Your Advice on Norco 06 CRR Durace/Ritchey WCS

[geoff m]

Hi,

I might be able to pick up this bike new from a retailer for $3750 (whilst 12 months old, was retailing at $5750) - quote of price below is in Canadian dollars.

Specs are:

http://www.norco.com/2006bikes/bike_enl ... ol=carbon#

Any views on this.

I would use for training and racing. My current 3 year old Trek 1200 would become my commuting bike.

The sale attendant mentioned he thought that I should only use the wheels for racing and not training. Is that good advise? I don't want to increase expenses too much more, and want to enjoy such a bike as much as possible.

[weiyun]

Wow, nice!

If the price is right, can't see how you can go wrong.

Can't see why he would have concerns with durability. Guess he is referring to the fact that WCS is Ritchey's top of the line racing range, that's all. Would he offer to swap out for a different wheelset?

[T-Bone]

I'll have a quick look around and get back to you on value for money. Just a couple of questions, does it have the dura-ace cranks and dura-ace wheels or truvativ cranks and ritchey wheels?

[mikesbytes]

Nice bike Geoff, didn't know you were getting divorced.

Jokes aside, with that baby, you will be joining, Adrian, Lindsay and yours truly in C.

[geoff m]

James,

Truvativ Cranks and Ritchey wheels

[geoff m]

Nice bike Geoff, didn't know you were getting divorced.

Jokes aside, with that baby, you will be joining, Adrian, Lindsay and yours truly in C.

I kind of broke the news tonight. I'm still here!

I bought tickets to go to Priscilla Musical tomorrow and she was very surprised by this spontaneous act.

Now she reckons I did the latter to softer her on the former.

Actually its purely coincidental. Do you think I can convince her of that!!!

[mikesbytes]

So you want it badly, its all in submitting the business case.

Its all a matter of inserting te correct power phrases into the explanation, for example "Improved Safety" or something along the lines "Family History of Heart Conditions"

In the end you realised to not purchase this new bike was to risk the children growing up without a father.

Of course this is a load of hog wash cos the trek can do that, so the trek needs some sort of ternimal illness making it only suitable as a backup. "The geometry is unsuitable for my back" "the risk accident due to component failure increases with the K's completed"

[T-Bone]

Ok, done a bit of looking around and it seems like you'll be getting a good deal.

I'd prefer the Dura-Ace cranks myself, but the truvativ ones do look good, and there shouldn't be much difference between them. As for the wheels, i'm not too sure, it depends if you have other wheels to use. If you do then decide which are better and use the others for training, otherwise just ride them, though i'll try and find some reviews to gauge how strong/reliable they are. The rest of the Ritchey WCS stuff is very good, and importantly..... light!!

I'm sure you'll enjoy a new bike, i'm just waiting until i can afford to upgrade mine.

[geoff m]

OK, bad news is that we thought the frame was a 56 but it is a 54.

Good news is that one of the other bike reps might be able to put on his 2006 Cannondale Synapse Carbon 3 frame which is a 56/57.

Each rep gets to buy a bike at cost through the shop and they then sell them after about 6 to 8 months to customers at the shops.

He is looking to swap this part on, and it is likely package price will be less than what is quoted above. The frame is 200grams lighter and a longer lasting carbon than the Norco one. It would be under warranty as well.

He will come back to me with a quote, and then measure me up, to see if it is possible. Will also swap over 23 cassette to 25 cassette Dura Ace.

Any views on this frame?

[Adrian E]

54cm is perfect for me! But $3700 is not so good.

Oh... I've got the no bling' bike blues.

[weiyun]

Cannondale's Synapse is a well respected frame with a more relaxed geometry (so the description goes). Get it if the price is right.

I understand that Synapse is C's first foray into full CF frame design and is made in the Far East as opposed to being made in the US. Their new full CF frame is the SuperSIX which incorporates full race frame geometry according to the blurb.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech.php?id= ... news/04-14

Going back to the frame size issue. Would 54cm be out of the question for you? What if you extended the seat tube more and possibly a longer stem? It'll potentially give you a more aggressive position and I understand that many pro riders do that deliberately.

[geoff m]

Thanks for link Weiyun.

The attendant was adamant 54 was too small. I'm getting fitted out by the shop owner who is quite experienced with fittings, so I will check again with him.

The Cannondale frame is a more upright type used by Liquigas. It can be modified with stems to get the right aggressive posture if I wish.

I get the whole thing, plus the Norco frame for that price, so I can sell the frame on ebay to bring the total price down even further.

[Grant Bond]

Geoff,
dont even consider a 54cm frame. Thats way too small for you and you will be really cramped up. As an example Gill is on a 51v/54h frame (admitedly with a short stem) and you would have to admit that you differ significantly in stature. Get something that fitsthen you will be happy and comfortable.

Cheers

[weiyun]

Geoff, what's your height?

The other tip I read with certain compact frames is that it's better to decide based on the top tube rather than by seat tube length. But given that you are buying a physical frame rather than by mail order, you should try them out and see.

[Huw]

I'd be very surprised if Geoff fitted a 54 cm frame. Just one glance at those powerful, sculpted pins stickin' up in the air from the pavement of the Sutho garage screams "56 or bigger!" I could also be wrong.

Mike, sounds like you've got the argument down pat - when are you getting a new bike?

Best of luck with the deal, Geoff. Sounds exciting, even if you have to sit through a musical about a bus.

[mikesbytes]

Mike, sounds like you've got the argument down pat - when are you getting a new bike?

I was going to get some deep aero carbon rims for the beast.

Geoff, if you want to see how a smaller bike feels, your welcome to take the OCR for a spin

[weiyun]

Geoff, if you want to see how a smaller bike feels, your welcome to take the OCR for a spin

What's size is your OCR? Are you saying your OCR frame is smaller than your regular size?

[mikesbytes]

What's size is your OCR? Are you saying your OCR frame is smaller than your regular size?

Medium

[T-Bone]

I'm pretty sure 54 would be too small for you. The Synapse frame sounds good, and it'd be easier to find some info about it than the norco. I would be reasonably confident to say it's a better frame, and the 200g lighter is a bonus.

[weiyun]

One item to check. Does the Synapse use those proprietary Cannondale BB/Crankset? That was what turned me off from Cannondale.

[mikesbytes]

The bottom line, is what does your heart say, we are passionate about riding and for most of us that passion means that we need a particular bike.

BTW Geoff, my track bike is 56cm and it feels a tad small to me, but is OK. Definitely 54cm is too small for you.

[weiyun]

my track bike is 56cm and it feels a tad small to me, but is OK.

How is it small? Did you consider putting on a longer stem?

[mikesbytes]

How is it small? Did you consider putting on a longer stem?

Yes I have considered longer stems, but I want to make adjustments to seating positions first

[T-Bone]

You can get the cannondales with or without the SI Crankset, though it's not a disadvantage to have it, as i've heard good things about them.