Scott CR1 SL Limited. My New Bike.

Well it's been a few weeks and around 500 miles of riding on my new bike so I figured it was time to write about it. A couple months back, sometime in the summer, I did some freelance design work that paid pretty ok. I'd been kicking around the idea of building up a new road bike and with my wife's permission, set out do build up something to race on in 2009.

Here's the breakdown of parts:

• 2007 Scott CR1 SL Limited Frame and Fork 56cm
• Shimano Dura-Ace 7850 SL Scandium Tubeless Clincher Wheels
• FSA SL-K Light Hollow Carbon Crankset and Bottom Bracket
  
• SRAM 2009 Rival Double-Tap Shifters/Brake Levers, Fr/Rr Derailleurs
• SRAM Red Cassette
• SRAM PC-1090R Chain
• Selle Italia Thoork Saddle
• 3T Doric Team Seatpost
• 3T ARX Team Stem
• FSA Energy T Bar
• Speedplay Zero Pedals
  
• Campagnolo Record Skeleton Brakes
• Ritchey WCS Carbon Drop-In Headset
  
• Hutchinson Fusion 2 Tubeless Tires
• Forte Carbon Waterbottle Cages
• Fizik Bar Tape
• Polar CS200 Computer
• SRAM brake and derailleur cables

Let's see, the good things about it? It is light and all-day comfortable to ride. It climbs and descends well and the handling is fast yet predictible. The wheels are the nicest feeling wheels I've ridden since my old tubular days. The brakes are great and the derailleurs were easy to set up and the rear shifts really well. I think SRAM Double-Tap shifing is great. I like the looks of the bike and it's a bit understated compared to the newest stuff out there. That's a plus for me as I wanted something that doesn't look faster than I can ride or like some Fannie Mae CEO's golden parachute gift.

Bad things? The front derailleur shifting is very precise but clunky sounding and the chain is a little more noisy than Shimano stuff no matter how much I lube it so far. I may switch lubes to something else to see if that helps.

Future Plans? I'd like to invest in a set of aero carbon fiber tubular race wheels for crits and time-trialing. I don't know if I'll get those though. We'll see.

Overall: A huge step up from my Jamis in every way and I'm looking forward to many miles of good riding and racing. :)