Thoughts/opinions on new bike choices: QR CD01 vs Shiv
Would love any input/insight, especially if anyone here rides either of these and has 1st-hand knowledge.
Over the last couple of days, I have been test-riding bikes in the $3500 price range. My two favorite choices boiled down to the Specialized Shiv Comp Rival, and the QR CD01 Ultegra build. I'm having a hard time deciding. Both of them are slicker than snot and fast frames. Both fit me well and are comfortable. I also rode: Argon, Scott, Felt, BMC, and I've ridden a P3 already and hated it.
SHIV:
Pros: Integrated drink system, nicer proprietary aerobars, a little bit more comfortable with very little road chatter for such a nice handling frame. I'm going to take it out tomorrow on some more hills (rode on flats today) and see what the SRAM Rival/Apex gruppo feels like. Another big pro is that my small-town LBS carries this in stock, which means I'd be supporting my LBS and they'd be very inclined to work with me to get it fitting just right.
Cons: I've never ridden SRAM, but from what I read online it sounds like this setup is lower on the scale than an Ultegra build. I'm concerned that the shifting won't be as smooth and/or it won't last as long. I live in a very hilly region. There are almost no rides without hills here, so shifting is very important. Would love to hear from folks who ride Rival/Apex. Also, I think the Shiv is uglier than the CD01, but that's just cosmetics right? Still, I like to be in love with the look of my bike. I'm also a very flexible rider and it's hard to get a steep drop on this bike. I think Crowie rode a size Small believe it or not to get the drop right.
CD01
Pros: Really nice price for an Ultegra grouping. I can even pick one up in my size for $2700 if I don't mind last year's eye-popping pink cammo. That's an excellent deal and would let me maybe get some extras. My first though jumping on this bike was "I want to ride forever", which is not a bad way to feel about a bike. I ride Ultegra and am familiar with the way it feels, and my current bike is a QR that I have really loved and have piled the miles on. It has held up and not needed anything but the most routine maintenance. The CD01 is supposed to be very easily adjustable, giving you the flexibility to adopt a good riding position and even to switch it up for different distances or races. Also, LOVE the Adamo saddle that it comes with.
Cons: I would have to order it over the internet, which means no support for my local bike guys. But my biggest area of concern is in the braking system. The setup that I rode had after-market aero wheels, but the braking was terrible. I'm wondering if that's more of an artifact of the wheels and perhaps the mechanic not adjusting the brakes right after switching wheels, or if the brakes on this thing are really that bad. If anyone rides one, I'd love to know what you think about the braking. As I mentioned, I live in a very hilly area. It also rains a lot here. Brakes are important to me. Also, the aerobars that come with this bike aren't great and I'd probably need to trade them out.
Comments
Robin - My first response is that we all know the right bike is the one that fits you best. That said, I can't speak to the Shiv, but I do have a CD0.1. Actually, I have 2 race bikes. One is a superbike -- my Giant Advanced Trinity SL-1 set up with Dura-Ace 7900 and a standard crank. This is my long course - flat ride race bike. My other bike is the QR CD0.1 with compact crank and SRAM Red & RTC shifters). SRAM Red shifts circles around Dura-Ace 7900 and is so easy to shift that I can't imagine spending money on DI2 electronics. I bought my CD0.1 as a frameset which comes w a higher grade carbon than the stock bikes, but I doubt the difference is that profound.
As to braking: I took my CD0.1 to IM Regensburg last year with 2 long descents (after 2 long climbs) down a mountain in the rain -- no problem! I'll be taking this bike to St Croix next month as well to tackle the "Beast". The TRP brakes that come with it are unique to only a few framesets. I wouldn't say they are the best, but they work just fine for me. However, the rear brake is susceptible to the same problems as any bike with an undermount brake...i.e., sweat, water, gatorade, other "fluids" etc., all ends up in a cup down there with no real place to go. I sweat buckets and have corrosion problems with all my bikes. In fact, I just picked my CD0.1 from the shop last night for a rebuilt rear brake (I bought the small parts from TRPBrakes.com and took them in) because the springs were so rusted the lever arms were frozen. Now I'm ready for St Croix.
As to maintenance: It doesn't matter where you buy the bike if you have a good mechanic at your LBS. I'm fortunate to have over a dozen bike shops in the area, and I use 2 different stores, neither of which sells QR, because each has a master mechanic that can fix anything. My CD0.1 is stopping on a dime, but then again, the brakes were just worked on, and I have brand new pads since I just switched from a carbon wheel w alloy brake rim to a carbon wheels with carbon rim. Alloy brake surfaces are supposed to be better but my CD0.1 stops better than my Trek Madone road bike which also has carbon braking surface on the wheels (the Bonty wheels on the Madone have a noticeable pulse in the braking).
Aerobars - since I bought my CD0.1 as a frameset I used the after market Profile Design aerobars that were previously on my QR Lucero (which was a great bike).
The pink cammo paint is awesome; and I think the QR is a great bike, but remember rule # 1 - FIT, FIT, FIT. I've had a retul fit on each bike but prefer the CD0.1 to the Giant since I think I get into a better position with a more open hip angle. Yet, I fly on both bikes. I use a Torhans 30 front bottle on the QR to "hide" the head tube/spacers, and a torpedo mount on the Giant. It's a 50-50 proposition, but both bikes are excellent.
Good luck in your decision.
you're probably going to end up really happy with either bike. Ultegra/Rival is a wash, both are great systems, and will do well for you for a long time. Fundamental question is which bike gets you more excited? If fit is equal between the two, the rest is pretty much vanity, making a purchase in order to feel totally awesome every time you throw your leg over it. When you close your eyes and visualize yourself on race day, which bike turns you on more?
Thanks Paul and Mike. Paul, I appreciate the info about the frame and the braking - that relieved my mind on that score at least, and Mike you totally clarified my thinking on this. Much appreciated!
I went with the CD01, largely because after reading every review I could get my hands in, it seemed clear that with the Shiv, Specialized specifically targeted the geometry that most triathletes tend to ride (more neutral, not very steep), and in looking at the Shiv, it's clear that I would have a tough time getting to a steeper geometry in my size. According to one article, Macca had to go to a size Small (!) just to get a steep enough angle. That would probably put me on an XS, and with 700 wheels you worry about toe overlap and such. The CD01 is designed to be ridden steep. Thanks (I think) to years of Martial Arts, I have an extremely flexible back, and good hip flexors. I don't want to be limited to a neutral position if I can ride a steeper one. So that was one big deciding factor.
Both bikes felt awesome to ride, both were comfortable, smooth, responsive, and slippery as heck in the wind. I loved the Shiv's drink holder in frame feature, but I hated its ugly cable routing. I love the CD01's "Shift" frame, which is non-symmetrical to shunt wind away from the drive train and its clean lines
This is the one that's on its way. yes, it's pink cammo, which my hubby says is a contradiction in terms. On the upside, he can spot me coming in a race!
There's a local cyclist who rides the same frame in pink camo. He gets some really interesting looks as he passes people. Really strong cyclist, often rides the bike leg of relays. Good stuff!