Reviews of Products
Short Video Overview of Serotta Cycles
Manufacturer Profile: Serotta Cycles
Why do we carry what we carry? This is one of the best questions you could ask of any dealer. At Fit Werx, we spend a lot of time researching any product that we carry. While we lose some sales because we are not willing to always jump on the latest marketing bandwagon or just carry any brand people are interested in, we sleep well knowing that we offer our athletes products that work better, last longer and perform better.
Even though we have access to many brands we do not stock, these profiles are designed to help you understand the value we see in the brands we stock and why they are category leaders.
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Company Statistics:Location: Saratoga Springs, NY Number of Employees: Approximately 30. Materials Used: Carbon, Titanium, Chromoly Steel. Point of Origin: All Serotta Bicycles are made by hand in Saratoga Springs, NY. Delivery: Stock bikes are often available immediately. All custom Serotta frames are built to order and are available 3-7 weeks from order. Specialty: Serotta builds a line of very intelligently designed stock road bikes based upon over thirty five years of custom bike building experience. However, they are best known for their custom bikes, which are arguably the finest custom frames available in their respective categories. Unique Attributes: Serotta Bicycles has been building handcrafted frames for longer than just about anyone. They have also studied and addressed proper fit more comprehensively than any other manufacturer. Serotta started in 1972 and, from frame and tubing designs to their understanding of proper fit, Serotta builds industry leading bikes that are designed and built around the individual and removing all compromise. Web Site: www.serotta.com |
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Pros of Serotta Bicycles:• The most experienced specialty builder of hand built bicycles. Quality is exceptional. • Colorado Concept tubing is the most advanced and tunable tubing available in regards to ride quality and overall materials integrity. • Serotta produces more of their own tubing and parts in-house than any other builder. • Huge or small, no company has put more resources and time into understanding and developing bicycle fit than Serotta. • In addition to their custom program, Serotta offers the widest range of stock sizes in the industry in their HSG and Fierte lines. • Made in Saratoga Springs, NY by people who are passionate about bikes. Considerations of Serotta Bicycles: • Price point based carbon fiber bikes are not what Serotta is about. • The new Mei Vici AE changes this, but frame aerodynamics has not been focused on heavily by Serotta who focuses more on helping the rider maximize the more important rider aerodynamics.
Our Take:How did we first learn about Serotta Bicycles and what stood out? Most anyone who has been involved with road bikes knows of Serotta. Their heritage as a custom frame builder spans decades. Serotta frames have been under a number of high quality professional riders through the years and those frames have won multiple World Championship jerseys. Serotta established their reputation for building top quality bikes so well that other bike manufacturers turned to them when they could not get their sponsored riders what they wanted. All this being stated, their heritage has little to do with why Fit Werx carries Serotta. We carry Serotta Bicycles for what they are today - a very innovative and reliable company that understands proper fit better than any other builder and who builds uncompromising individualized bikes for road, triathlon, mountain and cyclocross. Before opening Fit Werx, we spent a lot of time studying fit and positioning concepts and are familiar with most of them. At the time, Serotta Bicycles was the only manufacturer that offered formalized training seminars for bike fitters, as well as fitting tools like the Size Cycle. We attended Serotta’s seminars and bought a Size Cycle and thus Fit Werx was born out of a minivan and a single room in an old farmhouse. We have come a long way from those humble beginnings and Serotta has been a part of that from day one. While at the seminars, we also were introduced to some of the people that make Serotta what it is. People like lead designer Kelly Bedford, who has worked with Ben Serotta for multiple decades and has probably designed and built more custom bikes than anyone else in the country. Kelly still works with us today to review our custom designs to make sure they are as flawless as possible. We also were shown Serotta’s factory (which has since been replaced with a state of the art facility), as well as their philosophy and organization. One thing was very clear to us: Serotta builds the best frames possible and “compromise” is not in their vocabulary. Buying a Serotta bicycle frame means that you are getting a frame that is as compromise free and tailored to your individual needs as possible. This means they do the following:
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| Pair this with the most consistent delivery schedule of any builder we work with and the lowest number of repair and warranty claims and you have a winning recipe. Our Serotta owners rave about their bikes and we are proud to carry the line.
