Wilier Izoard XP Sora - any thoughts? - or C2W alternatives from Edinburgh Cycles

[DCLane]

My C2W is up this month and I'm looking at a roadie to go alongside the Secteur, which will move to commuting duties.

I have to use Edinburgh Cycles and I'm looking at the:

Wilier Izoard XP Sora - carbon frame, other bits are Sora/Claris.


Possible alternatives are:

Spesh Allez Comp - aluminium frame, 11-speed 105

Cannondale CAAD8 - aluminium frame, 11-speed 105

Giant Defy 0 - aluminium frame, 11-speed Ultegra/Shimano

I don't need a 'sportive, friendly' upright frame. Got one of those already.

What I'm after is a decent frame and upgrading later is fine. Wheelsets aren't a problem either.

Any thoughts greatly appreciated.

 

[Deleted member 35268]

Love the Wilier, that looks like a stunner

 

[Pumpkin the robot]

Just before winter there were some cracking deals on the Izoard, £800 with 105 groupset. It seems they are back in demand now.
I had an Izoard and really liked it. My bike came with ultegra 6700 fitted and RS30 wheels. I did London to Manchester in a day on it and found it a very comfrotable bike. saying that I also loved my specialized allez and did coast to coast in a day on it. The Izoard has greater scope for improving it with better parts, where as that allez has a much better spec as standard, but is probably not as comfortable as the Izoard. One thing I did note was that going from the allez to the Izoard my average speed increased by about 1mph straight away.

 

[SteCenturion]

Although I really like Wilier's high end models I am not quite so keen on base models like this.

The CAAD8 & Defy 0 would be the two I would most likely pick, the Specialized will also be a great bike, but only the Shifters & Mech's are 105.

All 3 will be considerably lighter & better specced than the Wilier, even with a carbon frame, that is likely to weigh more than all these aluminium frames.

 

[Arrowfoot]

My C2W is up this month and I'm looking at a roadie to go alongside the Secteur, which will move to commuting duties.

I have to use Edinburgh Cycles and I'm looking at the:

Wilier Izoard XP Sora - carbon frame, other bits are Sora/Claris.


Possible alternatives are:

Spesh Allez Comp - aluminium frame, 11-speed 105

Cannondale CAAD8 - aluminium frame, 11-speed 105

Giant Defy 0 - aluminium frame, 11-speed Ultegra/Shimano

I don't need a 'sportive, friendly' upright frame. Got one of those already.

What I'm after is a decent frame and upgrading later is fine. Wheelsets aren't a problem either.

Any thoughts greatly appreciated.

Whatever it is don't get the Cannondale unless you are good looking, fit, the ladies drop their hanky in front of you and the people call you Flash.

Ps. They all good, never tried the Wilier but its looks good and specs are great value.

 

[AndyRM]

Cannondale will be the best aluminium frame but I do like the look of the Wilier which would be well worth upgrading.

 

[outlash]

FWIW, my brother in law has the Wilier and it's actually heavier than my CAAD8 which surprised me. Not a bad bike there but I think it's the usual 'try before you buy' kind of advice.

Tony.

 

[Travs]

Totally unbiased opinion:
Weight-shmeight. Skip a pie-session.

But on a financial point, if the Wilier has lower spec, the upgrading will be easier/cheaper

 

[Cyclist33]

My C2W is up this month and I'm looking at a roadie to go alongside the Secteur, which will move to commuting duties.

I have to use Edinburgh Cycles and I'm looking at the:

Wilier Izoard XP Sora - carbon frame, other bits are Sora/Claris.


Possible alternatives are:

Spesh Allez Comp - aluminium frame, 11-speed 105

Cannondale CAAD8 - aluminium frame, 11-speed 105

Giant Defy 0 - aluminium frame, 11-speed Ultegra/Shimano

I don't need a 'sportive, friendly' upright frame. Got one of those already.

What I'm after is a decent frame and upgrading later is fine. Wheelsets aren't a problem either.

Any thoughts greatly appreciated.

I thought the izoard was a sportive type jobby these days..?

Anyway my suggestion is, can you negotiate with your C2W scheme to just get a frame? If that's what you want? It has long been my opinion that "bike and equipment for commuting" should legally mean whatever works for the individual commuter. In my case I would take a...

 

[DCLane]

Anyway my suggestion is, can you negotiate with your C2W scheme to just get a frame? If that's what you want? It has long been my opinion that "bike and equipment for commuting" should legally mean whatever works for the individual commuter. In my case I would take a...

Unfortunately it can only be used for a whole bike in my work; I work for a big university and they're pretty strict. I tried last time and they wouldn't budge.

Anyway, I'm going in later today so I'll see what results.

 

[Drago]

Try and ride it bud. The Willier does look decent, but just being made from CF doesn't automatically make it a more accomplished frame that the other superb bikes on your list, and they're all hard acts to beat.

 

[al-fresco]

I have the 105 version of the 2013 Izoard (from Edinburgh Bike Coop as it happens). Done a couple of thousand miles on it. It goes well, especially when I'm tired. You know those long rides where there's one last hill that was no problem on the way out but a bugger when you get to it on the way back with empty legs? The Wilier is great at them. It actually accelerates even when I'm dog tired. Light weight, stiff frame and reasonable wheels I suppose. But... it's awfully 'blingy' - did they have to put their name on EVERY component? I chucked the saddle and the stem, but then went and fitted some Capagnolo Zonda's which make it look even nicer. I daren't leave it anywhere. I certainly wouldn't take it to London for the Dunwich Dynamo.

This year I bought a cheap 2014 Cinelli Experience Veloce (not from EBC - but bear with me). Aluminium frame but nice wheels and gears as standard - though still a little too 'pretty' for me if I'm honest. It was half the price I paid for the Wilier and more fun. Not quite as quick up the hills but faster down them (I have no idea why - there's only about a pound difference in the ridden weights.) So far this year the Cinelli has done 850 miles and the Wilier 70. I expect the Wilier will see more miles as the local Audax season starts but it feels like a luxury now - I could just as easily use the Cinelli.

This isn't to say that the Wilier is a bad bike - I have no intention of getting rid of it - but for everyday riding the Cinelli wins hands down. What I'm saying is the the Wilier is good bike but I never really fell in love with it. Your mileage may vary.

 

[DCLane]

OK - thanks all.

I've been in today and they're ordering me one in for a test ride.

I can't just get a frame, otherwise I would. Whilst in there I had a look at the Giant Defy 0, Whyte Dorset, a Focus Culebro and a couple of Genesis bikes they had in. No Cannondale but the others didn't float my boat.

I've a pair of lightweight ITM wheels that would fit straight on - so that'd solve the heavy, basic wheels issue. I've also a pair of nice Campag brakes sat on the shelf as well, rather than Tektro's. Sora kit is fine with me for now.

 

[DCLane]

An update: I collected the Wilier today after test-riding it.

Agreed it's not that light - however it rode well and is different from my other bikes. The ITM wheelset should help.

 

[outlash]

Congrats, I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun on it.


Tony.