Here’s the story: I was hit by a car (I’m fine), basically totalling my Ti Seven Axiom. The insurance settlement should leave me with around CAD$6000 to play with. I’m getting into duathlons and want something that is very fast, but I also want something that I can train lots of miles on. It will be my only bike.
I think it would be best to go with road geometry. I thought a Soloist Carbon would be perfect, but they’re not available until April and I’ll explode if I can’t ride until then. Something that, like the Soloist, has convertable geometry, would be ideal.
I’m willing to consider anything, so bring your personal tastes and prejudices along and post them up here!
depending on your size Don…you could order the soloist and borrow one of my bikes until it arrives…I live in Hamilton…likely be a 54cm Kestrel 200 I’d be loaning youo if it fit (no commuting with it though).
Wow, thanks for the generous offer. I’m actually living in the UK at the moment, so not sure the loan would work! I’m going to be in Vancouver visiting family over Christmas and would ideally like to buy the bike then, hence the money listed in CAD.
A ha! A loaner would be a bit difficult now wouldn’t it. Oh well. Enjoy your pick…remember to account for the cost of shipping it back (and perhaps VAT and such)
I think the poster is looking for something a bit morer ‘off the shelf’ rather than trying to order something a bit custom and have it shipped But then I could just be farting in the wind too.
It can be, just ask Macca. I have a Talon (no SL) with a Reynolds Uozo Aero fork. It gives me a great position, climbs well and has a great ride. And, you can get really good deals on them. PM me if you’d like to know where I got mine.
If you are going to spend that kind of Money you should make sure you are fit and serviced by the best. One of the worlds leading Fit centers is in London http://www.cyclefit.co.uk/ I suggest you stop mucking about and go there instead of wasting your time and money on a bike that may or may not fit you properly. Cyclefit has stock and custom frames available. If you buy in Canada you loose all of the after sale service and care you should receive when spending 6K. Your plain will cheat yourself out of potential gains on all levels.
you got me, I do not see a Elite dealer listed in BC, my apologies, however I do stand by my statement that cyclefit is in London were he lives and is one of the best places to go to purchase a new ride. Ironically I was just on there site and they in fact do sell my favorite brand Elite. What a pleasant co-winky-dink that is.
Touche my friend…I actually wasn’t calling you on the Elite dealer in BC thing. He’s going to BC…perhaps to buy a bike. Armed with this info though I must say…you have the arguement won. Great bikes…in your neck of the woods…with LBS post sale backup even. Be interesting to see what he does from here.
I would order a soloist.($5k) Buy a $1000 bike on ebay to ride for the next 5months. (Its cold and rainy in UK anyway.) Sell the eBay bike when your soloist arrives. Use the money recovered from the ebay sale to buy matching Oval A900 aerobars, and maybe new pedals.
Sounds like fun, lets keep tabs on him, you watch him doing the day and I will follow him at night…
Thanks for the banter my friend, no Ill will meant, I know we are all trying to help each other do what is right for ourselves, each other, and the sport. Thanks for playing.