ast

Has anyone heard of or had any experience with Italian made Carrera bikes? I'm looking at getting one of their scandium/carbon ones but they don't appear to be "common".....

ed073

They're great.

They have sponsored many top Italian teams over the years. If you like it, get it.

PLus it will be cool in your training bunch due to it's "rareness".....

ast

Hey thanks ed073........do you have one? Which one? I really appreciate the feedback as I'm trying to get as much info about them as I can.........

ed073

Nah...I don't have one, but I love Italian bikes. I ride a Scapin.

Have you had a look for a website? There might be a retailer somewhere near you and you could get along and have a look at one....

Would I buy a Carrera? Definitely.

531Aussie

same here!! They were very prominet in the Euro pro peloton through the 90s, and the 'uncommoness' of them in Australia would ABSOLUTELY make me want one. I don't think I've ever seen one in Melbourne, but ever 3rd bike I see on Beach Rd is a Giant!!

https://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/20...cma05-pantani1

When Claudio Chiappucci was winning races in the 90s, every second photo in the bike mags seemed to have a Carrera in it!!

I think this is the closest there is to a Carrera website:
https://www.redroseimports.com/rri_carrera.html

ed073

Carrera Jeans
Asics
Mercatone Uno
Barloworld have all ridden on Carrera.....

someone with a better memory than me list some of the others.

ed073

Carrera Jeans
Asics
Mercatone Uno
Barloworld have all ridden on Carrera.....

someone with a better memory than me list some of the others.

ast

Thanks guys.....

This is the actual site.......

www.carrera-podium.it/

There's a guy near me who stocks 'em. So I'm trying to decide between a scandium front/rear carbon framed Carrera or a Cervelo carbon Soloist. I like the lightness of the carbon soloist but they reackon with my strength I'm better off on the Carrera.........decisions, decisions............

ed073

Nice....some tasty morsels on there....

classic1

First company to do the carbon stays with Aluminium frames with Michele Bartoli back in 1996 if my memory serves me correct

ast

They certainly DO seem to be a rarity, especially in the states. I've only got replies from aussies! Plus I've only seen them in ONE bike shop here in syd.

ed073

you didn't put one of the following in your thread title.....

Lance
George
Trek
Cervelo
weight training

it would be 4 pages by now, regardless of topic, if you did....

ast

LOL.... so true........

....but I can't help it - you asked!!!


*I'm not partial to "Truks".
*Don't mind Lance.....you can't really pick on someone who's won TDF 7 times.
*George - well, we'll certainly see what he can do this year. And whether team disco will make him team leader
*Cervelos - love them but.........Taiwan? Can't get over that particular hurdle.
*Weight training - I'd rather be out riding.

So, I should buy an Italian, hand made, rare Carrera. That's the plan. I'm going to the LBS tomorrow evening........

So which is your LBS in melb ed073?

MerckxMad

I bought a Carrera Aries steel frame last year as a winter bike. I built it up with a CF fork, Campy Chorus, and Mavic rims. I absolutely love it. It has Nemo tubing which is far from the lightest, but the frame weighs in at 3 pounds. It's one smooth ride. I think Carrera was one of the first builders to mate CF rear triangles to alu and steel front triangles. I almost went for the Hercules, but decided stay with an all-steel frame. The welds and paint are flawless. I've noticed some pretty thin paint jobs on other top "boutique" Italian frames, but I've had no problems with the Aries even after riding through salted/gritted roads all winter. I own a few really nice bikes, Merckx, Pinarello, Bianchi amongst them, and I get the most comments on the Carrera. I think it's because they are rarely seen here in the States. I purposely passed over Colnagos for this reason, and haven't regretted it. Good luck.

531Aussie

are you sure?
Crikey!! That's 1362g, which would make it one of the lightest steel frames ever made!!
It would definitely be the lightest Nemo frame ever made

MerckxMad

Okay, I'm busted. My 53cm frame came in at 3.4 lbs on my shop's scale. Which I think is still amazing.

ast

Thanks for the input Merckxmad, I thought the same thing re the paint job. I'm looking at the scandium frame one which has a sweet pearl paintjob on the down-tube. Very sweet. It'd be so easy if that damned vixen soloist carbon wasn't wooing me with her sexy looks!

ed073

None really......but I'm still partial to Fitzroy Cycles as they were nice enough to give me gainful employment as a youngster.

But then so did about 4 other Melb bike shops at some stage....lol.

62vette

Get the Carrera, that big fat BB area on the Cervelo Solist Carbon just doesn't look pucker to me.

ast

Really? I think that BB looks awesome. The only thing putting me off is the fact that the carbon soloist is made in Taiwan. Carreras are hand made in Italy.

ast

I walked into Spoke(n) about a month ago. Funky bike shop. Also SHM? Or something, in the city. That was pretty cool too.

CentPARider

I have an older 1995 7003 aluminum that was given to me as a gift. No carbon, even the fork is alum. I’ll post a pic this weekend. Rides great.

was_bmxer

Hey, are you looking at the shop in Parra?

I have heard the Carrera are good to work with to if you want a custom frame, (I have had customs in the past) any paint scheme you want on any model, colours etc. They will do what ever you want, pretty much.

Like every one else here, I'd get one.

ast

Hi mate, yep, that one. They're top blokes in there. Very friendly AND truthful. I was wanting a Lapierre carbon 0.9 and they basically said - nah mate, you'd break it.

was_bmxer

I saw them there around a year ago. Look nice. Well stocked shop.

Do you live out that way? Eddie Salas has a good shop too. Not sure what he stocks at the moment, but a honest as you'll get, as well. Mt druitt way.