I’d like to hear your thoughts on Guru bikes. What do you guys think of the brand? Does anyone own one? Do these seem to be an attractive brand to you guys? And specifically, they seem the have the “purest” component groups on the market right now short of something you build up your self. You have to pay for this: Is it worth a few bucks extra to have a “matching” (i.e., ALL Ultegra or Dura-Ace as opposed to a mix of 105, Ultegra with FSA or Truvativ cranks and house brand, Taiwanese brakes)? I’m interested to hear your input. Thanks in advance.
In the velonews.com “Tech Talk” site there’s some fairly informative and favorable reviews of Guru bikes past and present.
Thank you, I’ll check it out. I have seen several and I am very, very impressed. I will be interested to see people’s impressions. A few months ago I wouldn’t have been that interested. But noww, having seen some of the bikes and looked at their website, I am impressed.
there were a few in a recent colorado cyclist, the only thing I can remember is . . . cha-ching$$$. I think they listed a carbon model, a ti model and a carbon/ti model and all were priced at or near 5K w/ what I call the standard build (i.e. DA/kysiriums (sp)). Maybe they just listed the showcase bikes, or maybe forgot to convert from Canadian $$'s.
Tom,
Haven’t take a spin on the Guru’s myself, but training partner/friend purchased a New Steel road bike & she loves it - comfortable, relativley light-weight, and fits well. Either the LBS or Guru was very flexible in component selection (handlebars, stems, saddle, etc), so she got what she needed. Low charge for custom geometry was also attractive option. They’re becoming a hip (“in”) bike around Austin (you would think everyone rides a USPS carbon?) b/c of quality & reasonable cost of steel & AL bikes.
Now, I’d be interest in hearing about how the new Team Soloist rides… ;), er what, I really meant to say, I wonder how the Guru-tri bikes ride compared to Cervelo line-up.
John
PS. Guru also sells a “tri-geometry” version of each bike - 76 degree seat tube angle & in smaller sizes.
I thought the prices looked high too. Initially, my reaction was like, “Whoa, you have to be kidding…”. Then I looked carefully at the product. Pure Shimano groups (no SRAM chains, cheped-out cogsets or bottom brackets, Shimano brakes, etc.). The paint is very, very good. The Trilite features a full Dedaccai Balck Box carbon fiber rear triangle. The other attractive feature- they make their own bikes in their own factory. The only thing that can create delays for them outside of their own four walls (which is still a lot of potential problems)are parts shortages. With a little more streamlined supply chain, perhaps lead-times will be a little more reasonable. Do you think people will see any value in this?
Tom,
I’m about a hair’s width away from getting a Guru Crono frame. Have looked at pretty much everything out there and I keep coming back to the Crono. The big plus that I see with them is the ability to do custom sizing for a small up-charge and the same with paint. Kinda nice with the paint option since I didn’t want to be one of the red/blue P2K’s masses that seem to have invaded. 
Also, being a bigger guy (6’4" 215lbs) I really like the bottom bracket design on the Crono. As far as component groups, it’s not a big issue for me since I prefer to build my bikes from scratch. Planning on using a mix of Dura-Ace (rear/front der. and shift levers), Ultegra (bottom bracket/crank) and probably 105 brakes.
FWIW,
Moyes
Tom,
A local LBS in my area sales them, I test road a chrono it had a 76 seat post. Paint was nice it is offered in various colors. According to the LBS, guru is pretty easy to deal he mentioned that they were receiving bikes when promised. They do a little custom stuff from what I understand. I did like thay they come specked with sweet components. Kind of pricey but not at the top of the price list. I love my soloist but if I decided to buy a dedicated tri bike the chrono would be on my short list.
My Guru Trilite has full Ultegra, was custom built to my measurements and custom paint colors applied to Guru’s “flame” design. All of this for under 3K. It is nice to have a bike that is different from all the others in transition. But most importantly the fit and design are extremely comfortable. This is my first season on the bike, but I have been extremely happy with the product so far.
Alan
I’ve never riden one but just looking at it makes my heart go faster.
Don’t have the cash right now for a new bike but if I would, the Crono would be my choice. I would do cultom because I like very steep seatangles (78).
The Cervelo P3 would be my other choice but you see so many around these days that I think the Crono will gain from the overpopulated Cervelo planet.
I know it’s not a very scientific argument but I don’t want to ride around on a bike which everybody else has too. And if you spend that kind of money you might as well spend it on something special.
one of these days…
Being from Montreal, and not very familiar with the few roadie stores in the area, I had the impression Guru was the only bike with gorgeous paint jobs. When I bought one, I got a tour of the factory to get fitted and had the option of spec’ing my bike as I wanted. So to answer your first set of questions: yes, the brand attracted me a lot.
