Serotta Road Bikes

[snowsprite]

Anyone familiar w/ Serotta steel framed bikes? What's the scoop on these as far as quality/your experiences...any good?

I am checking this model out:

http://spokesetc.com/itemdetails.cfm...gId=39&id=2668


Thanks,
Sprite

[Tap]

very very pimpy

[Darkside]

Hard to go wrong with a serotta, though I haven't ridden one of the newer non-custom ones (I have ridden the first steel/carbon non-custom Serotta though I can't recall the model name), I would guess it's a real comfy relaxed kinda ride. Probably not what you'd want to use for crit racing or anything like that.

[jon gaper]

i have an old serotta columbus steel t-max which i bought because of their reputation for excellent quality...........and its been fine for 15 years

[BLOOD SWEAT STEEL]

Can't go wrong w/ a Serotta. Some of the best steel bikes in the universe.

[maniloff]

John Kerry loves his.

He says hi.

[Charles DeMar]

You can't go wrong with a Serotta. A lot of my friends back east are on various versions of their steel frames and love them. Here is a good link for some related bike porn:
http://kirkframeworks.com/index.htm
Dave Kirk worked for Serotta throughout the 90's and his influence can still be seen in their product line. He and his wife Karin are some of the coolest people in the world and are living the dream in Bozeman.
Have fun.

[m1e448]

Sprite for the cost of that frame, I'd go with something custom from this guy.


www.quiringcycles.net

Sicks deals and he know what he is doing.

If you are set on the serotta though, you can't really go wrong with it.

[Tap]

or how about a Steelman.....bay area built, you can get it custom and visit the shop

http://www.steelmancycles.com/

[maniloff]

There's a ton of great custom builders out there. One list is the builders at the last handmade bike show. This list is pretty West Coast-heavy cause the show was in San Jose.

[MassLiberal]

Sprite,

Stick with either Serotta or Independent Fabrications if you are going to get a custy bike. Support the local bike builders!!

www.ifbikes.com

[uncle crud]

At the risk of incurring yuppie wrath --

Overhyped, overpriced is how I feel about Serotta. They've been mining the rich yuppie/doctor/lawyer market for about 20 years. I would think that by now they have paid off their startup costs and could charge a more humane price for their mediocre frames.

I sure hope one of their STEEL frames can last 15 years. I'd be embarrassed for them if it did not. I think you could say that most STEEL frames will last 15 years, whether built by Serotta or built by K-Mart.

If you want to impress yuppies, get the Serotta. Or go about 10x better and get a Richard Sachs. Richie's the real godfather of American handmade steel road race frames, but he doesn't promote himself or his bikes like Ben Serotta's "Hollywood" style of self-promotion.

Otherwise, for custom steel, there are plenty of good choices at lower prices.

Carl Strong is the first who comes to mind. Like Dave Kirk (mentioned by Charles DeMar above), Carl Strong builds frames in Bozeman, MT. Last time I checked, Carl Strong's prices were lower and wait times were shorter than Dave Kirk's.

[snowsprite]

Actually, the Serotta Titanium is running 'bout $1800 which is less than I was possibly gonna shell out for a Cannondale Carbon bike.

There's a shop in Stamford and the dood is going to call his supplier to see if he can get me a demo in a 46 or 48 to see how I likey.

I'll look @ some of the custom too, after I ride a steel and titanium bike and see what that feels like. But I would rather go local...for fitting purposes and all.

Thanks for the feedback, keep it coming! This is a lot of $$ and i really want to do it right & go w/ what is reputable and going to last.

Sprite

[m1e448]

Sprite,

Stick with either Serotta or Independent Fabrication if you are going to get a custy bike. Support the local bike builders!!

www.ifbikes.com

I can't pass up the chance to second this, I ride a steel deluxe and have got another in the mail. The boys and girls at IF craft the some of the best frames out there, have great customer service, employee owned. Serotta is kinda big business if you ask me. Quirings frames are just so cheap he must be smokin crak.

[snowsprite]

I'm wondering how much this little package might really cost me when all is said & done. My credit card is sweating and shaking in anticipation...

Sprite

[Plakespear]

Or go about 10x better and get a Richard Sachs. Richie's the real godfather of American handmade steel road race frames

Yeah, if you don't mind the two year waiting list.

Something about this bike just sceams "Sprite!!!" to me.

[tigerstripe40]

Don't ride a Serotta.
Any Serotta.
EVER.
Trust me on this.

You won't want ANY OTHER bike...

[Benny Profane]

Sprite, I own a Serotta Colorado 3, about 5 years old. They don't make that model any more - the only custom made steel bike is the Coeur d'Acier, which has rear carbon stays - mine is steel with a front carbon fork.

