Is this worth me thinking about buying?

[Fletch456]

"I have a Colnago frame C50 Paris-Roubaix (ex pro team) your size and I can kit it out for you with a Campagnolo Athena 2011 11 speed, Paris-Roubaix Sonic wheels (great wheels, we use it the same model last year in Belgium)."

The top end of my budget this would be at £2000. It would only be built for those with serious interest so can't test ride. The guy is an ex pro - runs a cafe, cycling club and is moving into bikes too.

I am thinking of getting my first carbon bike and am / will be looking at the likes of:
Kuota Kharma, Ridley Orion, maybe Argon 18 Krypton, Scott CR1.

Given it's an ex pro frame and he is Italian there may be extremely limited come back with this bike if I was to go for it. The wheels are a (to me) a fantastic pair at 1420g, with DT Swiss rims and retailing for £600+.

Would I be daft to go for it, at the top of my budget and better to stick to test riding those more in my budget?

Or take a risk cos to me Colnago is bike porn and it seems a great collection of kit per £.

 

[HLaB]

A bit OT, we had a Scandinavian bloke who turned up at our club run for a few weeks. Just after the cervelo test team came in to existence he phoned up the teams HQ they were getting rid of their old bikes (not cervelo) after a long conversation he thought he wasnt successful. About 6 week later however, he got a call 'when are you coming to pick up your bike?' In the end it had cost him 800 euros or thereabout for a beautiful full carbon bike which had been used in the TdF. Ive never seen a bike with such narrow stays.

Getting back to the subject if you can afford it, I'd definitely consider it; I want some assurances though that it hadn't been mistreated on the cobbles but I don't think I'd take much convincing ;-)

 

[Fletch456]

Hi HLab

Intersting anecdote. What is OT? Thought maybe you meant over the top but that's OTT.

Re the bike my brother who has done a lot more cycling than me and likes to look after everyone...needed or not...made the point about being little come back in this situation. After assurances you think this wouldn't be an issue?

A retailer I spoke to recently said if a carbon frame has faults that are going to show they will show in the first 6 months, if not sooner, anyway.

I've looked online at reviews and MR washingmachinepost likens it to a Ferrari and lots of people say it's the smoothest thing they've ridden and the best there is..so am definitely thinking about it.

 

[ian turner]

Off Topic.

 

[Fletch456]

Sorry Ian????!!!!

 

[accountantpete]

Weigh up the risks.

The Athena groupset retials at circa £900 - solid groupset no risk

Sonic wheels retail at £600+ - unknown quantity in this country and will spares be available?

Finishing bits - say £100 bars etc - no risk but might not be top quality.

That leaves the frame for £400.

Whether you want to take the chance or not is up to you.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Sorry Ian????!!!!

OT = off topic

 

[Fletch456]

OT = off topic

Ah..thank you! Am enlightened :-)

 

[threebikesmcginty]

MP

 

[Fletch456]

MP..or NP ?

 

[Fletch456]

Pete - useful points, helping me to think some more about it.

Question I was previously going to post on a forum as a general question but may as well post here as it is pertinent. All the talk of the fragility of carbon (eg on impact) has made me wonder if you can get insurance for such accidental damage? If so, why don't people have it or is it ridiculously expensive?