2004: Trek Vs Cannondale Vs Bianchi

I've seen a LOT of Merkx frames in larger sizes, if $ isn't a question you should take a look.

Michael

Mark Roberts said:

Hi

I have a nice custom steel Roberts compact bike for long/loaded/winter rides. I really want
something very light and fast for sheer speed 🙂

I'm quite tall (6'5'', slim, long legs, narrowish shoulders), so this probably limits me to
Cannondale/Trek (they seem to do 63cm frames). Not sure about Bianchi (?)

Both companies are coming out with 2004 ranges about now, and I'm wondering which bike will give
me most for my cash? I'm thinking in the region of £1500 (~$2385)

Any thoughts?

Mark.

I've seen a LOT of Merkx frames in larger sizes, if $ isn't a question you should take a look.

Michael

Mark Roberts said:

Hi

I have a nice custom steel Roberts compact bike for long/loaded/winter rides. I really want
something very light and fast for sheer speed 🙂

I'm quite tall (6'5'', slim, long legs, narrowish shoulders), so this probably limits me to
Cannondale/Trek (they seem to do 63cm frames). Not sure about Bianchi (?)

Both companies are coming out with 2004 ranges about now, and I'm wondering which bike will give
me most for my cash? I'm thinking in the region of £1500 (~$2385)

Any thoughts?

Mark.

If you're that tall I doubt you'd much enjoy a 63cm bike. Talk to a custom builder in your area and
get something one of a kind made with loving hands.

Just a thought.

Jon

"Mark Roberts" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi

I have a nice custom steel Roberts compact bike for long/loaded/winter rides. I really want
something very light and fast for sheer speed 🙂

I'm quite tall (6'5'', slim, long legs, narrowish shoulders), so this probably limits me to
Cannondale/Trek (they seem to do 63cm frames). Not sure about Bianchi (?)

Both companies are coming out with 2004 ranges about now, and I'm wondering which bike will give
me most for my cash? I'm thinking in the region of £1500 (~$2385)

Any thoughts?

Mark.

I've seen a LOT of Merkx frames in larger sizes, if $ isn't a question you should take a look.

Michael

Mark Roberts said:

Hi

I have a nice custom steel Roberts compact bike for long/loaded/winter rides. I really want
something very light and fast for sheer speed 🙂

I'm quite tall (6'5'', slim, long legs, narrowish shoulders), so this probably limits me to
Cannondale/Trek (they seem to do 63cm frames). Not sure about Bianchi (?)

Both companies are coming out with 2004 ranges about now, and I'm wondering which bike will give
me most for my cash? I'm thinking in the region of £1500 (~$2385)

Any thoughts?

Mark.

I've seen a LOT of Merkx frames in larger sizes, if $ isn't a question you should take a look.

Michael

Mark Roberts said:

Hi

I have a nice custom steel Roberts compact bike for long/loaded/winter rides. I really want
something very light and fast for sheer speed 🙂

I'm quite tall (6'5'', slim, long legs, narrowish shoulders), so this probably limits me to
Cannondale/Trek (they seem to do 63cm frames). Not sure about Bianchi (?)

Both companies are coming out with 2004 ranges about now, and I'm wondering which bike will give
me most for my cash? I'm thinking in the region of £1500 (~$2385)

Any thoughts?

Mark.

RE/

Quoted message said:

I'm quite tall (6'5'', slim, long legs, narrowish shoulders), so this probably limits me to
Cannondale/Trek (they seem to do 63cm frames). Not sure about Bianchi (?)

On the Cannondale, look for propietory parts and then decide whether-or-not you want to live
with them.
-----------------------
PeteCresswell

Mark Roberts said:

I'm quite tall (6'5'', slim, long legs, narrowish shoulders), so this probably limits me to
Cannondale/Trek (they seem to do 63cm frames). Not sure about Bianchi (?)

Any thoughts?

It may be possible to treat a smaller frame like a compact frame, by using long seatpost and stem.

Quoted message said:

Mark.

--
Rick Onanian

Another suggested option for tall riders is Principia.

Thanks - this is something that I've never been able to figure out exactly. I mean, Roberts have
done a really good job with building my current Compact Audax to fit me well, but the frame is not
that large (maybe 59cm). There is a huge amount of seatpost showing (20/30 cms), and the stem is
unusually raised (10cm) with a very long and sticks out about 13-15 cms forward.

