New bike dilemma - as always

Ogi wrote:

@unconstituted

Thanks for that. I never thought of Infinito CV, not because it's not good but because it was possibly "too good" (pricey). People say it's brilliant, albeit a bit taller headtube (nothing that can't be fixed with -17 degree stem if I really wanted more aggressive stance).

I love Cervelos. Always did. It's a newer one (2015 or 2016 year one). Again, I'm worried with pressfits - I have no experience other than BSA (faultless). Can you share some of your thoughts? Same applies for carbon bikes. I have a beater bike at the moment - I stole my wife's aluminium Carrera Virtuoso Claris/Sora (frame smallish for me which I somewhat fixed with 12cm stem), but gets me to work and still flies with its 12kg portly weight.

Pressfits get a lot of bad rap, but I run them exclusively and only one that squeaked was the factory fitted one on the Infinito CV after a few months. All the ones I fitted myself (and I'm no expert wrench) have been great. They're also dead easy to fit and pretty cheap. 

Definitely go go for a carbon bike. Best bang for buck, light, feels great and repair is affordable and easy now for the repair shops. Ti bikes by comparison are a nightmare to repair I'm told. Going from your current rides to a 105 R2 would be a pretty awesome experience. The connection to the road and the buzz dampening from the carbon layup is something you won't have experienced before. Just totally different feel. It'll be a buzz, every ride. I ride an S series Cervelo now and I mean it when I say I live just waiting for my next ride on it. You really don't get that with a lot of bikes. It's worth it to have something hype waiting for you at the weekend or evenings. You deserve it, only live once right..  

Ogi wrote:

@Vejnemojen

Thanks for the suggestion. Evo is a great bike. My only concern is BB30. Good experience? I guess I can always put in the Praxis BB thing which should silent it forever.

@unconstituted

You just ruined my life :). Haha. No you're absolutely right, it's just I'm really falling for all things nice - especially in the bike world.

No steel vaults at work definitely, but generally quite safe. The mentioned candidates are all used bikes - massively reduced some of which are owned by bike friends (i.e. I could never afford Colnago Master RRP frame price - 2k) and the rest is almost all aluminium (e.g. Impulso, Aluminium Teammachine etc.), with exception of two Bianchis and a Cervelo (Sempre, Infinito and Cervelo R2 which are ridiculously priced on eBay but do not smell stolen yet) - just giving you some context.

Steel: Master, Holdsworth Competition

Aluminium alloy: Bianchi Impulso, BMC ALR Teammachine, possibly Bowman in some cheapish eBay Frankenstein build

Carbon: Bianchi Sempre, Infinito CV,  Focus Cayo, Cervelo R2.

 

I love posh bikes myself. Personally, I think you should take a time out and consider buying a crappy beater bike, then grab that R2 on eBay. You'll love it and get much more pleasure out of cycling. I have an 2000 mile Infinito CV frame that I'll be selling shortly funnily enough. Has a ding on the rear chainstay, perfectly fine, but will repair first (£150) before listing on eBay for £950.

Wicked bike, very racing feeling for an endurance bike. The R2 looks boss (guy round my way rides a new white one and loves it to bits). What year is the R2 you're eyeing up btw? Quite a lot of work has gone into the latest model, so would personally be looking for that (2015 on I think). R2 would be my choice, followed by the Infinito CV if I wanted something a bit comfier. That said, 25mm's on any of these bikes will be a plush ride.