I first heard of Fezzari Bicycles through the Fredcast cycling podcast. Dave, host of the Fredcast, interviewed someone from Fezzari Bicycles and was loaned a Fezzari CR5 to ride for review purposes. I remember being impressed with two things most: 1)The incredibly low prices they were quoting, and 2) The 23 point custom fit that they do on every bike that goes out the door.
Certainly, I have always been an advocate of supporting my local bike shop. However, the savings which they were talking about was in the thousands of dollars. I couldn't ignore that. Having priced some bikes that I was saving for, I was sorely dissappointed that $2,000 would get you a bike that was considered "entry level." Back when I was racing, 20 years ago, that could get you a top of the line, hand crafted, Italian steel bike, which was not only a dream to ride, but agruably a work of art as well.
I eagerly awaited Dave's review... and waited... and waited.
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It just so happens that I live in the Las Vegas valley, which is host to Interbike, the main trade show in the United States for the cycling industry. Dave, from the Fredcast, and the crew from VeloReviews were hosting a Tweet-Up during the event and I was luckily free that night. It was a fun event with a great charitable purpose behind it. (I also walked away with a sweet wireless Cateye cyclo-computer)
I had the opportunity to ask Dave about the Fezzari bike which he was testing. He gave it a fantastic verbal review, along with what he thinks will be their challenges in the bike industry. I asked him point blank, "should I consider this over the ---- (famous bike model) I have been considering?" He replied with a strong "Yes." This weighed heavily in my consideration.
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I began to really look at the CR3 online and read any Fezzari reviews that I could find on the Web. Every review which I read was very positive.
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Then Dave's Fredcast episode came out with his review. You can listen to it at the link below.
Fredcast Episode #168
http://www.thefredcast.com/?p=1587
Now, just for comparison sake. Let me tell you what my local shop quoted me versus what I am getting from Fezzari:
Local Shop: Lower level Specialized Roubaix (Carbon). Shimano 105 Grouppo. Quoted $2,600. Extra for bike fit and possibly replacing parts such as the stem and bars for proper fit.
Fezzari: CR2 (Carbon). Shimano Ultegra. 23 Point fit so that parts like the stem and bars fit from the moment you get the bike. Sale Price $1,850! 30 Day money back guarantee.
The best that I found a Roubaix with Ultegra parts online (to compare apples to apples) was between $3,200 and $3,400 dollars. That's over a $1,400 difference for a comparable bike!!!
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More on why I chose the CR2 instead of the CR3 coming soon!
This is the place where I will be posting on anything cycling. Rides, products I like, links I find... Whatever I find that may be of interest to others.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Friday, January 7, 2011
New Bike Coming!
It's time to get serious about riding again after a hiatus from the bike for a bit. I set two goals for myself which I needed to accomplish before I upgraded my bike:
1- Complete a century ride - no point getting a better bike if I am not riding. Any bike can take up space in the garage equally well.
2- Save up the money.
As you know, I completed the 115 mile Viva Bike Vegas ride in October. Some Christmas gifts, of the financial sort, have pushed my savings over the necessary threshold to purchase my new steed. I expect it's arrival in just a few days.
While I have been looking into the Fezzari bikes, I have run into many people with questions of their own. The price points are mesmerizing, but are the bikes really as good as claimed? I plan to write numerous posts on this topic as I receive, open, and begin riding my new CR2. I will also post in the next few days a full overview of how I arrived at buying a Fezzari and how my experience of dealing with them on the phone has been. While I am extremely excited about getting my new bike, I promise to disclose everything and be unbiased in my reviews.
Pax!
Fezzari CR2
1- Complete a century ride - no point getting a better bike if I am not riding. Any bike can take up space in the garage equally well.
2- Save up the money.
As you know, I completed the 115 mile Viva Bike Vegas ride in October. Some Christmas gifts, of the financial sort, have pushed my savings over the necessary threshold to purchase my new steed. I expect it's arrival in just a few days.
While I have been looking into the Fezzari bikes, I have run into many people with questions of their own. The price points are mesmerizing, but are the bikes really as good as claimed? I plan to write numerous posts on this topic as I receive, open, and begin riding my new CR2. I will also post in the next few days a full overview of how I arrived at buying a Fezzari and how my experience of dealing with them on the phone has been. While I am extremely excited about getting my new bike, I promise to disclose everything and be unbiased in my reviews.