Does this realistically mean, I can get a smaller frame (maybe 60cm) and extend the parts in the
same way? If I do, will I then need to get all the parts myself, as I'd imagine a complete bike from
a mainstream manufacturer would not be so 'extendable'

I was kinda' hoping to be able to get an off-the-peg bike that really fitted me ok and was light
(8-9kg) and responsive. Maybe this is a dream?

Mark.

Rick Onanian <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Mark Roberts said:

I'm quite tall (6'5'', slim, long legs, narrowish shoulders), so this probably limits me to
Cannondale/Trek (they seem to do 63cm frames). Not sure about Bianchi (?)

Any thoughts?

It may be possible to treat a smaller frame like a compact frame, by using long seatpost and stem.

Quoted message said:

Mark.

RE/

Quoted message said:

Principia

?
-----------------------
PeteCresswell

"(Pete Cresswell)" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

RE/

Quoted message said:

Principia

?
-----------------------
PeteCresswell

A well known Danish manufacturer of (very) high quality aluminum frames.

Lou

Mark Roberts said:

Does this realistically mean, I can get a smaller frame (maybe 60cm) and extend the parts in the
same way? If I do, will I then need to get all the parts myself, as I'd imagine a complete bike
from a mainstream manufacturer would not be so 'extendable'

Well, my Giant TCR2, definately very mainstream, is a compact that came with a 130mm stem and a very
long CF aero seatpost, but I replaced the OEM 130mm stem with a aftermarket 130mm stem that rises at
almost 45 degrees.

I wouldn't have bought it with the wrong seatpost, though.

Quoted message said:

I was kinda' hoping to be able to get an off-the-peg bike that really fitted me ok and was light
(8-9kg) and responsive. Maybe this is a dream?

Hmm.. a kg is something like 2.2 pounds, right?

9kg, at an exchange rate [heheheh] of 2.2, is 19.8 pounds.

My bike, as I took it home from the shop, was under 20 pounds; I suspect it's a bit over now, with a
heavier stem, two bottle cages, and a computer. I replaced the pedals with pedals of a similar
weight. I may have saved a few grams on tubes, but gained a couple on rim tape.

My budget was pretty low, too; I got it for $1,000 US (a "last year's model"😉.

Quoted message said:

Mark.

--
Rick Onanian

Clearly you've seen a lot.

Hmm, looking at it; is it worth going down the line of a brand that relies on the name of a damn
fine cyclist? I've always been a bit suspicious of these celebrity-endorsed/founded companies - My
Roberts is from a company with a lengthy history of good bike making (or be it in a rather quirky
way), and the likes of Trek or Cannondale have the great weight of a large coorporation to ensure
they're cutting edge (that's not to say that they don't try to get some of the glamour of a celeb
here and there also!)

Along these lines, would you recommend buying all the parts seperately and making up the bike? Not
done anything that advanced yet, but am considering it.

Mark

Michael Ignosci <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I've seen a LOT of Merkx frames in larger sizes, if $ isn't a question you should take a look.

Michael

Mark Roberts said:

Hi

I have a nice custom steel Roberts compact bike for long/loaded/winter rides. I really want
something very light and fast for sheer speed 🙂

I'm quite tall (6'5'', slim, long legs, narrowish shoulders), so this probably limits me to
Cannondale/Trek (they seem to do 63cm frames). Not sure about Bianchi (?)

Both companies are coming out with 2004 ranges about now, and I'm wondering which bike will give
me most for my cash? I'm thinking in the region of £1500 (~$2385)

Any thoughts?

Mark.

Quoted message said:

I have a nice custom steel Roberts compact bike for long/loaded/winter rides. I really want
something very light and fast for sheer speed 🙂

I'm quite tall (6'5'', slim, long legs, narrowish shoulders), so this probably limits me to
Cannondale/Trek (they seem to do 63cm frames). Not sure about Bianchi (?)

Both companies are coming out with 2004 ranges about now, and I'm wondering which bike will give
me most for my cash? I'm thinking in the region of £1500 (~$2385)

Mark: I'm in the US and don't have a good idea of what 1500 pounds buys you in Britain... here in
the US, that's getting close to the price of my beloved OCLV 5200, but they might be considerably
more expensive overseas. The 2300 is another very nice bike, featuring the same components but an
aluminum, instead of carbon-fiber, frame. Quite a bit less at about $1800 here in the US.

Can't speak for Cannondales or Bianchis as I don't sell them, but one other major consideration will
be the dealer's ability and willingness to fit you properly.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles chainreactionbicycles.comchainreactionbicycles.comOpen ↗