[Closed] Road bike. Ultimate build thread ?

Colnago C60 Classic with Di2. Wheels would be some nice handbuilts for daily riding, then some pimpier ones probably from Mavic for race day.

I built mine up recently, a Volagi Lisio.

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Again... No room for Ultegra in this thread!

That Volagi...

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Again... No room for Ultegra in this thread!

Again... no room for saddlebags in this thread!!!

ChunkyMTB - Member

I like my bikes light and stiff and fast and reliable

Well yeah

Maybe other people prefer heavy, flexy, slow and unreliable

Some like all day cruisers, some like shopping bikes, some like endurance bikes, some like road bikes with discs on, some guys pootle, some guys rattle, some guys are so into thier bikes that they forget to ride them, some guys just talk the talk and forget that bikes are for riding, some guys like pig iron, some guys like alu, some guys like drinking tea and eating cake on rides, some guys like haribo, some guys like alu wheels, some guys like retro, some guys have a lot to say.

I don't do any of that.

Again... no room for saddlebags in this thread!!!

Rubbish.

My dream build hasn't come out yet, I want DI2 and discs but I need to wait a couple years until the designers have got all the quirks sorted. 'Til then, something like this would do:

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My pegoretti when i finally get round to putting record (non electronic on it) instead of the DA that’s on it now.

That Volagi...

and the Trek on the previous page, fugly barely covers it.

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The second one? Looks to have a bloody long head tube certainly. And the Volagis are gopping, saddle bag or not!

The second one?

Neither of the Treks are good looking bikes.

Any Firefly is what i'd go for, from the ashes of Indy Fab, they do some amazing anodised ti finishes, and great touches make them class, no idea of prices

I think I pretty much have mine, I can't think of any justifiable upgrades to it for it's intended use beyond sheer vanity - Cervelo R3 dark (a 2013 R5 with a different paint job), Campag Chorus 11 (but with Rotor 3DF crankset), and Velocity A23's on Hope hubs. <£3k and just love the ride, also thanks to their tall head tubes it actually fits me which is an issue that rules out probably 90-95% of high end road bieks on the market.

*Edit, I could bling up the wheels and stem/seatpost, but for very little practical gain.

Re the headtube, while I'm not old enough to be a MAMIL, I am flexible enough, so it serves a purpose 🙂

To steal a classic Motorsport quote, 'it doesn't matter what it looks like. if it's fast, it's beautiful...'

It's [i]really[/i] fast.

Didn't know it was possible to love a road bike until I got my BMC Granfondo. Now a starry eyed convert to comfortable carbon and Di2. Perfect for riding the rough with the smooth...

I do keep wondering about the wheels though. Could be lighter... but then will it be as fantastic a companion on long days with skinnier, lighter ones?

[img][url= https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3777/13173088653_0ca15664d6_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3777/13173088653_0ca15664d6_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/m54wja ]BMC_GF01_one[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people// ]BeateKubitz[/url], on Flickr[/img]

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iv'e
had lots of ultimate builds
this one beats them all.

English frame, custom built.
Di2/hydraulic discs
Full internal routing - the only visible bits of hose or wire would be right by the caliper or the mechs.
Wheels - something classy and understated, 50mm deep at most.

I love mine, Cav Venge, DA9070, 404's on Chris kings etc.
[URL= http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v444/RickDraper/Mobile%20Uploads/EA5B0CFE-4345-4855-82A3-87EF278FC0E3.jp g" target="_blank">http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v444/RickDraper/Mobile%20Uploads/EA5B0CFE-4345-4855-82A3-87EF278FC0E3.jp g"/> [/IMG][/URL]
And if I don't like that I use my s-works sl4 with DA9000.

See lots of those around here..

After a few teething problems my dream bike is finally just that and is working beautifully

[url= https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5502/9337706973_9932c518d0.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5502/9337706973_9932c518d0.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/fe9bXP ]image[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people// ]HowarthPWL[/url], on Flickr

Surprised that the Far East frames popped out of moulds in their thousands are considered 'the ultimate''. 😯
But then people buy overpriced German midrange hatchbacks and convince themselves it's their 'dream car'.

Shocking news, people have different opinions and taste. Imagine that.

Didn't take long for this to turn into a "this is my bike, it must be the best" kinda thing.

If it doesn't have DA, Super Record or Red then it isn't ultimate.

howarthp - Member
After a few teething problems my dream bike is finally just that and is working beautifully

@howarthp.. I love the Look695, I pondered long and hard whether to buy one.
Whats it like??

Bikebouy - the Look is a wonderful bike. I have an 11 year old Seven Axiom SL and I am surprised that the ride characteristics are similar. This is probably indicative of the Seven's workmanship but also that the Look is comfortable even though I bought the super rigid version. The most noticeable difference for me is in seated climbing - I'm not a climber but I'm much quicker on the Look which is probably a combination of the lightness and the wheels.

The teething problems were down to the proprietary BB which needed sending back to Look to get the bearings changed and a bent derailleur hanger. Now both fixed. The proprietary bits (BB/crankset, stem and seatpost) are both great but also can cause issues.

