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On test: Serotta HSG Carbon, October 14, 2008
Smooth sailing
The Serotta brand name has long been synonymous with American bicycle building but the company now also aims to rekindle its association with bicycle racing with a new line of high-performance carbon machines. Cyclingnews North American editor Mark Zalewski throttles a new Serotta HSG Carbon from the start of the Midwestern spring thaw through the heart of racing season and finds that the spirit has indeed been rekindled.
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Serotta’s storied past is deeply rooted in racing having supported the efforts of such classic teams and riders as 7-Eleven, Coors Light, Crest, the 1980s U.S. Olympic squads and Davis Phinney and Andy Hampsten. Among a sea of me-too, constant-diameter, round pipes, its Colorado Concept steel tubing was truly revolutionary. Though many of those machines were disguised beneath another company’s livery, riders in the know firmly believed that a Serotta was among the finest race rigs of the day.
Serotta has largely kept up with technology under the lead of founder, and once-again owner, Ben Serotta, with models such as the titanium-and-carbon Ottrott. But the classic appearance of much of its lineup and the high costs often associated with its unflappable attention to detail and quality have since landed it more in favour of the well-heeled doctor and lawyer crowd instead of the, ‘How many packages of Ramen noodles can I buy with my race winnings?’ crew.
If our HSG Carbon tester is any indication though, Serotta may be well on its way to restoring its old race credentials.
Colorado Concept for the next generation
The HSG Carbon’s Colorado Concept Torsion Core tubeset recalls the artfully swaged, butted and ovalised shapes of Serotta’s old steel bikes but recreated in far lighter carbon fibre. Likewise, the once-steel lugs have been replaced by carbon lugs made from multiple modulus lay-ups and key areas such as the head tube and bottom bracket are reinforced with titanium inserts.
Serotta describes the HSG tubes as 'oversized' and while they certainly are by 1980 standards, they look distinctly undersized as compared to most modern competitors. Then again, pressing one's finger into any area of the HSG frame suggests that those relatively small-diameter tubes are well bolstered with sturdy thick walls that, if nothing else, should presumably hold up better to long-term abuse.
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Serotta does, however, specify its stiffest TC2 lay-ups for the HSG Carbon and the biggest tube sections are concentrated around the bottom bracket area. Completing the ensemble is Serotta’s S-Fork which mates a carbon steerer and legs to a set of minimal-looking aluminum dropouts.
Our test bike came outfitted with Serotta’s SRAM Force build kit which also included a Zipp Team CSC clincher wheelset, an FSA handlebar, seatpost and stem, Hutchinson tires, and a Chris King headset. Total weight for our 54cm sample was an encouraging 7.21kg (15.89lb).
Smooth like butter...
Our test plan began in March with the thawing of the Midwest winter (and then, as usual, pushing that timeline back to April when the snow actually stopped falling) with base miles and group rides, straight through the summer months with a schedule of road and criterium racing.
The initial ride was indeed everything we expected of a Serotta - smooth, smooth and more smooooooth. On the less-than-ideal roads around the home base - which can sometimes be a deal-breaker right from the start - the frame easily and dutifully absorbed the minefield of vibrations and bumps from tired pavement that had endured yet another rough winter.
Not only were we less fatigued than usual from the relentless pounding but the actual handling over rough patches was top-notch. ‘Bigger’ and ‘stiffer’ may be the commonplace buzz words for carbon frames these days but in cases like this where the pavement surface is less than ideal, a little more resilience can be just as much of a performance advantage and the HSG Carbon thankfully has it in spades. Longer rides only served to reinforce those initial impressions.
Solid like rock...
In spite of appearances, the HSG frame has a pleasantly beefy feel when pounding down on the pedals with good sprinting response and acceleration. For sure, the “stiffest, lightest and most race-worthy Serotta ever” isn’t nearly as rigid in the strict sense as many other carbon racers we’ve sampled but what the HSG lacks in overall stiffness it makes up for it in its reassuringly solid ride quality.
Unlike so much of its massively oversized competition that can be so fantastically stiff and efficient on the test bench but hollow-feeling on the road, there’s little sense that the thick HSG tubes will buckle if you tap them too hard with your finger or that the first incident with the ground will result in a useless pile of jagged carbon shards. Never once did we question the frame reliability when confidently hurtling through high speed corners.
Speaking of durability and high speed corners, though, we inadvertently put the Serotta to a true test when someone took out its front wheel during a local criterium. Save for a bent rear wheel, a tweaked derailleur hanger (which was thankfully successfully realigned later as it is not easily replaceable), and some scrapes the HSG Carbon came out unscathed (unlike the rider).
