LibertyFLS

Looked at Giant and rode it today. I really like it but while I was waiting on the guy to show up, the Fairdale owner responded and said he still had it! So I am hoping to see it today or tomorrow. He’s asking 900 and it was a 3k bike, steel frame, all carbon fork and weighs around 18#. So told Giant owner I had one more to look at and would decide and let him know. That brake thing I could live with the look, but it really is obtrusive.

https://offerup.co/sRxgBU9csib

mstateglfr 

Oh for sure grab the Fairdale if it is in good condition, fits, and you like the riding geometry. Those were really cool bikes for the 3ish years they were around, and they werent at all successful so they were heavily discounted.
The lack of success is not at all indicative of quality- those were really neat frames. The marketing of their steel was a bit over the top, but thats just marketing speak anyways.
Super neat option for sure. Hope it works out.

ctak

Partially agree if the idea is "to keep up with friends on modern bikes" without losing weight or gaining fitness, but ultimately it depends on a bunch of factors not limited to ride intensity, geography and other inputs like total system weight as HTupolev pointed out.

I'm not familiar with the Torrance scene, but here in Seattle we have Zoo Hill, with an average grade of 8.6% (and 15-20% in a few spots) for a bit over 2 miles. On my 21.0-lb modernized 80s steel Trek 700, my time for this climb is typically around 13:10-13:15 at 330 watts avg. On my 16.5-lb carbon bike, a similar effort gets me up the hill 30-40s faster... not much, though marginal gains can easily add up to 5-10 minutes over the course of a 70-100 mile ride with an overall elevation profile of 4k ft or greater.

But even then jumping headlong into weight-weenie land might be a total waste of time and money unless Performance is paramount. An 18-19-lb steel build might be a nice compromise... good luck with your search and don't settle for something that doesn't fit / feel right to you!

Here's a handy tool that is pretty accurate if you want to really get into the gains dept: Bike Calculator

Glad you included older S-Works' in this thread RiddleOfSteel Sub $2k deals on 10-15yr old higher end Dura Ace carbon builds aren't uncommon around Seattle either.

LibertyFLS

Right. Every review I read was nothing but full of praise. One guy got on it and instantly had to race a crit and loved it. Another review said he didn’t want to give it back etc and they all pretty much said it was one of the best riding bikes they’d been on regardless of price.

Now I’m just waiting on him to reply again!

LibertyFLS

So I got the Fairdale in the end. I was waiting to update the post until it was in my hands. This bike is mint, 1-2 scratches or chips at most! And wow it’s light!! I weighed my ‘80 SR Semi-Pro it’s 25.2, my ‘73 Falcon San Remo is 24.2, this is 20 as pictured. It has a weird bottle cage that looks like a dog and is heavy which will be getting replaced tomorrow with blue standard ones. Probably in the future put some carbon wheels and save a pound but for now I just plan to ride. Obviously I'm changing the pedals, these were just for the test-ride. I've been riding 2-bolt SPD clipless but ordered some look style cleats and pedals which should get here tomorrow and will go on my other shoes. Planning on changing the saddle unless I find it comfy after my first ride tomorrow, and not sure about the grey bar wrap either.

The ride is amazing and I am just super glad I waited. He took my offer of $800 and I think I couldn’t have done better. I really liked the Giant I was considering but this one is marginally lighter, and was 2x the Giant cost new and the Giant seller was firm at $1100. So I saved 300, got a “better” bike and for sure got a bike I will probably never see coming or going on any ride.

This post was informative and useful and I appreciate all the different replies everyone offered!!!

squirtdad

very nice

BFisher

Hey, nice lookin' ride!

metalrideroz

I say leave the flats on and Taj would too haha. You made a good choice and with the move to disc and TA for modern road stuff I'm sure you'll be able to find a high end rim brake wheelset at a discount in the future.

Classtime 

VERY VERY COOL BIKE. I'll be on the lookout for that Blue Fairdale. The tape looks fine and with Road Shoes and Pedals? Step-in UP!

notenoughdaylig 

Looks fast!!!

Het Volk

So glad you made the choice you made. I think a lot of the "comfort" of new bikes is just fresh cables, better cog design etc....

Getting dropped on a ride is, outside of maybe sprinting and top-tier climbers and TT testers, the engine.

SRAM Rival is solid group-set, and for $800.....great find.

mstateglfr 

Helluva find. Really neat brand and quality build.

LibertyFLS

First ride this morning. Brifters are awesome. The bike is light and geometry feels great. Seat sucks imo so will definitely be changing it. The gearing definitely makes climbing easier and probably the lighter bike doesn’t hurt. Brakes are awesome. Steel is real although this is definitely much stiffer than my 40+ year old bikes….

This probably will be my last post about this bike in the classic and vintage sub group and I will get back to posting about classic and vintage bikes.