Model/Product Overview: Serotta bicycles offers a huge range of custom products that start around $4000 built up and ready to ride, as well as a range of well thought out stock road bikes in the Fierte line that start around $3000. Thankfully Serotta has simplified their line presentation, but, as with any product with this many options, it still is not simple. However, it is our job to know the products and to design you an optimal bike, so please depend upon us to help guide you through. Serottas are not designed to be the lightest, most aero or least expensive bikes on the market. They are designed to be the highest quality, best riding and best fitting bikes on the market. In the long-term, for many riders, this epitomizes what the word “value” really means and Serotta does offer excellent value. Serotta Bicycles is not a bike manufacturer, they are a frame builder. They understand that the heart and soul of a bicycle is in its frame and they focus on building the best heart and soul possible. If you invest in a nice frame, the rest will follow. For years, Serotta focused on just building custom frames. However, in recent years they have expanded their road offerings to encompass stock geometry bikes, as well in the form of the Fierte and HSG lines. The Fierte and HSG line includes chromoly steel, titanium, titanium/carbon and full carbon models that use a frame geometry which incorporates the general trends Serotta’s years of custom bike building have shown them. For many road riders, the Fierte line offers some of the best fitting and handling stock designs available, while the HSG line offers a stiff and responsive dedicated race geometry and tubing. All Serotta’s stock frames are also handbuilt by the same people who build Serotta’s top of the line custom frames, like the Legend SE, Ottrott SE and MeiVici SE. Compared to their big, and sometimes generic, competitors, the Fierte and HSG lines offer higher quality materials and workmanship, a better fit, a better ride and a better long-term ownership experience.
Functional Beauty: Serotta Bicycles leaves nothing to chance and industry leading designs (like the ground-breaking and critically acclaimed Ottrott, pictured left) pair the highest quality, tunable, multi modulus carbon fiber with the most advanced triple-butted titanium available. Not only does the result look very nice, but it rides like no other and is very durable. In many cases, other companies top of the line frames are comparable to the middle of Serotta’s offerings and Serotta’s top of the line frames are in a league of their own. Bikes and Frames - All Serotta custom frames include rider matched tubing selections to optimally match the frame’s ride quality with the individual rider. All Serotta stock frames use size specific tubing that uses stiffer tubing on bigger frames and more forgiving tubing on smaller frame sizes. Many Serotta models use Serotta’s proprietary and very proven Colorado Concept tubing that uses a tapered tube (much like a tree trunk) to help keep the frame stiff side-to-side and torsionally for maximum responsiveness, while making it as compliant and comfortable vertically as possible. Serotta does not feel that aluminum offers the best long-term durability and ride quality characteristics and thus they do not use aluminum tubing in their frames. Serotta Bicycles custom models are available in road or triathlon geometry and many are available as mountain and cross bikes too. Within each material, Serotta offers GS and SE frame levels. GS frames offer high quality rider matched tubing, full custom geometry and all the attention to detail and fabricaton that make a Serotta one of the best bikes you can buy. GS frames include Serotta’s new S fork which is tuned to maximize the exact handling characteristics of the geometry. SE frames offer the most options, the very best tubing, fabrication and engineering available - they are as compromise free as possible. SE frames include the venerable Serotta F3 fork that used titanium dropouts and is geometrically matched to each frame and stiffness matched to the individual rider’s needs. All Serotta Bicycles stock frames are road specific with HSG models being race specific and Fierte models being a versatile performance based road geometry.
