[LadyDog]

Jack,
You in the market?  Know you have been itching for a while.  Damn common sense.

[zybar]

Canadian company, bikes made in China.  They were recently bought out but the original owners are still on staff.  I looked at some Cervelos today but could not go for a ride because we had thunder storms in Chicago today.  The shop had several really nice S5's and some R5's. The S5 is interesting and I think it looks better in person than in pictures.  I also checked out a couple nice Specialized S-Works Tarmacs and a Venge.  Can't wait to actually ride these bikes!  One Specialized had the new Ultegra Di2. Pretty cool.

Cheers

J

I tested a S5 with Ultegra Di2 - it was cool.

Nice bikes on your list Jack.   

I have the following on my list:

Cervelo S5 and R5
Specialized Roubaiux
Giant Defy Advanced
Parlee Z5

George

[jackman]

Jack,
You in the market?  Know you have been itching for a while.  Damn common sense.

Jeff - I was visiting some friends in the city and got side tracked. The shop near my fiend has lots of Specialized and Cervelo.  It's amazing because so many were equipped with SRAM.  Nothing like checking out new bikes. 

I'm not sure if I want to she'll out this kind of cash but there were some nice looking bikes and these are on my test ride list.  It's free to test them!

[jackman]

George,
That's a good list. I'd suggest the new Madone and the Domane. Both are also on my list along with Colnago C59.   If I get a Nago, it will have Campy!  Can't get an Italian ride with anything else.  Right?

[tvad4]

Since we're sharing bike porn ala Huster's "Beaver Hunt", here's my ride: Parlee Z5SL.

[jackman]

Since we're sharing bike porn ala Huster's "Beaver Hunt", here's my ride: Parlee Z5SL.

Your bike is beyond porn. It is a work of art.  Parlee with Campy Super Record?  You have my vote for hottest bike of the thread. I'm not worthy of a bike that cool. I would not change a thing on that bike.

[jackman]

...Enve wheels, Selle SMP saddle...awesome bike.  Feel free to post more pix!

[AB]

Since we're sharing bike porn ala Huster's "Beaver Hunt", here's my ride: Parlee Z5SL.

That there embodies the philosophy of http://slamthatstem.com/.
Nice work.

[jackman]

I'd need two solid years of yoga to ride that setup!  When I first got my bike I slammed the stem and had severe lower back pain.  Took my bike to a fitter and he said, "who did this fitting?". Naturally I blamed my LBS! 

[tvad4]

The groupset is a mixture of Campagnolo Record and Super Record. Only the shifters are Super Record. The rear derailleur pulley wheels have been upgraded with Campagnolo ceramic bearing pulley wheels.

The Enve 3.4 clincher wheels were built with Tune 70 Mig/170 Mag hubs.

With pedals and bottle cages, the bike weighs ~14.4 lbs.

I climb an average of 11,000 feet per week...sometimes less, sometimes more, and this bike works well for that.

I slowly lowered my stem over the course of a year while I owned my Cervelo R3. Ironically, I found the slammed set-up more comfortable on my back. This set-up is a bit deceiving because this Z5SL has the tall head tube option...but it's still pretty aggressive. Wish I had the sprinting ability to match the set-up.

[Levi]

Congrats on the new Parlee Z5SL.   

The groupset is a mixture of Campagnolo Record and Super Record. Only the shifters are Super Record. The rear derailleur pulley wheels have been upgraded with Campagnolo ceramic bearing pulley wheels.

The Enve 3.4 clincher wheels were built with Tune 70 Mig/170 Mag hubs.

With pedals and bottle cages, the bike weighs ~14.4 lbs.

I climb an average of 11,000 feet per week...sometimes less, sometimes more, and this bike works well for that.

I slowly lowered my stem over the course of a year while I owned my Cervelo R3. Ironically, I found the slammed set-up more comfortable on my back. This set-up is a bit deceiving because this Z5SL has the tall head tube option...but it's still pretty aggressive. Wish I had the sprinting ability to match the set-up.

[Don_S]

Levi,

Are your new Rotor crank, bottom bracket and chainrings "special"?  I mean are they fairly standard but very high quality or are they "different"?  Did you get round rings or the new "unround".  I forget the name.

I have not followed Rotor since I built my bike so I don't know what their current offerings are.

Notice the "special" cams on my set. Heavy, and not recommended for racing but they help my old knees get up the hill. Sleeper Nashbar pedals sport titanium spindles stolen from some old Rictheys. They offset 0.005% of the extra weight of the crank. 

[JoshK]

I am not into road porn I guess...I am so willing to spend $10+ on offroad, but I love my Giant Trance X...

[Levi]

Hi Don, nice Rotor bling you have there!  My Rotor chainrings are the "unround" and has OCP (Optimum Chainring Position).  Rotor named it Q-rings.  It supposed work just like yours but without the cams.  See the white paper about the Q-rings.  http://www.rotorbikeusa.com/pdf/More%20information_Q%20Rings.pdf


 

[Levi]

What happened to your Cannondale road bike?  The CAAD 9 or 10 supposed to be a great bike. 

I am not into road porn I guess...I am so willing to spend $10+ on offroad, but I love my Giant Trance X...

[AB]

Wait,where is the rest of your frame. You're missing a down tube. 

[Don_S]

My set up is older.  I wish I had had the option of the Q-rings.  My crank is heavy and probably costs more than the Rotor with Q-rings. You always set up your rides first class.   

Hi Don, nice Rotor bling you have there!  My Rotor chainrings are the "unround" and has OCP (Optimum Chainring Position).  Rotor named it Q-rings.  It supposed work just like yours but without the cams.  See the white paper about the Q-rings.  http://www.rotorbikeusa.com/pdf/More%20information_Q%20Rings.pdf

[Don_S]

Its all there.  You just have to know where to look.   

Wait,where is the rest of your frame. You're missing a down tube. 

[Don_S]

My other bikes a Merlin (all Campy Record).

[Levi]

Nice bikes! 

You know that Merlin is a keeper!