Conveniently, the crash also afforded us the opportunity to do the most direct comparison possible: a bike switch (with a neutral service bike) and the heart rate still at race pace. While the replacement bike was a quality ride in its own right, it only made us appreciate the feel of the HSG so much more. The bigger, stiffer and lighter loaner was indeed snappier and more nimble but it still took several laps to even begin to trust its handling in the corners after racing on the HSG. Whereas the resilient Serotta felt practically glued to the ground, the replacement seemed more like it was skipping across the pavement, especially when it was rough.
So is the HSG Carbon super stiff? Well, not exactly. But does it feel like it’s hewn from a single chunk of material like an early 90s Mercedes-Benz? Absolutely. Think of it more as a lifetime investment that can also be successfully raced as opposed to a dedicated racer that might make it into the next season.
Decision, decisions
Ok, now comes the hard part. Those looking for a bike of this price range will have to decide between ultimate performance and the Serotta’s superior ride; ultimately, you will have to make that decision on your own.
For those that choose the latter, you can at least rest assured that the Serotta name brings supreme quality, years of hard-fought experience, and true race cred... but also a high price. Relatively speaking the HSG cost pales in comparison to the top-end Serotta MeiVici frameset but US$4,275 is still a lot of money to pay for a bare frameset that will presumably be thrashed weekend after weekend.
On the bright side, much of the knowledge and fabrication that goes into the custom MeiVici is also used in the stock HSG - there are just fewer geometry choices and tubing options. As such, it is not quite like the difference between paying for Harvard University and Harvard Community College. The end result is very similar but one obviously carries with it much more prestige than the other.
That being said, the custom route is obviously the best way to go if you are a unique size. But if you can fit into one of the stock HSG sizes (and there are eight), you can get nearly the same ride as the MeiVici and still have some cash left to send junior to Harvard... Community College.
Price: US$6,825 (as tested); US$4,275 (frame and S-fork)
Weight: 7.2kg (15.8lb) - as tested, without pedals.
Pros: Sublime ride quality; superb overall handling and cornering capabilities;
usual Serotta fit and finish; generous range of eight sizes.
Cons: Very expensive; not as stiff or light as much of its (often much
less expensive) competition; traditional appearance might not suit everyone;
non-replaceable derailleur hanger.
Cyclingnews rating: 
More info: www.serotta.com
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by James Huang/Cyclingnews.com
- The Serotta HSG Carbon maintains the company's reputation for quality and attention to detail and is arguably its best race machine yet.
- The Colorado Concept Torsion Core tubing recalls the ingenuity used in Serotta's steel frames of yore with aggressively tapered and butted tubing.
- The tube-and-lug construction yields a classic appearance but superb performance.
- The carbon chain stays aren't nearly as big as many others we've used lately yet the HSG Carbon still has plenty of get-up-and-go.
- Similarly, the bottom bracket lug looks positively spindly in comparison to some other modern rigs but is still beefy enough for all-out racing.
- More lugs are found at the head tube with titanium inserts to reinforce the ends.
- Gracefully curved seat stays produce a remarkably compliant and surefooted ride.
- Tidy machined aluminum dropouts finish off the rear end.
- The all-carbon Serotta S-Fork uses the company's standard F-3 lay-up.
- The carbon legs are capped with tiny aluminum dropouts.
- Even the riveted-on aluminum housing stops look good.
- The derailleur housing adjusters are integrated right into the lower head tube lug.
- Slapping on a standard seat collar just wouldn't be appropriate so Serotta naturally includes its own.
- With so many carbon frames built overseas, the 'made in the USA' badge is becoming increasingly rare indeed.
- Our HSG Carbon tester came with SRAM's workhorse Force group.
- The standard 39/53T chainrings are well-suited for the all-out racing the HSG Carbon is intended for.
- The Force rear derailleur's carbon pulley cage nicely complements the HSG Carbon's woven finish.
- A SRAM Force front derailleur moved the Shimano Dura-Ace chain back and forth between the chainrings.
- SRAM's Force brake calipers continue to provide solid stopping power.
- The SRAM OG-1070 cassette works well but isn't quite as smooth as Shimano.
- The Zipp Team CSC clinchers strike a good balance between a racing and training wheelset.
- Bladed spokes and carbon dust caps lend a high-end look.
- The Hutchinson Fusion 2 tire provided good grip during Midwest crits.
- FSA's aluminum Energy handlebars are a popular choice in the pro peloton.
- Carbon stems may be sexier than the FSA OS-115 but few are lighter.
- The fi'zi:k Arione offers a classic profile for your rear end.
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Frame: Serotta HSG Carbon |
Shift levers: SRAM Force DoubleTap |