If chromoly steel had been invented ten years ago, it would be considered a miracle metal and would be used everywhere in the bike industry. But first generation chromoly was invented a long-time ago, so it lacks the marketing zing of carbon fiber, and the big brands tend to only use it on cheaper and heavier bikes, thus giving it a bad rap. The only valid knock against steel is that it requires a little maintenance to keep it from corroding and it is slightly heavier than the lightest materials. The maintenance is not hard to do and a nice steel frame is not heavy; chromoly tubing has always been a great material to build bikes from and it has advanced immensely in the past few decades. Ben Serotta started building frames from chromoly tubing in 1972 after an internship in England where he learned the craft. Serotta continues to build with chromoly today and if you are looking for value, craftsmanship and a great ride all in one, these are great frames to be considering. Serotta Fierte Steel-Carbon:
Who is it for? The road rider on a budget who understands the importance of the frame to how well a bike fits, rides and handles. Noteworthy: This frame is welded by the same craftspeople that build Serotta’s top of the line frames. This is a real Serotta and fits more people well than any other stock bike model we have found. Bottom Line: This is one of our most common road bike recommendations for around $3000. It looks good, is made really well and simply fits and rides much better than average for most riders. What most of the big brands on the market seem to forget today is that concepts like fit, ride quality and long-term value are the most important aspects of the bike. The Fierte Steel remembers this and rides like all great steel bikes ride - smooth, lively and reliably. If properly maintained, this is a frame that can be ridden almost forever. Serotta even added a high quality rear carbon fiber seat stay system to further damp road vibration. If you are more intrigued by quality, ride and proper fit than by hype and marketing, stop reading spec sheets and comparing derailleurs between models and look at what really counts - the frame. Serotta CXII:
Who is it for? The triathlete or time trialist who understands that the number one aerodynamic variable is the rider. The CXII rides smooth and, when designed properly, fits optimally, thus allowing the rider to stay aero longer and more comfortably. This all equals more speed… Noteworthy: While much of the industry is busy building wild shapes and talking about their latest wind tunnel tests, here is a bike that bucks the trend and focuses on the most important aspect to performance - the rider! Bottom Line: While any bike named after the Ironman bike split distance (112) is obviously designed to go the distance, the CXII is arguably the most under appreciated bike in triathlon. While Serotta could market it more aggressively, it might still get lost amongst the many aero bikes on the market today that have deeper tubing profiles and wheel cutouts. What the CXII offers that none of its aero tubed competition do is all in one package: 1) Frame geometry that will work for all riders (custom). 2) Rider matched tubing flex designed to ride optimally for the individual. 3) A smooth and vibration damp ride. 4) Almost infinite fatigue life. 5) Made in the U.S.A. craftsmanship. 6) Paint how you want it. 7) Component specifications matched to the individual. The CXII is the thinking rider’s triathlon bike. Compare it to almost anything in the $3000-$5000 price point and it is hard to argue against it as it does everything so well. Serotta Coeur d’Acier GS and SE (SE pictured):
Who is it for? Those that know that “steel is real” and why a bike named “Heart of Steel” should be special. Noteworthy: This is one of the nicest riding steel frames money can buy. It is a rider’s bike and provides the lively snap and smooth ride that has made steel a great material to build bikes out of for years. Bottom Line: With the exception of real aficionados, steel frames don’t garner much attention today. This is too bad, because steel remains one of the best values in cycling. The Coeur d’Acier demonstrates this and those who buy one realize just how much a nice steel bike can offer and how dependable they can be for years. In a price point that is chock full of “cookie cutter” bikes with little character and little that is designed to really work well for the individual rider, the Coeur d’Acier shines like a beacon. Before you put down your hard earned money for a generic mid-level titanium or carbon fiber frame, get properly fit and then look at what a real high-end frame at mid-level prices offers.
