MeiVici Specs For Comment

[dan earhart]

Greetings,

I am planning on purchasing a Meivici. Have a budget limit of ~10k. I will be using it for touring long distances. Is there any obvious oversights or improvements I can make in the specs I am planning below?

ITEM DESCRIPTION SIZE WEIGHT

Frame: Serotta MeiVici, Stock Road Geometry 54cm TBD
Frame Tubing: Full Carbon, C5C Colorado Concept 4.5, 6.5, 8.5, 10.5 na
Fork: Reynolds Ouzo Pro Carbon Road 285mm x 50mm 420
Headset: Chris King No Threadset 1 1/8" 98
Stem: Oval Concepts RBT R700 31.8mm - 100mm 117
Crankset: 2006 SRAM Force w/GXP BB 50/34, 170mm 760
Rear Sprockets: 2007 SRAM OG-1070 10-Speed 12/26 220
Chain: Campagnolo Record 10 Ultra Narrow 5.9mm 255
Shift Levers: 2007 SRAM Force na 305
Front Derailleur: 2007 SRAM Force na 88
Rear Derailleur: 2007 SRAM Force na 174
Brakeset:Zero Gravity OG-06 na 168
Saddle: Koobi Tri na 225
Seat Post: Reynolds Ouzo Pro 27.2mm x 250mm 150
Pedals: Speedplay Frog na 205
Handle Bar: Zipp SLC2 Carbon Road 1.8mm - 44cm 185
Tape: Cinelli Gel Cork Tape na 50
Rims: Mavic CXP33 Clincher 700c 470 ea
Hubs: DT Swiss 240S 32 hole 94 + 223
Spokes: DT Swiss Super Comp Triple 2.0/1.7/1.8 318
Skewers: Zipp Titanium 100mm &130mm 85
Tires: Continental 4000 700x23c 205 ea
Aerobar: Profile Design 2005 Carbon Stryke 15" 548
Computer : Micro Wireless CC-MC100W na 25
Cages: Ciussi Pase Carbon na 25 ea

Thanks for the advice.

[dirtdigger88]

Ok Ill start-

why are you picking a race bike for a touring bike-

you are picking all the coolest light weight parts for this bike- do you want a touring bike for long distance or a race bike- that needs to be your first question- you seem to be wanting to build a lightweight racer - not a touring bike

as a race bike- what you describes is pretty good-

for a touring bike-

you are limited on tire size

you cant run fenders or racks

ZG Brakes- ??????

speedplay pedals- they are horrible to walk in- why not some MTB pedals

ti skewers- ???

have fun- but for 10k you could do better on a touring bike- and please understand this is not a knock towards Serotta or the Meivici- but its like asking if an Indy car is good for the family vacation-

Jason

[CNY rider]

Could you be more clear about the "touring long distances" part of your post? Do you mean actual loaded touring a la Bradford? Or credit card touring?

I"ll just start with one basic question: Can you even get fenders on a Meivici?

[Serotta PETE]

Just a question - What do you mean by touring long distances?

If it is "day" touring _ I really love your selections.

If it means days at a time, the SRAM might not be they best choice for that. Reason is that if something breaks along the way, few shops have much except for SHIMANO for replacement. With Shimano you have backups from 105 right thru DuraAce. This is just a thought, and led to me using Ultegra on my travel bike, even though I prefer Campy. (Campy is not better in my opinion, I just like it better)

I see in gearing that you have double and 26 rear - it terrain is hilly/mountain and you are doing vast miles/day - might want to consider compact or triple.


Please post pictures when you get it biult up.

[dan earhart]

I would be on a supported tour, so I wouldn't be carrying anything but a small seat pack. I thought the frog speedplays provided for recessed cleats. Being over 50, I just wanted the lightest bike possible to get up the mountains since I may have to carry it on my back. The brakes and skewers were light weight. Too light?

Hope that helps explain it a little better.

[Serotta PETE]

I would be on a supported tour, so I wouldn't be carrying anything but a small seat pack. I thought the frog speedplays provided for recessed cleats. Being over 50, I just wanted the lightest bike possible to get up the mountains since I may have to carry it on my back. The brakes and skewers were light weight. Too light?

