Your greatest bike ever

[Elefantino]

First, a confession: Although I am contributor to another cycling mag, i read Bicycling.

This month's "Editor's Choice" issue includes the notion that Specialized's Tarmac, in its various iterations, is the editors' greatest bike ever. Which, of course, got me to thinking about the greatest bike ever, me edition.

The finalists:

-- DeBernardi SLX: With apologies to Ben and Kelly, this was the best-riding steel frame I ever had. Somehow, DB did 62cm better than anyone else.
-- Specialized Allez M4: Made to do one thing, go fast. And it did. Carved like a scalpel, too.
-- Look 585: Best. Carbon. Ever.

And the winner:

-- Serotta Concours OS: It's been a trusted friend for going on seven years now. It rides well going up, is beyond amazing going down, and on the flats you can ride it forever. It's the one, true "disappear below you" bike I've had.

Your turn ...

[thirdgenbird]

I'm not looking to add to my collection, but if I stumbled on a nice green M4 frame, I would cave. Campy 10 and sirrocco 35s please.

My greatest ride ever is my ELOS Tommasini Tecno. It just seems to do everything right.

[eddief]

Hands down, custom Carver Ti. Yes, Chinese, yes great. It fits, it looks great, and the finest overall ride character of any of the 30 or so other things I have owned. Believe it's the material...in this case.

Close second - 2009 Roubaix Pro. Fits the same as the Carver, but just a bit more efficient I think.

For quite sometime it was the now gone custom Rex.

[Admiral Ackbar]

speaking of chinese frames, my unbranded chinese carbon frame is easily the "greatest" road bike I've ever owned or ridden (which isn't saying much because i haven't owned many road bikes) I've never had enough coin for a carbon frame from a big or "reputable" manufacturer, and likely never will so i took the risk and order up this guy straight from the manufacturer in china. about 2500+ miles on it now and it has been amazing, I've been completely blown away by how well it performs. been meaning to go do some demos to see how compares to the big boys but whenever I've had the opportunity I've just opted to go ride my own bike instead.

[ultraman6970]

Some stuff form china works just fine, all depends a lot of what are you comparing or what are you going to use the bike for too. If you havent used any of the expensive carbon the chinese stuff is pretty good, had one and I couldnt complain at all to be honest. Not super great but was ok IMO.

[Tony]

Rocky Mountain Altitude Team Only
http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=13247

I've used this bike for everything, mountain, gravel, and with slicks on lots of road miles before I bought a real road bike, my C111. It's been my favorite hands down.

[Marz]

Disappear under you bike...Pegoretti Marcelo.

Tried to feel the same with my other bikes but the Peg is the one.

Tried a Look 585. That felt like a lighter Marcelo. Sold it, but want it back.

Any small Look 585 owners want to sell to someone in Australia?

[aaronka]

My favorite is my stock Moots Psychlo-X. While I was a little skeptical about the idea of a true do-it-all-well, that's what I've experienced. I mean I go faster and ride more comfortably on the road than I should. And off road this rig is the goods. It does disappear beneath you. And the workmanship is admirable.

Strong honorable mention goes to my Cannondale Super6 HM team Liquigas (2009), which doesn't disappear so much as amplify what you put into it. Super responsive but softens rough road buzz.

[Steve in SLO]

I second a Moots Psychlo-X. Great, great, great.
I think my a DeSalvo Ti roadie might end up there, but it is just one month new.

[thwart]

Peg Duende.

I get in the groove of riding one of my other bikes, and they're sweet…

But then I get back on the Duende, and yep, that's it.

Not the lightest. Not the prettiest. Not the newest. Not the priciest.

But it's smooth, somehow predictable yet quick handling, and jumps like the scale is lying big-time.

That's it.

[Steelman]

Have owned:

Colnago Super
Vitus AL
DeRosa SLX
DeRosa Genius
Rossin Ghibli
Basso Astra
Basso Loto SLX
Basso Loto Extra Light
Basso Gap
Tommasini Techno EL/OS
Guerciotti SP

Fav is the Basso SLX. They, Basso, handle similar to the DeRosa, but they cost less and the finishing is better. Basso is currently producing Pogliaghi, would love to have one of those.

The Ghibli was pretty special too.

Felt that the Tommasini were over-rated, didn't like the way it handled, and the finish was so-so.

[akelman]

I'd say an Ottrott (I think happycamper has it now) or another Ottrott (UPS trashed that one). I also really like my 'Vagen, which fits me about as well as a bike ever has. If the Kirk I briefly owned a couple of years ago had fit a bit better, it would certainly be a contender for the top spot.

[alexstar]

My Cinelli Supercorsa and my Gaulzetti Corsa are my greatest bikes ever; I will never part with them (knock on wood). My new Signal touring bike is also very impressive, and with some more riding, I might elevate it to that level.

I do have a Kirk on the way, so I expect to add that to the pantheon.

[distanc3]

Finishing up a Look 585 Pro Team with chorus 11 in the next week or so.

The 585 has some amazing reputation on the net but how does it compare to more modern frames? Eg. Supersix, cervelo s2, madone?

[beeatnik]

Moots Compact Sl. Too stiff, too plain, too expensive, too long, too Ti, too imperfectly perfect.