Cycling

Ride-along with Steve: Reviewing the Fuji SL1

Six months ago I started reviewing road bikes by interviewing friends and fellow club cyclists. Now that the weather is cooperating and we can get back on the road, it’s time to bring in a few more reviews.

This time I wanted to review a bike from a brand that isn’t as well known as the increasingly ubiquitous Cervelo (at least here in Toronto). Enter Fuji, uncommon in the peleton and with little brand image to bring them attention. When I think Trek, for example, I think Lance Armstrong. Not a bad brand image. When I think Cervelo, I think engineering. Nothing wrong with that. When I think Fuji, I think…cameras? Not even the correct company.

Fuji Bikes make a few road models that are worth discovering. The Fuji Team, for example, is a fantastic entry to mid-level road bike that is inexpensive compared to its carbon competition. Moving to the top of Fuji’s product line, the Fuji SL-1 is ridden by Toyota-United on the pro tour. The Fuji SL1 is generally thought of as a climber’s bike; it is a completely carbon and is typically shipped with a compact crank, which gives you even easier gear ratios to spin up the difficult climbs.

A friend of mine, Steve, owns two Fujis. I asked Steve to share some thoughts on his bikes, especially the SL1. Here’s the scoop:

Steve: How old are you?

Steve: I am 34 years old.

How long have you been road riding?

I bought my first bike, a Bianchi Premio, in 1989. Whoa, I’ve been riding for almost 20 years.

You own a couple of Fuji road bikes now and Fuji isn’t a widely ridden bike. How did you come to settle on Fuji as a brand?

I stopped riding regularly while I was studying in university, and got involved with other sports that kept me away from the road. A couple of years ago I decided to get back into cycling, since it’s an excellent, relatively low impact way to get into very good shape. My bike was an old, chromo, 1993 Peugeot Success, with down tube shifters that was very, very heavy compared with the bikes of today. And, since I also was in a far better financial position than my student days, I decided to make a move on a carbon framed bicycle.

I looked around at several local bike shops in midtown Toronto, test riding mid-range offerings from the regular brands – Trek, Cannondale, LeMond, Specialized, Giant – and I also tried out a Fuji Team. All were decent bikes for my $ 2, 000ish price point, but none offered the level of components of the Fuji, or if they did, they lacked a full carbon frame. The Fuji was also the most aggressive feeling of the bikes I tested. The steering was light, the road feedback was direct, and it was most responsive when I put it through its paces. The Fuji Team frame is fairly stiff and responsive, considerably more lively than my supple old Peugeot’s and is also quite striking with a partially painted scheme that shows off its woven carbon skeleton. Fuji also sourced a wide variety of components from several different vendors to build up the bike, which resulted in a very reliable mid-range setup that was quite light relative to its peers. For me, the Fuji was really great value – it was the highest performing, lightest, full-carbon framed bike for the most competitive price.

Despite the fact that I now own two Fujis, I’m not so loyal to the brand that I’m tied to it. The new Fuji SL1 was also an amazing deal that I couldn’t turn up.

How much did you pay for the SL1? Where did you buy it?

Funny story, the purchase of the SL1 is. I got completely ruined on a ride in the fall of 2007, the Hastings Hilly Hundred - don’t be fooled by the alliteration and seemingly harmless name, it was a brutal 240 km slog - and decided to do some retail therapy to ease my pain. I was poking around EBay, looking to upgrade the Fuji Team with a carbon crank, when a friend pointed me toward a Fuji SL1 in my size that was on auction. Until that point I had never even heard of the SL1, but The bike was in pristine condition, and had only been ridden a couple of hundred km. So, for fun I threw in a bid for $ 2, 000 and went to bed. Next thing I knew, it was mine. Get this – the MSRP for the bike is nearly $ 5, 500! For once something that seemed to be too good to be true, wasn’t. I’m not sure I’ll ever buy a bike on EBay again, but this particular transaction worked out very well.

What are the full specs of your Fuji SL1?