Titanium -We really like titanium as a material. Not only is it available in a wide range of tubing flex options to match big riders, small riders and everyone in-between well, it doesn’t corrode and is also incredibly durable and strong (when built properly). If you are looking for a frame you could be riding 20 years from now, focus on titanium from a skilled builder. If you are looking for exceptional examples of titanium frames, Serotta has to be on your list. Serotta Fierte Ti:
Who is it for? The road rider who appreciates the durability and ride of high grade titanium and is looking for a bike they can keep forever at a price that is less than many disposable options. Noteworthy: The Fierte Ti geometry fits a wider array of riders than any other stock bike on the market and is made to last a lifetime with almost no maintenance. Bottom Line: Better tubing equals a better ride and the Fierte Ti is a true handcrafted, technologically advanced bike at production bike pricing. This frame is a price oriented stock version of what Serotta has learned from designing top of the line custom frames like the Legend SE. It is hard to even compare the Fierte Ti to the mass produced offerings on the market because it uses nicer tubing, better craftsmanship and has a better thought out geometry than any of them. In the end, this means you get top of the line ride at middle of the line pricing. If it fits you well, the Fierte Ti is a lot of bike for the dollar. Like all Serotta frames, it is designed to last a lifetime and the workmanship is second to none. If you are the type of road rider who is looking for a really good value and appreciate quality, fit and intelligent design over just focusing on what your favorite pro is paid to ride, you owe it to yourself to look at the Fierte Ti carefully. Serotta Legend GS (SE pictured):
Who is it for? The rider who is looking for a great value in a frame that is durable enough and built well enough to last forever. The Legend GS is right in the heart of Serotta’s line and is a great riding bike that encompasses all that a “custom Serotta” is for a very reasonable price. Noteworthy: The tubing found on the Legend GS is double butted and uses Serotta’s proprietary Colorado Concept tubing throughout. Compare this tubing to the top of the line frames offered from some of its “Lite” and “numerically lucky” competitors and you will find the GS uses a more advanced tubing that offers a better ride for the same or less money. Fit Werx co-owner Sarah has a GS level Serotta road bike. Her comments: “I really love it. Through proper fit and geometry design, I have found a bike that rides smoothly over all distances and instills confidence when decending our local hills. It’s not just going out for a ride, but more like a fun ride with a great friend.” Bottom Line: In 2004, along with IBEX clothing, we sponsored a small Cat 1-2 team regionally. Most of the top riders on the team chose Concours frames as their mounts. One (Mike Barton) even took his to Collegiate Nationals and came away with multiple National Championship medals and the Velo News “Collegiate Cyclist of the Year” award. If there was any doubt that this frame was capable of being a full-blown race machine, it was quickly put to rest. And, unlike most of their competitors who have destroyed or replaced their race bikes twice or more since then, not a single frame had a failure or other issue and all are being ridden today with no signs of wear. We have set a good number of triathletes and road riders up on the Legend GS. We have never had to send one back and they have been around the world being raced and ridden long hard miles. Remember, three $3000 bikes over ten years equals $900 a year in bikes, while one $5000 bike over ten years equals $500 a year in bikes. It doesn’t take a math whiz to see where the real value is in that equation. It just takes someone who values a real quality bike that is properly fit, instead of a “me too” repli-racer. Serotta Legend SE:
Who is it for? The rider looking for the ultimate riding and fitting titanium bike. We’ve designed Legends for people from 4′10″ to over 6′7″ and, because they are built exactly for the individual, they work great regardless of size. Noteworthy: The best riding and highest quality titanium frame on the market. Add in the ST seat stay system and it’s also the smoothest riding. Fit Werx fit and designed Legend SE frames have won their age group in Kona and have been ridden all over the world. Bottom Line: This is the frame you get when you want titanium and you are finished with compromising. This is the highest grade titanium available on a bike today and it shows when you ride it. When someone picks up their new Legend SE, the scenario goes something like this: Rider: “Nice. I really like the way it looks.” Us: “It does look very nice. You did a good job choosing your paint. It is the ride where it really shines though. Go take it for a spin…” Rider an hour or two later: “Wow! This is the best handling and smoothest riding bike I’ve ever been on. It feels like it is on rails going downhill. It fits so comfortably, yet it sprints and climbs fantastically well. I could ride this bike all day and still go out and do it again the next day. This absolutely blows away my ‘Kret VLCO’. I should have picked one of these up years ago. I never thought that the difference would be so noticeable.” Us: “We’re glad you like it so much. This is exactly why we recommended it. Enjoy it for the next few decades and you won’t need to buy another bike again if you don’t want to…” We never hesitate to recommend Legends. They are worth every penny and give back for decades. A great all purpose road or tri bike that shines more the further you ride it. Serotta CXII Ti:
