique
Keep up the input to let me know what I'm missing.
Thanks.
Peter
Well, I can tell you after owning an SLT01 for a year now from at least a little experience. I haven't ridden everything, but I can tell you this is the stiffest frame laterally that I have ever ridden (This is coming from someone who has had a two Cannondale 2.8 frames). I just love how when I get out of the saddle on a hill, it just goes, and doesn't sway. Before I decided on this, I did ride a Six13, Madone 5.9, Lemond Ti/Carbon "spine", DeRosa Dual, Seven Alta, and some others I can't remember. I actually found the handling a tad quicker than the front end on my Cannondale 2.8, which really surprised me, given the geometry listed, and the Cannondale's reputation of being more of a "crit" bike. But after riding it for a while, I have gotten used to it, so I really don't think it is any "slower". I also have no hesitation at descending with it, in that way it isn't twitchy at all, its rock solid.
It is also one of the lightest frames I picked up last year. I know that this year there are sub 900g frames, but I can tell you from personal experience, this is NOT a heavy frame. To put things in perspective, your average bottle cage is about 50-70g. I doubt you could notice the difference between the weights of the frames, if you had two bottle cages difference, I don't think I could.
I haven't ridden a Cerevelo, but just judging by my experience, and the tubing shapes, I doubt it would be any stiffer laterally. The BMC is not as damp as a Madone, so you will get more road feel, and its less cushy. This can be good, and bad, just depends on your wants.
BTW, it is a Pro Bike, The SLT01 has been used by Phonak for the last 2 Seasons at least, the SLC01 was used by the upper end riders last year in TDF. Not sure if Phonak has gone completely to the SLC01 for the whole team, but the SLT01 is still an awesome frame either way.
I hadn't seen anything in my research to say that the frame is a Taiwanese made frame, so I can't say if those rumors are true or not. I can say that the finish work is as good as any other top notch frame, especially the blending between the CNC BB and carbon chainstays. It looks like its one piece, just gorgeous. The finish is every bit the equal of my friend's DeRosa Dual. So the quality is there, and BMC specifically makes bikes for the Phonak team, and I've heard has experience from manufacturing monocoque Formula 1 stuff, so I would say either the rumor is wrong, or the quality control is really tight, and manufactured to BMCs specs, not just some run of the mill Tawainese frame.