Hope that helps explain it a little better.

This is pretty much how I do it also.

Frogs work well. As to brakes and skewers, if you like them use them.

I do not have fenders and on those days of rain I just clean the bike and yourself.

Gearing is what you need to ask yourself "Is it enough" for most of the riding you will do". I do not know anything about SRAM, but with a CAMPY Med cage you can have a backup cassette that goes to 29 or with the SHIMANO long cage you can go to 27.

Sounds like a nice bike and is pretty much what I used (except SRAM) on a 12 day supported tour.

Have fun...................

[Jason E]

Sounds like a great bike. Can you clip aerobars to the Zipp Handlebar?

I agree with Pete on the components choice as well. Though partly cause I do not like the visual of the new force levers, and for the practical reasons.

Either way, you have no glaring omissions. You should be very happy. Post pics.

[dan earhart]

I will be on a coast to coast tour for about 50 days. I do plan on taking a 13/29 cassette to use for the mountainous days. I'm not sure how to determine if the aerobar will work with the Zipp Handlebar. Now any aerobars that will? I am also 5'10" and 160, so hopefully those rims will be ok for the long haul. I just hope this isn't overkill, but I need all the help I can get to make it through the mountains and the desert on those hot days.

Thanks again.

[Ozz]

For a coast to coast tour, the last thing you would want is to not be able to get spare parts if something breaks. For this reason, I would rethink SRAM and go a group that has a track record of reliability....Campy or Shimano. Shimano is more readily available in shops, so that would be the common sense choice.

Sounds like a nice bike and a good time!

[Dave B]

Do you want a light bike for the mountains or do you think there is a need for your enitre trip. If you want comfortable why not look into a triple crankset and then you have the gears to use on the mountain days and you can buy sturdier parts. I get shimano for easy of finding, aero bars make sens for a some wha different and relaxing position. ZG are an interesting choice. I have heard so many mixed reviews that I would look else where. Campy and Shomano are more then reliable.

I would never turn some one away from a serotta, especially a Meivici, but for ten grand there are loads of bikes lighter.

Anyway I am actualy impressed someone has ten grand as a budget. Sure wish I had that type of budget!

[Lanternrouge]

For bars, you may be better of with 26.0 since that means a lighter bar and stem. I believe Kestrel carbon bars can take aero bars and Reynolds (31.8 only) do as well.

I would recommend going with DT rims over CXP33s since they're a bit lighter and inherently cooler.

[dan earhart]

The Profile Stryke aerobars will fit the 31.8 handlebars. I wanted the 31.8 handlebars for comfort on those 100+ mile days.

[Bittersweet]

I wanted the 31.8 handlebars for comfort on those 100+ mile days.

what makes 31.8 more comfortable? just makes em' stiffer.

[dan earhart]

Haven't actually used them, just heard that since they had more area, they were easier on your hands. Not true?

[scrooge]

Haven't actually used them, just heard that since they had more area, they were easier on your hands. Not true?


It's been true for me--but my 31.8s also have the big flats on top so its not really an apples to apples comparison.

[Jason E]

They tend to be 31.8 in the middle, at the clamp, not thoughout.

Seeing that you are doing the cross continent thing, I would lean towards dependable, like you did with your choice of rims. I would not quip about the ZG brakes, though, again, my choice would be D/A.

You need to contact the manufacturer or their website to see if they will take an aero bar. The thing is, they do not want you clamping to carbon...

I think Easton has a set of aero bars that clamp to one of their bars. Again, I'd check the websites or have your shop make some calls. You are spending $10,000.

[Ti Designs]

I am planning on purchasing a Meivici. Have a budget limit of ~10k. I will be using it for touring long distances. Is there any obvious oversights or improvements I can make in the specs I am planning below?

It's 3:30AM - this reply has NOTHING to do with where I work. It's just the opinion of some guy who can't sleep, sitting in his underwear surfing the net (too much info???).


