New bike day.

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OP
OP
Racing roadkill
All new bikes feel like that. You've bought a beautiful expensive bike, it will feel faster to you and you will try to justify it in many ways (it's faster, nicer, etc).
Nope, I ride with power meters, I can see the differences in cold hard numbers. At 230 Watts on the flat, I was crapping myself on this bike, I’d have been asleep on the lesser bikes at that power. Everything is ‘whole new world different’ with this bike.
The fact is you don't need to justify it to anyone.
Quite right.
 
I suspect a £12K bike isn't any faster than a £6K bike, except maybe in the lab. I'll probably still buy something really special when I retire, though.

Like for like model, yes, I'd agree if speed were all that mattered. If we look where that money is going, is it all marginal gains only a Pro or Elite rider would appreciate? Mostly higher quality, better finish? Electronic vs mechanical? Or is it more aero and/or lighter weight? Disc vs rim? A combination of all?

You could build an Oltre XR4 with Ultegra mechanical and wheels, stem, handlebars plus seat post and saddle to a lower price point to halve the cost. The main differences would then be weight and no electronic shifting, durability or nicer component finish. The speed performance losses would be down to the weight difference and where it is allocated. For most, this wouldn't really make a significant difference. Therefore, most are paying for quality and electronics, mainly, with perhaps a little noticeable speed on certain Strava segments here and there but not a lot.

A £12k Oltre XR4 vs a £6k Specialissima would have a much more easily noticeable speed difference, especially on less lumpy roads thanks to the formers aero benefits and, at £6k, the cheaper Specialissima would lose it's lightweight advantage. Of course, a £12k Specialissima would shine on steeper gradients due to it then being the lighter bike.
 
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Globalti

Legendary Member
The real world difference doesn’t become apparent until you really start pressing on. With the lower spec bikes I have, it becomes difficult to get them to go any quicker, without a lot more effort, this bike takes off like a stabbed rat, even when pressing on, with a minimal increase in effort.

True. I bought my Bianchi after testing about 10 top-end bikes at the first Cyclist magazine track day in that London. My son and I jumped on a Specialissima as an afterthought at the end of the day and were both blown away by it from the first turn of the pedals. It's a bike that rewards effort; the harder you push it the better it feels. You wouldn't want to ride it 100 miles but for a 30 to 40 mile thrash it is a real joy to ride. Whether that's down to it being quite stiff or whether it's down to some Italian magic, I can't say.
 
What a stunning piece of Italian engineering:wub:

I pass by the factory usually every few months or so and love seeing all the Cerise bikes out on the road (many from the workers of the factory) The hotel i stay in near by has Bianchi bikes for customers to take out, i usually borrow one if i don't have the Brompton in the boot.

Wonderful spec, the right groupset, wheels will be amazing and just can't imagine how nice it will be to ride, the word "Missile" comes to mind:okay:

In the mean time i'll keep dreaming of F10's and F12's:laugh:
 
OP
OP
Racing roadkill
What a stunning piece of Italian engineering:wub:

I pass by the factory usually every few months or so and love seeing all the Cerise bikes out on the road (many from the workers of the factory) The hotel i stay in near by has Bianchi bikes for customers to take out, i usually borrow one if i don't have the Brompton in the boot.

Wonderful spec, the right groupset, wheels will be amazing and just can't imagine how nice it will be to ride, the word "Missile" comes to mind:okay:

In the mean time i'll keep dreaming of F10's and F12's:laugh:
The F12 was on the radar. The ‘surrey dentist’ and team intravenous fan club effect put me off.
 
OP
OP
Racing roadkill
I tweeked the saddle position in, and went for a shakedown ride to Ringwood and home.

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There was a 30 mph gusty wind all of the way round, which was fun, when it was coming from the side, with those wheels:ohmy:. But I got round safe and sound, and got a coffee and cake from the Velo Cafe in Ringwood, which has re opened for take aways.
 

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Slick

Guru
I tweeked the saddle position in, and went for a shakedown ride to Ringwood and home.

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There was a 30 mph gusty wind all of the way round, which was fun, when it was coming from the side, with those wheels:ohmy:. But I got round safe and sound, and got a coffee and cake from the Velo Cafe in Ringwood, which has re opened for take aways.
I'm actually more jealous you got coffee and cake on a ride. Are they still open?
 
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