1)they were made in montreal
2)price (I think in Canada, the prices are more competitive)
3)design. I know most of you will say boohoo, who cares what it looks like but to me I had no intention on putting down a month’s salary on a bike which I thought was just plain ugly. (Like the Marinoni’s that are also made in Montreal) If you’re really nuts you can get your name painted into the frame hahaha.
4)custom sizing;spec. Having slightly less favorable body proportions (short torso) I really liked the size options (although in the end I didn’t need a custom frame). But compared to the Giant TCR selection (S,M,L last year) I was smack in between a S and M and didn’t like that.
Overall, I’m happy I could pay just a little more and get everything 105, and the syntace bars, my choice of wheels, my choice in fork (picked the ouzo pro w/carbon steerer) etc.
Unfortunately I guess since I live here, I see Gurus EVERYWHERE. So its not as unique as I’d like it to be; but at the same time I know that it is (built the way I wanted). Personally I still find the Guru paint jobs untouchable by Specialized, Giant, Cannondale, QR etc. (I’ve been told most of the Guru factory guys are car afficados, and that the paint guys came from car body shops etc.)
now the car thing is a turn off;-).
I bought a used ('01) Crono this spring w/all Dura Ace, Carbon X, Tri Spokes, Cane Creek, etc, $1600! I couldn’t be happier. I have been racing a CAAD 6 Cannondale R4000 w/clip ons and decided to try a “fairly” steep angled bike for IM distance racing. I am shocked at how well it climbs and handles. Why does everyone say steep bikes can’t climb? This thing has a super rigid BB, feels as stiff as my Cannondale. I am 6’3", 180+ and ride a 59 (57.5 tt) and it fits great and is plenty comfortable on long rides. I did a half IM a week and a half ago and rode and ran great, PR time. The real test is June 29, IM CdA. I can’t wait, I want to race today!
Feel free to ask specific questions. Oh, by the way, I really don’t like my Raiders-like paint job. They are doing a better job with paint now than in '01.
They are a small Canadian company making good bikes, just like Cervelo does. Even up here in Canada the Guru name seems to be overshadowed by Cervelo. You just don’t see that many around, at least not in Ontario. See lots of Cervelos though.
Both are fine Canadian companies, but only Guru is made in Canada from my understanding.
Isn’t this how we got going with the “CERVELO IS NOT OPTIMIZED” guy?
Nope, it is just two different methods of producing a quality product. I doubt Guru will have a $999 entry level triathlon bike anytime soon, or a $1499 category killer such as the new Dual. The two companies span the spectrum of how to source product and, as a result, they span the spectrum of price points- from $999 at the Cervelo One to much higher with both the Dual and, from Guru, with the crono. What is impressive is the ecclectic mix of bike options available from Canadian companies.
I had the Cron-alu…entry level steep tri-bike. Really liked the ride, the curved seat and chainstays are nice…GREAT paint job, handled nicely…I learned I could get in aero bars on rollers with this bike. I sold it simply because it was so steep (78degrees) I could never seem to climb worth a darn on it. The Cron-alu is a bit heavy, but it was stiff, nice for someone my size. I’m happier with my Yaqui (76 degrees)…it’s much lighter and much easier to climb on than the Guru. But, my Yaqui would be more akin to the Tri-lite than the Cron-alu, and I’ve never been on a Tri-lite.
Tom,
I am the proud owner of a 2002 Chron’Alu. It is sweet.
At first i had reservations about getting this bike over the multisport 2000 or p2k, but now that i have ridden it, and raced on it, i dont think i would ever want to switch.
It may not be as aero as the p2k, but i have a full ultegra set w/ksyrium elites. I threw a slightly forward post on the 76 deg bike, and its sweet.
The best part was, i ordered the bike, i got sized up at the shop, and they then built the bike for me, with my paint job (same as whitfield won the olympics on), and then shipped it out. a couple minor problems with seat availability, but other than that, its amazing.
Email me if you have any questions,
-kevin
I was sponsored by Guru in 2000, they made me a very nice custon Crono. When having it repainted, I found out it was the new “Aluminum-Bondo” composite.
Anyway, I did like the bike, but I found the company was full of pathological liars.
For a LOT less money, Cramerotti makes the same bikes with no charge for custom angles and paint, and a 60-day delivery-or-it’s-free guarantee.
www.cramerotti.com