Sounds like a $10K mistake to me. OK, mistake may be too strong a word, let's say it's an expensive experiment with a low chance of sucess... It's an expensive frame, but you say nothing about your tastes on how the bike rides. Have you put in many miles on other bikes to get a feel for this or is there some standard one-size-fits-all geometry that works for long distance touring which I don't know about? Read the thread about Meivici #2. Then at least if you don't like the way your Mievici rides you can run it into a garage door and get another. Components - how much of this stuff have you put any serious mileage on? I'm guessing at best you've tested the Sram stuff, so how does it hold up to a cross country trip?

Dream bikes only work on the pages of glossy bike porn magazines. Real life bikes are more about fitting the needs of the rider. If you're picking bars based on what people on the internet say, there's something very wrong.

And you left out the color...

[erty65]

If you're picking bars based on what people on the internet say, there's something very wrong.

Not necessarily! :rolleyes:

[CNY rider]

It's 3:30AM - this reply has NOTHING to do with where I work. It's just the opinion of some guy who can't sleep, sitting in his underwear surfing the net (too much info???).


Sounds like a $10K mistake to me. OK, mistake may be too strong a word, let's say it's an expensive experiment with a low chance of sucess... It's an expensive frame, but you say nothing about your tastes on how the bike rides. Have you put in many miles on other bikes to get a feel for this or is there some standard one-size-fits-all geometry that works for long distance touring which I don't know about? Read the thread about Meivici #2. Then at least if you don't like the way your Mievici rides you can run it into a garage door and get another. Components - how much of this stuff have you put any serious mileage on? I'm guessing at best you've tested the Sram stuff, so how does it hold up to a cross country trip?

Dream bikes only work on the pages of glossy bike porn magazines. Real life bikes are more about fitting the needs of the rider. If you're picking bars based on what people on the internet say, there's something very wrong.

And you left out the color...

Ed it's funny but I ended up pondering this as I slept last night also. My subconscious ended up with the conclusion that there's much better choices to be made here.

I will first posit that on any bike you're touring on, even credit card touring, it would be nice to have fenders, or at least the option of having fenders. Fenders over a 25 or 27 mm tire would be even better.

A few ideas that I might seriously consider in the situation:

Legend Ti in Rapid Tour configuration
Uniscasi, for ease of transport
Tournesol/Parlee if you're really jazzed about carbon
Rivendell (I"m sorry I'm not up on their models, but Hypnos had one at the Ramble in 650b that looked perfect for a long touring jaunt).

See, you're spending a lot to save a little weight on the Meivici but you're not even doing a light build because you're using it for touring. A frame that weighs maybe a pound more would be so much more functional in this setting. It would be really easy to lose a pound of body fat, and ride a better touring bike.

Just trying to throw some useful ideas out there. Please take them in the spirit they're being offered. :beer:

[Jason E]

Yeah, along with what CNY said, keep in mind that if you are in moderate shape when you begin your trip, there is a good chance :rolleyes: you'll be in better shape after you RIDE ACROSS COUNTRY. You'll be much stronger as arider and you will most likely have lost a bit of weight.

[dbrk]

I think Dirtdigger nailed it, honestly. OK, so you'll be day touring or supported toured, which means you don't need to carry even a banana style bag or have lights...I take it you'll ride only narrower style tires on well-paved roads? You've no aspirations to see the hard pack of the English countryside, the ramblin' dirt roads of the Finger Lakes, the paths of France where something like a _real_ 28c is a superior tire choice? Clearances on a bike like this are usually for narrow tires. Fenders are "heavy" (if you really believe that this sort of stationary weight really matters on a long touring bike...well) but if you're not riding in the wet then you're not a menace to others, since fenders are as much for the people you ride with as for yourself. The spec and the bike seem to be well-suited for many things, particularly fast, steep days with little concern for the weather or and plenty of support, but not for really long day touring, at least the sort I would do: plenty of gears, a bike that carries at least a banana, keeps your friends from road spray, and costs likely half as much. But that last consideration is not a comment on cost but on what costs buy you: mostly race-style bikes cost this much because they are using those sorts of bits and the advantages that attend to these costs attend race bikes, not long day tourers.

