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 RC line. • Made in Saratoga Springs, NY by people who are passionate about bikes. Considerations of Serotta Bicycles: • Serotta focuses on top of the line bikes. • Serotta will not sacrifice ride quality, stability and handling in order to build the absolute lightest frame on earth. Serotta’s are very balanced bicycles, but they are not the lightest available.
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 and we were shown Serotta’s factory (which has since been replaced with a state of the art facility). 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 lowest number of repair and warranty claims and you have a winning recipe for a great riding frame. Our Serotta owners rave about their bikes.
Model/Product Overview: As of 2012, Serotta is focusing on their top of the line models and customization. They offer top quality steel, titanium, carbon and mixed material options. 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 long-term 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.
Functional Beauty: Serotta Bicycles leaves nothing to chance and industry leading designs (like the ground-breaking and critically acclaimed Ottrott, see below) 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. Serotta is focused on their SE frames, which 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 uses titanium dropouts and is geometrically matched to each frame and stiffness matched to the individual rider’s needs, or the oversized F4 aero fork.
Chromoly Steel -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 CXII SE:
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 $4000-$6000 price point and it is hard to argue against it as it does everything so well. Serotta CDA SE:
Who is it for? Those that know that “steel is real” and why a bike named “Heart of Steel” (“CDA” is an acronym for “Couer d’Acier”) should be special. Noteworthy: The CDA SE uses some of the nicest riding steel frames money can buy. The CDA SE 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 CDA SE demonstrate 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 range that is chock full of “cookie cutter” bikes with little character and little that is designed to really work well for the individual rider, steel Serottas stand out for being different and doing many things better than the carbon fiber competition. 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. In addition to the great ride, the CDA SE offers a carbon fiber seatstay and includes a broad range of finish options for a sweet ride and look.
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 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. 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 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 within the bike industry. 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 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 MeiVici 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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