Who is it for? The rider looking for the ultimate riding, fitting, functioning and smoothest riding titanium aero tubed bike available. When “compromise” is not in your vocabulary and “ride “, “durability” and “quality” are, these are frames to consider very seriously. Noteworthy: The only rider matched tubing (to mate the stiffness and comfort of the frame to the rider’s individual needs) equipped titanium aero tube frame on the market. Bottom Line: Unlike many companies who just build bikes to suit the requests of their marketing department, Serotta actually went to the source before building their titanium aero frames. They asked athletes and dealers who fit and work with a lot of TT and triathlon riders what was most important. The consensus was that the frames had to still be a Serotta; meaning it could not compromise fit, tubing quality, ride or durability. However, they also had to use well thought out aero tube and it had to be mechanically functional without compromised shifting or performance just to make it appear more aero. Finally, the frames had to be special and offer things that were previously unavailable on the market and the stock geometry options had to be available in a wide range of sizes and options to fit as may athletes as well as possible. Mission accomplished. The CXII Ti sets new standards for aero tubed ride quality and is the frame you get when you want a titanium aero tube frame without compromise. Inspired by the top of the line triple butted Colorado Concept titanium used in the Legend, the CXII Ti use the highest grade titanium available on a bike today and the benefits of this great tubing show when you ride the end result. The only titanium aero tubed frame on the market that can hold a candle to the CXII Ti is the Guru Merus and we carry Guru too… Serial number “0001″ CXII Ti was delivered to a Fit Werx athlete in late 2006. We are proud to be a part of the development of the CXII Ti frame and to play a major role in the stock geometry. We are certain that any rider looking for aero tubes and titanium will find that the CXII Ti is an exceptional bike all the way around. They are both Serottas while also offering the additional aerodynamic draw of aero tubing - you can’t go wrong with this combination.
IT (Integrated Technologies) Carbon/Ti -It took Serotta six years from initial development to release a frame with carbon fiber in it. They could be accused of being slow or having a lazy design team. However, the reality is that during that entire time period, Serotta was testing. Serotta refused to release any frame that used carbon until their testing showed that their carbon quality and bonding quality was stronger than the top quality titanium tubing they were already using in their frames. This meant that in a fatigue test, the titanium tube the carbon was bonded into needed to fail before the carbon bond or the carbon itself failed. A lofty goal, but one that they achieved. Was the wait worth it? Yes, as Serotta’s mixed material frames not only have proven to be the most trouble-free and reliable we have been able to find, but they are also some of the most critically acclaimed and finest riding frames ever produced. Serotta Fierte IT:
Who is it for? The road rider who appreciates the durability of titanium and the ride options of carbon fiber all in one well thought out package. Noteworthy: This is the least expensive frame on the market that is offered with titanium and carbon tubing of this level and built to this level of craftsmanship. Compare the Fierte IT to anything from Asia or Europe and we think you will agree. Bottom Line: This is a true handcrafted, technologically advanced bike at production bike pricing. In stock configuration, the Fierte IT fits more people well than all the mass produced stock carbon and ti frames on the market. This frame is a price oriented stock version of what Serotta has learned from designing top of the line custom frames like the Ottrott. It is hard to even compare to the mass produced offerings on the market because it uses nicer tubing, better craftsmanship and has a better thought out geometry than any of them. So, if the stock configuration fits you well, this is a lot of bike for the dollar. Like all Serotta frames, it is designed to last a lifetime and the workmanship is second to none. If you are the type of road rider who is looking for a really good value and appreciate quality, fit and intelligent design over just focusing on what your favorite pro is paid to ride, you owe it to yourself to look at the Fierte IT carefully. Serotta Ottrott GS:
Who is it for? The rider that likes the concept, aesthetic and ride qualities of a mixed material bike at a lower price point than the Serotta Ottrott SE (the most renowned bike in the ti/carbon mixed category). Noteworthy: The Ottrott GS used to be called the Nove and uses tubing that is inspired by the top of the line carbon tubing found on the Ottrott SE. The carbon found in the Ottrott GS is better than what is found in over 90% of the frames on the market. Bottom Line: Let’s start with what the Ottrott GS is not. The Ottrott GS is not an Ottrott SE. However, nothing is an Ottrott SE. What is the Ottrott GS? The Ottrott GS is the next closest thing to an Ottrott SE and it starts almost $2000 less than an Ottrott SE. You still get legendary Serotta quality, rider matched tubing and the very functional and smooth riding CS rear stay system. In this price range, if you want to maximize rear triangle comfort and handling, get the Legend SE as the ST system found only in select SE models is smoother than the CS found on the GS models. However, if you want more carbon fiber than what the Legend has, the Ottrott GS is one of the best mixed material frames on the market and more than holds its own when compared to the top of the line mixed material frames from other builders as it often uses better tubing and less money too. Serotta Ottrott SE:
Who is it for? The rider that wants the most uncompromising ride quality, tunability and fit available. Noteworthy: The Ottrott SE is arguably the most universally acclaimed bike on earth. When it comes to torsional stiffness (responsiveness), vertical compliance (comfort), durability and craftsmanship, this is the ultimate. Bottom Line: The end goal of all bike designers is to create a frame that is torsionally stiff and responsive, while simultaneously creating a frame that damps vibration and is as vertically compliant as possible. These two things are conflicting and very challenging to achieve simultaneously in a double diamond bicycle frame. Serotta uses a unique multi-modulus (multiple density weave and lay-up within the carbon tubing and lugs) carbon fiber in conjunction with the very proven triple butted titanium found on the Legend ST to create this ultimate balance. While this is not the cheapest way to build a frame, it does create a frame that is even more tunable than the Legend (one of the most tunable frames available), while offering an additional 15-20% increase in bottom bracket stiffness too. The end result is a frame that has a very special ride and does everything extremely well. There is a reason why industry insiders have voted it “Bike of the Year”, why top critics have hailed it “the best handling bike ever”, and it is on the top of so many “Dream Ride” lists. The Ottrott is the bike to get when you are done compromising.
Carbon -As with their highly regarded IT frames, Serotta was not the first on the block to release their full carbon frames. In fact, Serotta did not offer a full carbon frame until 2006. However, when they did release the MeiVici, they released the most tunable and customizable carbon frame ever built. Look at the details in regards to tubing quality, options and ride quality of any Serotta carbon frame in comparison to what most of the industry is offering and you will understand not only why they cost more than some, but are also worth far more than most as they simply ride better and are designed to last a lifetime. All carbon is not created equal and Serotta’s carbon frames represent the pinnacle of carbon fiber durability, tunability and quality. The fit, finish and workmanship is unsurpassed and so is the ride. Serotta HSG and Fierte Carbon:
Who is it for? The road rider or racer who wants it all in ultra light carbon frame that offers more fit options than any other bike on the market. Noteworthy: Stiff, comfortable, very light and aggressive all at once? Yes. There are also more stock size options than any other bike on the market. Bottom Line: Taking inspiration from the top of the line MeiVici SE, and using the same tubing and construction as the custom Mei Vici GS, the HSG and Fierte Carbon not only offer one of the stiffest and most responsive bottom bracket/drivetrain designs on the market, they also are some of the most vibration damp and compliant frames on the market. Combine this with the potent lightweight promise of full carbon and this is arguably the best made and best riding full carbon stock bike on the market today. HSG is an acronym for High Speed Geometry and the HSG Carbon is designed with traditional European racing attributes; a taller bottom bracket height for maximum crank clearance, steeper head tube angles for razor quick handling. The Fierte, on the other hand, uses the same lightweight and torsionally stiff carbon, but in a more forgiving performance road geometry. From a fitting perspective, if this frame does not fit you well, there is not a stock frame on the market that does. If you are the type of rider focusing on a Trek Madone, Cannondale Six13, Colnago C-50, Specialized Tarmac or one of a few thousand other “repli-racer” frames, the HSG and Fierte Carbon offer something none of the others do - they are Serottas. This means that they are made by hand (in the USA) of top quality materials, to the highest quality standards possible and are built to last a lifetime. Want an aggressive and stiff stock race based bike built by a company with a history of building World Championship winning bikes? Want a frame that doesn’t need to be replaced every few seasons with hard use? Here it is. Serotta HSG Custom:
Who is it for? The rider looking for the ultimate riding and fitting carbon bike. Noteworthy: If you can accept fewer finish options and slightly fewer tubing options, the HSG Custom offers 95% the ride of what a MeiVici SE offers for notably less money Bottom Line: All carbon is not created equal. Not even close. The variance in quality level between carbon frame options on the market is similar to trying to compare a Yugo to a Mercedes - yes, they both have steel in them, but they are not nearly the same level of car when it comes to how it drives, how fast it goes or how long it lasts. The HSG Custom uses some of the most tunable and highest grade shaped Torsion Core carbon fiber on the market - the tubing actually starts out the same as the very top of the line tubing in the MeiVici SE (arguably the most advanced carbon tube on the market). However, the HSG Custom streamlines its tubing assembly and finish processes by cutting down on some of the options found in the Mei Vici SE (like paint) and using more machine finishing instead of hand finishing. This reduces some of the most labor intensive portions of the Mei Vici SE’s construction and thus saves money. So, while you can’t get your HSG to always look identical to a Mei Vici SE, you can get a very similar ride, weight and construction (along with the same full custom geometry!) for $2800 less. The HSG Custom is a great riding frame and it is built with the details that very, very few carbon frames have (like titanium bottom bracket and head tube inserts that don’t corrode or wear out). These details are what makes a carbon Serotta a Serotta and allows it not only to out ride just about any other carbon frame on the market, but also guarantees that it will still be on the road for years after most of its carbon brothers have broken and are in the landfill. Buying one great $5K carbon frame that fits and rides perfectly and keeping it for 10 years not only provides more performance and satisfaction than buying three mediocre riding and fitting $2500 frames that need to be disposed of every few years, it also costs less money. Remember, life is short… Serotta MeiVici SE:
Who is it for? The rider looking for the ultimate riding and fitting carbon bike who does not want to compromise on anything. Noteworthy: It has been said that the only expensive bikes are the ones that don’t get ridden. Once you ride a MeiVici SE, you’ll want to ride more. We can guarantee that. The MeiVici SE is the most tunable and most customizable full carbon frame on the market. Bottom Line: Oddly, through its price, the MeiVici SE actually helps show how inexpensive cycling is compared to many other activities. The Mei Vici SE is the functional Ferarri of bicycles and, with a little planning, it is within the reach of many people. It is great to know that you do not need to make billions to own the most technologically advanced, best riding and best fitting bikes on earth. Okay, we know that this is not a cheap frame. But that isn’t the question, the question is, “Is it worth it?”. There are some very good carbon custom frames available for half of what the MeiVici SE runs. Is the MeiVici SE two times as good as those frames? No, the Serotta MeiVici SE is not two times as good as these frames. However, at the highest levels, nothing is two times as good as the next best. It is small percentage points that differentiate between the best and the rest of the field. And, in this regard, the MeiVici SE is the best in its category (full carbon frames) and the answer is, “Yes, it is worth it.” There is no carbon frame on the market that uses higher quality materials, has more tuning options to meet the rider’s exact needs, fits better, will last longer, or handles better. The MeiVici comes from a long line of excellence stemming from a company with more experience with custom bikes than any other. It is made to the most exacting standards in the industry of the best carbon available. If you want full carbon construction, along with even more ride tunability and lighter weight than what has been considered the best riding frame in the industry (the Serotta Ottrott SE), the MeiVici is the only place you will find it. Remember, you only live once and a $12,000 bike over 15 years is $800 a year - try spending $800 or less with skiing, golf, horses, motor vehicles or a relationship (for that matter). Heck, a serious runner can even spend more than this on shoes annually… Do you want new Nikes or a MeiVici SE?
Serotta MeiVici AE:
Who is it for? The rider looking for the ultimate riding and fitting carbon aero bike. When it comes to outright speed and coolness, the Mei Vici AE is the Bugatti Veyron of the bike world, yet it is far more attainable and practical. Just about anyone who really puts their mind to it can own one. Noteworthy: Take the most tunable bike in the world – the Mei Vici SE – and add full custom fabricated aero tubing and a very well thought out integrated fork and you get what is very arguably the highest performance and best riding bike on the market. Bottom Line: In a hotel room in Denver, CO in 2006 Serotta Bicycles invited a small group of cycling scientists, accomplished former pro athletes, top bike fitters and bike designers to sit down with Ben Serotta and one of the best carbon fiber engineers in the bike world - Mike Lopez. This group was asked one simple question: What would you want in the ultimate aero bike. After a few hours of ideas, the answers boiled down to include the following:
Two years later, the result is the Mei Vici AE and it was worth the wait as the design meets all of the above requests. We’re happy to have been part of this landmark project with Serotta and the Mei Vici AE shows just how far bike design has come and that you can have it all in one bike.
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