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Guru Crono?

phourgenres

Apr 8, 12 17:54

Post #1 of 12 (1347 views)

Guru Crono?	Quote \| Reply

I found a good deal on a used 2005 model. I think this is the same one.

http://bethelcycle.com/...ike-review-pg217.htm

This frame doesn't look very aero, but I'm not the greatest judge. Thoughts?

Not new to biking, just "aero."

ZackCapets

Apr 8, 12 18:39

Post #2 of 12 (1297 views)

Re: Guru Crono? [phourgenres] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

I'm pretty sure these were all custom or "semi-custom" frames, right? I never had one, but everyone I knew that had one liked it. If you're good, you can make anything go fast, and let's face it...buying a new P-bike isn't an option for everyone. That said, if you're spending upwards of $2k on this used Guru, I'd be looking at a P2 or comparable Felt/Trek, rather than messing with swapping components to compensate for oddball/unknown geometry on someone's old custom race machine. Guru bikes are cool because they're relatively uncommon, but the aerodynamic qualities obviously aren't ideal--the downtube tapers to a decidedly un-aero squarish oval sort of thing...
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phourgenres

Apr 8, 12 18:42

Post #3 of 12 (1282 views)

Re: Guru Crono? [ZackC.] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

P-bike? Is that a cervelo p series?

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention a price, it is 1200 with dura ace 7800 components.

(This post was edited by phourgenres on Apr 8, 12 18:43)

RoYe

Apr 8, 12 19:23

Post #4 of 12 (1242 views)

Re: Guru Crono? [phourgenres] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Bree Wee used to race with that bike, the downtube is a bit boxy but the rest of the frame looks fast.
$1200 is a reasonable price if the bike is low miles, no crashes, Guru has a pretty good reputation for frames
res, non verba

ZackCapets

Apr 10, 12 10:37

Post #5 of 12 (1099 views)

Re: Guru Crono? [phourgenres] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Quote:

P-bike? Is that a cervelo p series?

Yeah. P-series was the phrase I was looking for, but my head was foggy.

That price seems pretty fair, but that is obviously dependent on how many miles the bike has on it, the cosmetic condition of everything, etc. If the bike was ridden by a heavier person, then the frame (at least) has been ridden harder than if it were ridden by a lighter person, and the components may have been ridden harder as well. Just check everything thoroughly. Also, find out if the bike is custom or not. After further research, it looks like Guru may actually distribute some "floor models" to retailers that do come with stock geometry, but the bread and butter of the company is the full-custom, one-of-a-kind build. If it is a "stock" bike then the geometry should be available online, otherwise you'll have to measure it to see how closely it matches your current ride, and maybe even do some math to figure out what other components you'll need to buy to make it fit.

If a stock bike fit perfectly then there wouldn't really be a reason to spend the extra ~$2000-$3000 to buy the custom bike--whoever is selling it may have bought it because they needed some oddball geometry that couldn't be had by simply modifying a stock bike with stems, bars, etc. If they couldn't do that, then you probably can't do the reverse (modify their oddball bike to more "normal" geometry (assuming you don't have the same biomorphic quirks that the original owner had).
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darrahc

Apr 10, 12 11:49

Post #6 of 12 (1055 views)

Re: Guru Crono? [phourgenres] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

I've got an earlier Guru Crono (2001ish) and really like it. Today I still use it mostly on my trainer but the fit has been better than any bike I've ever had. It was a semi-custom frame so it probably wouldn't fit just anyone. Check out the specs and make sure that it would fit relatively well. I've always really liked the look of the newer Cronos.

Mendeldave

Apr 10, 12 11:54

Post #7 of 12 (1046 views)

Re: Guru Crono? [darrahc] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

How does the semi custom frame of a Guru bike work? I was looking for a new bike a few seasons ago and this bike shop was really pushing it on me, a floor model, saying it was great because it's a custom bike. I had already decided on a Felt but it struck me as odd that they could sell me a floor model, saying it was a custom frame. Huh? Custom to whom?
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JoeO

Apr 10, 12 12:54

Post #8 of 12 (1004 views)

Re: Guru Crono? [phourgenres] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

I bought the 2008 model which is the same frame, I believe. I have been very happy with my decision, but I didn't buy it for the Aerodynamics. I just flat out asked the fitter which of the models he sold I would be most comfortable on after 5 hours in the saddle. To his credit, he tried to steer me to the more aero and less expensive P2/P3 but once I asked him that, he admitted that I'd be happiest with the Crono. I haven't regretted it. Maybe next time I'll worry about aero frames

But this was the "full" custom Crono. I didn't buy a stock frame. I can't attest to how comfortable I would have been on something more stock. There is no such thing as a "custom" (or even "semi-custom") model off the floor. That's an oxymoron.

One thing to watch out -- right around the time I bought mine, they had discovered a problem in the bottom bracket. The shifting cable goes in the frame, underneath the bottom bracket and it was not shielded enough. Over time, it literally cut through cranksets of some owners. Cut them in half. Guru's fix was to put some sort of metal adapter in there that blocked it. I don't know if that was a problem in 2005 but it certainly was in 2006/2007.

-Joe

darrahc

Apr 10, 12 18:02

Post #9 of 12 (948 views)

Re: Guru Crono? [Mendeldave] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Sounds like the bike was custom for someone else... When I got mine, they took my measurements for the seat and top tubes and I could choose the angle (73 or 78) and the paint scheme. If I remember correctly it took about 2 months to get it after they sent everything in.

texastri

Apr 11, 12 14:23

Post #10 of 12 (857 views)

Re: Guru Crono? [darrahc] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

How stiff is the Bottom Bracket on the Crono? The tubes look a little thin going into the BB area, versus how the newer models look.

Bumble Bee

Apr 11, 12 18:17

Post #11 of 12 (814 views)

Re: Guru Crono? [phourgenres] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

I have a 2006 Maestro which is basically the road version of the Chrono.

The chainstays failed. When Guru repaired my bike, they refused to repaint it with the custom color that I had paid extra for when I originally got the bike. Oh, and I had paid extra to reinforce the chainstays when I originally bought the bike. The warranty work cost me about $600.

I know of 6 other frame failures for that model from around 2006.

Guru claimed they had received a bad batch of carbon fiber that affected numerous bikes yet they never had a frame recall.

Other than that, yeah, its a great deal.

JoeO

Apr 11, 12 20:18

Post #12 of 12 (790 views)

Re: Guru Crono? [texastri] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

It is stiff enough. Not like the new one, I'm sure but I have never noticed any flex with mine. That sort of stiffness is probably a bit more important in a road bike than a tri bike.