The latest version of the 695, the Aerolight, has integrated brakes (looks great). None of the pro teams seem to be riding it as they're a pain to set up. I see that Trek has gone back to a traditional rear brake on its latest bike too

Surprised that the Far East frames popped out of moulds in their thousands are considered 'the ultimate''.

You mean those frames that are generally the lightest and most aero, with the most R&D behind them? You're right, shit, the lot of them.

That Look is great, not keen on the 'Tron-esque' decals though!

Ultimate road bike, it's probably something like this...

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(Pinched from another thread but probably faster than anything else posted so far.)

Edit... that Look is lovely.

God's teeth, there's some gopping shite up there and no mistake...some of you don't deserve an ultimate bike!

schmiken - Member
Custom Baum

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You're right, shit, the lot of them

who said they are shit? 😕

at least somebody elevated the desirability factor with the Baum above, to break up the plethora of cube/felt/cervelo/giant/planet-x/ribble.

that Look is lovely

at least somebody elevated the desirability factor with the Baum above, to break up the plethora of cube/felt/cervelo/giant/planet-x/ribble.

It's "ultimate", not most desirable, some would argue that performance = ultimate. Whilst I do absolutely love Baums, I'd be surprised if I wasn't faster on a Madone, which after all is a chunk lighter, stiffer and more aero.

A Baum is also a lot cheaper than a Cervelo RCA, and made in bigger numbers, are they common?

"You mean those frames that are generally the lightest and most aero, with the most R&D behind them"

This. Giant made [b]sixty[/b] frames during their design of the Propel. That's not including all the CFD to optimize design, wind tunnel testing, rider testing...

R&D trumps a nice paint job. For steel, "ultimate" has other connotations for me. English, Cyfac, Pegoretti. None of these will have the performance of the best carbon, but they have other "ultimate" qualities such as elegance, pride of ownership, artisan craft.

So for me, a Giant Defy Advanced SL is my ultimate carbon bike. Not the prettiest bike, but one of the lightest, stiffest and most comfortable. I've raced it, sportived on it, ridden club rides, and got off after a 100 miles thinking I could do 100 more. And it hangs in the garage calling out "Ride me!" 😉

It's "ultimate", not most desirable, some would argue that performance = ultimate.

Perhaps, but for me I lust after performance, whether racing or not, and the reality is that if I had a Baum I'd not be taking it to the crit circuit! Riding a road bike is about performance innit, I'd always feel slightly aggrieved to think I could have had something 'better' I think.

Incidentally does anyone know what a Baum Coretto (or any other) costs? I've looked at the website numerous times, but it's all a bit "it'll cost what it costs, we don't need you as much as you need us, we're awesome, so y'know, whatever", intrigued to know quite how daft they are!

If you have to ask, you can't afford it!

Are you going to win? If not, loose with style!

I seem to recall seeing £9-10k mentioned, so waaay out of my pocket.

If I had more cash to drop on my new bike, the only thing I would do different is some DA parts (FD, RD, crankset), and maybe some more expensive wheels, but more than likely not.

So, that bike is basically my ultimate build.
The Baums don't do it for me, I don't like the shapes in the steel or titanium frames, and it does get tiring getting insulted over my choice of what is the bike that I like.

I kinda agree with Njee, however I posted a picture of a Hamspten which for me would be an ultimate bike.

I have 3 bikes, (MTB, CX, Road), all of which are simply tools on which I train and race, nothing else, and as such have little if any emotional value to me, about the same as my favorite hammer to be honest.

Therefore for me ultimate is more something where in the decision process heart over head wins. Yes a Hampsten would most likely be slower than my Ridley, however it'll be bought, spec'd and ridden with a different mindset, and that I guess is the difference.

£9-10k for a bike that would have all of my riding buddies singing "Just one Corneto"? Not convinced.

They have done a wonderful job of marketing themselves as a brand.

I've never seen one in the flesh, they don't print prices, or weights, or any facts about any of their bikes whatsoever. They seem quite inflexible, they have a long lead time (but won't tell you how long), they won't tell you what it'll cost, and yet a load of people here (myself included) rush to post pics of them on this sort of thread.

In a lot of ways I think I'd actually rather have an English, some of the stuff Rob does is awesome, and it seems a little less pretentious.

No Storcks or boutique frame builders?

No Storcks or boutique frame builders?

Isn't that what Baum/Hampsden/English are?

Come on folk, this is an "ultimate build" thread. Money no object type stuff. It doesn't matter that the cost/benefit drops off above Chorus or Ultegra, Super Record or Dura Ace is better and should therefore be on your build instead. And would you really go for a Giant or Trek if you could have absolutely anything? Sure, they would make a great bike, but don't they lack that special something that you could get if you had all the money in the world to spend?

UK Sport bikes then I guess. They are technically [url= https://www.uksport.gov.uk/pages/cycling/ ]available to buy[/url].

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/olympics/bradley-wiggins-uksi-olympic-bike-40614l
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howarthp - Member
Bikebouy - the Look is a wonderful bike

Excellent, good to hear your problems are sorted, we all have them.

Damn fine looking bike that 695.

😀

UK Sport bikes then I guess. They are technically available to buy.

Functionally superb I'm sure... but good god are they ugly.