Pax!
Fezzari CR2
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Winter...
No recent posts for a reason. I am not getting out on the bike much. I am trying to get to the gym 3 days a week (succeeding about 2 days a week) to try to keep some fitness level for when I get back on the bike. I think this is simply my own little myth I a living out within the confines of my own head though. I think that a 20 miler would leave me spent at this point.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
The RTC Viva Bike Vegas ride yesterday (October 9th) was great. It's a lot easier to say that a day later. It was actually the hardest ride I have ever done. Over 1,500 cyclists started teh 115 mile ride. Many were only going to go as far as the bypass bridge and then abandon. There is nothing like the draft dreated by that many cyclist in a pack. You literally gey pulled down the road at 21 MPH with little effort. It was great, until we started going up.
The first climb, over Sunrise Mountain was difficult, but not as hard as I had expected. It broke thr group up, which was desperately needed. I'd like to say that I kept a strong pace, but I spun up at my own, ratehr slow pace and focused on saving glycogen stores for the next 100 miles.
From there to Boulder City was a beautiful ride. With the exception of 1,500 riders hitting the first aide station that only had five porta-potties, this section was fantastic. Getting to be the first ones to go out on the new bypass bridge was a very cool part of the event as well (see my earlier posted pic).The two miles down to the bridge meant two added miles to the climb out of Boulder City, which was absolutely blistering. We felt the heat for the first time of the day. Everyone was fried at the top of the climb, but the view was fantastic. From there to our lunch stop was rolling and a much more conversational section of the ride for everyone in my group (ie, those who just wanted to finish). By this point everyone began to recognize people they had been passing back and forth and short term friendships began to form.
The lunch stop was simply crazy! Take a look...
There were at least 140 cyclists waiting for lunch. No way! Then... Jackpot! A guy in a Jason's Deli shirt says, "Hey, we can give you guys the lunches right out of the back of the truck if you want." Lunch with no waiting. Sweet! I stuffed it all in my jersey pockets and then back on the road. My greatest cycling feat ever: passing 140 cyclists in a matter of 5 minutes or less!
One more thing. I had to make a quick call to the wife for an update. They met me on the road a few miles later, close to our house, with signs to cheer me on. I stopped for a few minutes to see them and my wife let me unload some stuff (arm warmers, half a warm turkey wrap...)
Back on the bike... 3 miles later... FLAT! In a place on St. Rose Parkway with no shade to change it, and it was getting hot! Mid to high 80's and some humidity. I got it changed pretty quick and went on hoping that I didn't flat again since I only brought one spare tube.
Next was one of my favorite sections of the course going through Southern Highlands. It's a section I ride frequently on what I call my "Abel Ride" because it goes past my friend Abel's house. It's artificially green and lush. It also has some nice downhill sections. I may get dropped going uphill, but I coast past anyone on a downhill!
Next was the ride out to Blue Diamond. It is about 10 miles of non-stop gradual uphill in the heat of the day and I BONKED! A for real bonk. My pace slowed to 6 MPH at one point and I was dizzy and nauseated. those last 3 miles to the aid station seemed like forever. I was out of water and the thought of a energy gel made me sick. I struggled and got there and spent about 20 minutes refueling: water, oranges and cookies for fast sugar, potato chips for salt... I left eating a mini sized Cliff bar knowing that I had gone 90 miles and I was going to at least make 100. There were a couple more agonizing hills going out to Red Rock, and then I began to feel better. By the time I reached 100 miles, I was in the long downhill section coming back into Vegas. At the last aid station at the top of Alta a few riders promised me, under penalty of death for lying, that it was downhill or flat all the way back to the RTC. They lived.
The last part of the ride was great. A few riders ended up kind of together. With the exception of the stop lights we were averaging 19 MPH. Pretty good at the end of 115 miles. My parents found a spot along Alta to cheer me on as I went by.
After the finish I sat down with my plate of food from Outback, looking at it and thinking "there is no way on earth my stomach can handle this right now." A few of the riders I was riding with happened to sit at the same table. One said, "Weren't you and I riding together the last 5 miles", I said back to her "You mean, wasn't I drafting you the last 5 miles?"
I ate a bit, packed up the car, and headed home. It was a HARD day. It was a GOOD day!
This picture was taken about 108 miles into the ride.
The look of determination is a deep longing for the finish.