The model you feature is very nice. Any Serotta bike is a beautiful thing to own. But the Fiertes are their "ready made" line, cheaper than their custom fit bikes, for obvious reasons. To me, the only reasons for owning a Serotta are custom fit and workmanship. You can buy a bike from a "mass market" manufacturer that will be just as good for your needs, especially if it's your first nice roadie. But you won't get the service and custom fit (it's made for you - you wait 2 or 3 months), and you won't marvel at the welds or incredible paint job, if that matters. It's the finest thing I own, and I didn't buy it to impress anyone.

If you can get a good deal on that bike, go for it, because the dealer will be trained by Serotta to fit you, which, I assume, will be included in the price. That is the most important part of the transaction. And the frame will be garaunteed for life. And you will impress your new biking buddies.

[wintermittent]

Sprite, the Fiertes are every bit as solid and smooth as the full-custom Serottas. You won't be disappointed. Hope you are able to demo both a ti and steel frame.

I am on a Concours with carbon seatstays and love it.

If you want some Serotta chica beta, PM Cornholio. His GF is riding a Fierte I think.

[uncle crud]

Yeah, if you don't mind the two year waiting list.

And that wait detracts from the quality of the bike HOW, exactly?

Being a dumb smartass is pretty stupid, plakespear.

The point was that if you're going to get a Yuppie Impression Sled, you may as well impress the yuppies who matter most, and those would be the Type A, Cat I and Cat II road racers who know Richie Sachs.

Now if you have something intelligent to add, please do it. You missed your target the last time around.

[Darkside]

And that wait detracts from the quality of the bike HOW, exactly?

Being a dumb smartass is pretty stupid, plakespear.

The point was that if you're going to get a Yuppie Impression Sled, you may as well impress the yuppies who matter most, and those would be the Type A, Cat I and Cat II road racers who know Richie Sachs.

Now if you have something intelligent to add, please do it. You missed your target the last time around.

Dude, calm down your attitude. I don't think Plake was saying anything about the quality of the bikes Sachs makes, he was probably wondering what Sprite would do if she didn't have another bike to ride for the next two years...
Maybe you suck him off, which explains why you're so upset, and that you call him Richie.

[MassLiberal]

And that wait detracts from the quality of the bike HOW, exactly?

Being a dumb smartass is pretty stupid, plakespear.

The point was that if you're going to get a Yuppie Impression Sled, you may as well impress the yuppies who matter most, and those would be the Type A, Cat I and Cat II road racers who know Richie Sachs.

Now if you have something intelligent to add, please do it. You missed your target the last time around.

Easy there brotha, I think he was being a little tongue in cheek there.

Sprite, is that 1800 for the entire bike or just the frame??

Also, I implore you to look at Indy fab, great great great stuff, the Crown Jewel is one of the nicest bikes I've ever seen and their paint jobs destroy anyone elses.

Also, for all you folks who want to see a very beautiful Bicycle, my favorite bike builder is Vanilla, I want one of these bad boys so very badly:









Pieces of ridable art in my opinion.

[m1e448]

Or go about 10x better and get a Richard Sachs. Richie's the real godfather of American handmade steel road race frames

I'd say Richie is the godfather and Albert Eisentraut is was his teacher. Eisentraut has been making frames since like the 50s? or something.

[L7]

And that wait detracts from the quality of the bike HOW, exactly?

Being a dumb smartass is pretty stupid, plakespear.

The point was that if you're going to get a Yuppie Impression Sled, you may as well impress the yuppies who matter most, and those would be the Type A, Cat I and Cat II road racers who know Richie Sachs.

Now if you have something intelligent to add, please do it. You missed your target the last time around.

And you're contributing anything worthwhile how? Oh yea bolstering your blatant insecurties by hurling about insults at entire groups once again. Right, I forgot it's all about you and whatever anti depressants you're gobbling this week.

Just crawl back under your rock you offer nothing to the group here just as you offered nothing at epic. Your attempts at bolstering your own self esteem just continue to be pathetic and I'd really be surprised if they are even helping you in the long run.

[snowsprite]

ML: "ooooooo, aaaaaah" that is indeed rideable art!

UC: Chill, I think Plakespear was just pointing out that bike could take a while to git done.

I think the serotta would come in just under $4k when all is said and done. It's stretching the budget for sure. I coudl do the steel for more like just under $3k. Or, I could buy the cannondale now and then buy one of the titanium serottas next year when I sell my house.

Yes, I am selling my house, quitting my job, and becoming a buddhist nun with some really kick-ass toys to play w/.

Sprite