The heart and soul of the SL1 is the frame, and boy is it ever light. Fuji boasts that it is 890 grams, including the full carbon fork, making it one of the lightest frames available anywhere today. But the frame doesn’t look like a lightweight; the bottom bracket is very beefy and all the other tubes are also of significant proportion. This frame is a classic case of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. My particular model is the SL1s, which means that the groupo is SRAM’s Force. It also comes with Ritchey’s top of the line WCS series carbon seat post, and carbon stem and bars; and a carbon racing saddle from Selle San Marco. Fully built, including my Mavic Ksyrium SL wheels, Look Keo Ti pedals, this carbon killer comes in at a sliver under 6.9 kilos (15.2 lbs). I mean, have you lifted this thing? It’s light as a feather!

It certainly is light. How would you compare the Fuji SL1 to other road bikes that you’ve ridden?

First and foremost, the SL1 is light and twitchy. The frame was designed to be very stiff and efficient, and also has a compact geometry. This is a bike that is very responsive and I’ve found it pretty easy to settle my weight in the wrong spot and loosen up the back end on hills or even lift the front end on flats when I’m putting a lot of torque to the pedals. Compared to other bikes I have ridden, the ride is definitely more harsh, but with the kind of feedback and responsiveness it provides the rider, I also find it much more exciting.

How about the components? The Fuji Team has Shimano 105/Ultegra groupset while the SL1 has SRAM Force groupset. Was that a difficult transition for you? Which of the component sets do you prefer?

I am becoming accustomed to the SRAM setup on the SL1, and am enjoying it. From a ridability standpoint, the shifts are precise and predictable, and I like the partial up shift setting on the front derailleur which minimises rubbing when the chain is near the top or bottom of the cassette. Although, I find Shimano’s drive trains operate a little more smoothly and are also easier to tinker with.

Is there a defining feature of the Fuji SL1? What do you like most about this bike?

The feature of the build that catches most people’s attention is the amount of carbon on it. Pretty well everything that can be carbon is carbon, and it makes for a bike that really stands out. Most impressive for me though is the SL1 frame. In addition to the ultra-low mass, it also looks understated in a classic black and silver finish, and is very utilitarian in design. Fuji touts that the top tube has a honeycomb internal structure and fully integrates into the seat stays for improved energy transfer, and the frame has minimal paint and artwork so the carbon weave is on full display – which also makes it more environmentally friendly!

What are your strengths as a rider, and did the Fuji SL1 play to your strength or compensate for weakness?

I think I’m a pretty typical amateur cyclist; I have a career that keeps me busy and on the road quite a bit, an active social life, and a lot of other things going on that compete with riding for the number one spot on my list of priorities. So, in short, there’s not really any single element of my cycling that stands out other than my love of riding. My goals for this season - and pretty much the rest of my life as a rider - are to stay healthy and to participate in the Tour for Kids, a phenomenal charity cycling event that raises money for children’s cancer camps here in Ontario. The Fuji SL1 is going to go a long way to help me achieve those goals because it’s a great bike to ride on, even over long distances when set up appropriately (read – without the Selle San Marco saddle) it can flatten any hill in its way, is an absolute rocket on the flats, and is outfitted with top-end, reliable components.

I thought you might tell me you bought this for revenge in the Hastings Hilly Hundred. Ok. Serious question: Lance Armstrong or Matt McConaughey?

Easy one - Matthew McConaughey. One of my favourite movie lines of all-time was delivered by Wooderson, a character he played in Dazed and Confused: “I love them high school girls. I get older, they stay the same age.”

Hilarious. Now how about Obama or Clinton?

Neither. If the Democrats get into the White House in 2008, the President, if he or she is serious about real change, will only be able to hold office for a single term. After six decades of bad foreign policy and an incumbent that is leaving the nation in complete financial shambles, there is so much reform required to get the nation back on track that the winner of the contest is going to have to take a few biggies for the team and for the good of America.

Spoken like a true Canadian. Thanks Steve.

Well, that’s a wrap. Perhaps the next time you’re browsing through the common brands at your local bike shop, you’ll take time to consider the Fuji as well. There is good value in the Fuji Team and great performance in the Fuji SL1.

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