I dunno, it's always good to do what you want!

dbrk

[Endless Goods]

VANILLA! (http://www.vanillabicycles.com)

(you just can't win with a $10K bike- guys ask why you're not racing a racing bike, and racers ask why you're not racing a disposable and cheaply replaced CAAD 8, etc.)

[cpg]

Perhaps you can have Serotta design the bike what would ultimately serve you better than the typical race bike you've outlined. A slightly lengthened wheelbase certainly is in order. Yes, it will add a litttle weight but what you will gain in all day comfort and stability will make it worth it. One thing to remember is on long days a bike that has spirited handling is not desirable. After several 100+ mile days a rider can get tired and with that one's handling skills are compromised. This is where a more sort of "point and shoot" geometry is in order. The bike won't need to handle like a RV to do this. Just something that's forgiving of sloppy handling skills. This type of geometry will also conserve energy which is way more important than what the bike weighs. Also with the increased wheelbase, the clearances could be increased to allow for more tire choices. I suspect you might not find 23mm tires as comfortable as something a little fatter. Again, there's no reason to have this thing ride like a full suspension mtb but after several hard days a little increase in comfort can pay large dividends. I don't know what your goals are for this ride but if completing it regardless of weather is one, I'd consider provisions for fenders. I'm sure we've all experienced rain for several days straight. If you have to ride through that, any additional degree of comfort is appreciated. As others have pointed out, choose some parts that are easier to service or replace. Shimano probably wins out there but Campagnolo isn't far behind. Either one is great. With all that said, you could ride the bike you've outlined probably just fine. For that matter, you could ride virtually any type of bike. But there are reasons for different bike designs for different applications. I wish you good luck and you've made a good choice in Serotta. They will produce you a great bike and have a well earned history of working with customers to meet their needs.

Curt

[Zard]

Have Tom Kellogg build you something like this: http://www.spectrum-cycles.com/341.htm

I saw this particular bike in person. Beautiful. Wanted to jump on it on go ride for a couple of weeks...anywhere.

[Lifelover]

I will be on a coast to coast tour for about 50 days. I do plan on taking a 13/29 cassette to use for the mountainous days. I'm not sure how to determine if the aerobar will work with the Zipp Handlebar. Now any aerobars that will? I am also 5'10" and 160, so hopefully those rims will be ok for the long haul. I just hope this isn't overkill, but I need all the help I can get to make it through the mountains and the desert on those hot days.

Thanks again.


Not sure if you have considered it but I think the Meivici and some of the other bikes folks have mentioned may have quite a long wait time. Not sure when you are planning this trip but I would want the bike that I ride on it well in advance.


Also, for about the same budget you could spec out a Nove for both of us and I'll go with you! :banana:

[Dave]

If I was building a day touring bike, it would either have a cheap carbon frame, like a LOOK 555 or a cheap Ti frame. You should expect this type of bike to get scratched up. Certainly not the kind of treatment I'd give a $10K bike.

For less than half that price you could build up a nicely equipped (campy drivetrain) bike with a triple crank, so you wouldn't ever have to worry about changing cassettes or being under-geared.

I've got a top of the line LOOK 585 that's similar to your spec, but I use Campy Record shifters, brakes, FD and RD, a Chorus (all steel) cassette (12-25) and an FSA Team issue carbon triple crank (53/39/28) with an ISIS BB. My lowest gear is like a 39/35, so I can get up just about any climb, pedaling seated. If you really want extra insurance, a 13-29 cassette could be used to produce a real stump pulling low gear.

I have a second bike with a LOOK KG461 frame that's similarly equipped, with Chorus brakes, RD and a cheaper BB that I would use for this type of riding.

[Marcusaurelius]

The only thing I would change if you not interested in carrying anything but yourself and a banana is to switch the sram to campagnolo. I am also not sure I would a fork with a 50mm rake on the bike. I think a 43mm would work fine.