(Photo by Janette King, aka "Mom")
The first climb, over Sunrise Mountain was difficult, but not as hard as I had expected. It broke thr group up, which was desperately needed. I'd like to say that I kept a strong pace, but I spun up at my own, ratehr slow pace and focused on saving glycogen stores for the next 100 miles.
From there to Boulder City was a beautiful ride. With the exception of 1,500 riders hitting the first aide station that only had five porta-potties, this section was fantastic. Getting to be the first ones to go out on the new bypass bridge was a very cool part of the event as well (see my earlier posted pic).The two miles down to the bridge meant two added miles to the climb out of Boulder City, which was absolutely blistering. We felt the heat for the first time of the day. Everyone was fried at the top of the climb, but the view was fantastic. From there to our lunch stop was rolling and a much more conversational section of the ride for everyone in my group (ie, those who just wanted to finish). By this point everyone began to recognize people they had been passing back and forth and short term friendships began to form.
The lunch stop was simply crazy! Take a look...
There were at least 140 cyclists waiting for lunch. No way! Then... Jackpot! A guy in a Jason's Deli shirt says, "Hey, we can give you guys the lunches right out of the back of the truck if you want." Lunch with no waiting. Sweet! I stuffed it all in my jersey pockets and then back on the road. My greatest cycling feat ever: passing 140 cyclists in a matter of 5 minutes or less!
One more thing. I had to make a quick call to the wife for an update. They met me on the road a few miles later, close to our house, with signs to cheer me on. I stopped for a few minutes to see them and my wife let me unload some stuff (arm warmers, half a warm turkey wrap...)
Back on the bike... 3 miles later... FLAT! In a place on St. Rose Parkway with no shade to change it, and it was getting hot! Mid to high 80's and some humidity. I got it changed pretty quick and went on hoping that I didn't flat again since I only brought one spare tube.
Next was one of my favorite sections of the course going through Southern Highlands. It's a section I ride frequently on what I call my "Abel Ride" because it goes past my friend Abel's house. It's artificially green and lush. It also has some nice downhill sections. I may get dropped going uphill, but I coast past anyone on a downhill!
Next was the ride out to Blue Diamond. It is about 10 miles of non-stop gradual uphill in the heat of the day and I BONKED! A for real bonk. My pace slowed to 6 MPH at one point and I was dizzy and nauseated. those last 3 miles to the aid station seemed like forever. I was out of water and the thought of a energy gel made me sick. I struggled and got there and spent about 20 minutes refueling: water, oranges and cookies for fast sugar, potato chips for salt... I left eating a mini sized Cliff bar knowing that I had gone 90 miles and I was going to at least make 100. There were a couple more agonizing hills going out to Red Rock, and then I began to feel better. By the time I reached 100 miles, I was in the long downhill section coming back into Vegas. At the last aid station at the top of Alta a few riders promised me, under penalty of death for lying, that it was downhill or flat all the way back to the RTC. They lived.
The last part of the ride was great. A few riders ended up kind of together. With the exception of the stop lights we were averaging 19 MPH. Pretty good at the end of 115 miles. My parents found a spot along Alta to cheer me on as I went by.
After the finish I sat down with my plate of food from Outback, looking at it and thinking "there is no way on earth my stomach can handle this right now." A few of the riders I was riding with happened to sit at the same table. One said, "Weren't you and I riding together the last 5 miles", I said back to her "You mean, wasn't I drafting you the last 5 miles?"
I ate a bit, packed up the car, and headed home. It was a HARD day. It was a GOOD day!
This picture was taken about 108 miles into the ride.
The look of determination is a deep longing for the finish.
(Photo by Janette King, aka "Mom")
View from the Bridge
Here is a picture from my phone of the view from the new Hoover Dam bypass bridge that opens next week. The RTC Viva Bike Vegas ride went half way across the bridge. Very cool experience. The doen side is that it made a ride that was going to be 110 miles 115 miles.
More on the ride later...
Cycling
"Page 2" is taking on a new form. It is now going to be focused on cycling. Sometimes a ride, race thoughts, products that I have found useful, links to good articles... whatever. Look for a few posts in the next couple of days both from the Interbike tweet Up 2 weeks ago and from yesterday's RTC 115 mile ride.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
testing
I wanted to test out blogging from my phone. Looking at changing the focus of "page 2" and gearing it around cycling (no pun intended).
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