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Novara Squadra Bike - 2008

Novara Squadra Bike - 2008

Item # 763768
!
This item is currently sold out or unavailable online.

For your reference, this page contains historical product information.

If you're burning for race-level performance on a pedigree bike with lightning-fast quicks and power to spare, you're ready for the Novara Squadra.

  • Super lightweight C6 carbon monocoque frame and fork construction offers the ultimate in strength to weight ratio and reliability
  • Mavic Aksium wheels with Vittoria Diamante Pro tires give a lively, high-performance ride in a solid package
  • SRAM Rival shifters, cassette and derailleurs form a precise and responsive system that is rigid, strong and powerful
  • Double chainrings and 10-cog cassette combine for 20 speeds, a full complement of gears to power you up every hill and blaze you across every flat
  • FSA Energy alloy handlebar's double-width, single cable groove design improves stiffness and fatigue life
  • San Marco Ponza saddle features a comfortable padding shell with waterproof 'soft touch' cover

After its initial break-in period you might notice your bicycle performing less responsively than the day you brought it home. Not to worry, this is typical of all new bicycles and simply reflects that cables have stretched or their housings have seated themselves into final position. To keep running at peak performance, all REI bicycles come with a FREE warranty tune-up, which should be accomplished between the first 100-200 miles of riding or after the first two months if you're accumulating miles less quickly. Contact your nearest REI bike shop for details and an appointment for this important service.

Imported.

Item 763768


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Novara Squadra Bike - 2008 Specs

Specification

Description

FrameC6 monocoque carbon
ForkC6 monocoque carbon
CranksetSRAM Elita level compact 50/34
ShiftersSRAM Rival
BrakesSRAM Rival
Brake leversSRAM Rival
Front derailleurSRAM Rival braze-on
Rear derailleurSRAM Rival
HeadsetFSA Orbit IS
Bottom bracketGiga Pipe
Rear cogsSRAM Rival 11-25, 10-speed
Front hubMavic Aksium
Rear hubMavic Aksium
RimsMavic Aksium
TiresVittoria Diamante Pro 700x23
StemFSA OS-150XTC
HandlebarFSA Energy alloy
Seat postFSA SLK
SaddleSan Marco Ponza
PedalsSold separately
ChainSRAM

Novara Squadra Bike - 2008 Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews
Novara Squadra Bike - 2008
 
4.3

(based on 3 reviews)

100%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

  • Lightweight (3)

Cons

    Best Uses

    • Racing (3)
    • Serious training (3)

    Reviewed by 3 customers

    Sort by

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    Apr

    4

    2008

    (15 of 20 customers found this review helpful)

     
    4.0

    fairly light (16½lb) some ups, few downs

    By sanebill

    from Boston

    About Me Avid Cyclist

    Pros

    • Good Geometry
    • Handles Well
    • Lightweight

    Cons

      Best Uses

      • Racing
      • Serious Training

      Comments about Novara Squadra Bike - 2008:

      Wow, was it impossible to find out the weight of this bike, or what?! The guys at the store didn't know - all they knew was that the Team Squadra [odd name: 'Team-Team'...] was supposedly 16½lb. So I listed the differences in build-up between the Squadra and the 'Team-Team'[!], ok, the 'Team Squadra', and from the various manufacturer's sites, I came up with a 475g difference, making the Squadra 17.55lbs [based on the rep's quote of 16½ for the Team].There was nothing for it but to buy it and see!! No really, I was dying to get it - I just wanted to know for myself if it had much of a weight difference over my own '04 Tre k 2300. It did, by almost 1½lbs, with the Squadra [size large/56cm] weighing 17.6lbs [digital hanging scale & verified on balance weight scale].BTW, if you research the bike on the web, there's a video showing on bike and video sites [not Novara related], where a Novara guy says that the Team Squadra is 15¼lbs and that the Squadra is 16½lbs. The video is now viewable on many sites, but like Flavor Flav says, "don't believe the hype!" Lighter than a Cerv Soloist? Actually, no! And the only difference with those bikes in the video is what looks like a different stem on the Team, and Fulcrum 3 & 7 wheels [swapped to Ksyrium/Aksium for production, making the Team even lighter, by 3oz - what, 15lb even?! Nope... So the Team and Squadra are 1¼lbs & 1lb heavier respectively than claimed in the video.Ok, review time? The [$] makes the SRAM/carbon/Aksium mix a good deal. I haven't yet found quite as good a deal elsewhere. Anyway, I'm committed as I have the cool orange & white Creamcycle in my garage now. It was simply the colour that made me stop and look! [$]So who makes Novaras? Well, who makes anything these days!? Lots of companies have carbon frames, but who makes them? And what is 'C6 Carbon'?! [...]said that he talked with "one of the designers", and that the Squadra frames "are made by Cer velo"!! hmm, hard to believe. Still, a Soloist with a Rival build-up is only 1½lb lighter, yet more than twice as much, at [$]...The Rival group works well. The brake levers are a little too short; something I've never experienced before but I read that it's something SRAM's acknowledged & changed in newer, higher groups.The San Marco Ponza Lux saddle is a drag - literally, as it has a suede top for grip - grip where you don't need it. It sounds like a good idea 'til you're on it, and then all those little adjustments you continually make as you ride are suddenly... a drag. Some embroidery can be a help, but the whole surface is suede. [...]The FSA stems & posts are very nice, but the size Lg [56cm] bike that I got only had a 100mm stem [with the effective top tube of 56⅓ cm]. The guys were willing to order a 120 or 130 for me which was nice.Novara skipped out on the Rival chainset - it's a [SRAM-owned] Truvativ Elita, and just over an ounce heavier than the Rival. I'm surprised at that move as chainsets are often the boutique component, along with the rear mech, that 'show-off' the gruppo... And am surprised also as they brought in lovely bits from FSA in places often skimped on... I dunno...Oh, the Vittoria tyres are overly softly cased, so pack a foldable spare, as a lollipop stick could cut them! Grippy, but soft; grippy but so soft that they don't 'give' progressively when leaned right in - at least on cold roads so far in the north east. Not a deal breaker but pack a spare as they cut fairly easily.The geometry is nice on the machine - not too harsh [73° seat/72° head], and the front end is stable without being sluggish. It's not super sharp/twitchy, but the fat carbon fork makes it a solid carver, so an alright balance.Remember CD players had skip protection? Well, the carbon frame has buzz protection! Carbon is weird like that. It soaks up buzz that you didn't even know was there all your life on steel, alu, and ti frames. But is the frame soft? No way. It's pretty stiff in the right places. I'm no 1800w sprinter, so cranking up the hill of my street is the flex test, and it's a solid performer.The Aksiums are nice, and I suppose no news is good news - they haven't had a problem, and they live in the shadow of the frame's smoothening ability and solid carving ability - "oh, there's wheels down there!?"Overall I really like the Creamcycle. It's fairly light, and just a better seat and spare tyres and I'm set [maybe the seat thing is just me...]. My next racing-weight-cutting change will be on my own gut! Hey a ten pound reduction is available! The cool SRAM gruppo only took 20 mins to get the double-tap routine down, and I was sooo sick of Shimano shifters - and they're growing! The camel hump that makes up the lever top is just ugly [is a cup holder coming in the next version?], so it's awesome to have a super comfy, svelte, efficient brake & shifter at the helm. All I need now is a little red SRAM frog sticker for the bikeHope that was helpful - have a great season!

      Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

      (15 of 20 customers found this review helpful)

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      Mar

      30

      2008

      (5 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

       
      5.0

      Top Bike For Your Buck

      By Raven Wolf

      from Concord, New Hampshire

      About Me Avid Cyclist

      Site Member

      Pros

      • Absorbs Shock Well
      • Comfortable
      • Great Components
      • Handles Well
      • Lightweight

      Cons

        Best Uses

        • Climbing
        • Racing
        • Serious Training
        • Sprinting

        Comments about Novara Squadra Bike - 2008:

        I live in the mountains so when I went looking for a bike it had to be light and stiff but fast for those technical descents through winding roads. This bike had all of that and more. From the first ride I knew it was going to be a dream to ride, it accelerated with the first pedal stroke and rode like I was pedaling air. The SRAM is a bit tough to get used to if you're coming from Shimano or Campagnolo but it is well worth the switch. The carbon gives it a smooth ride while the geometry makes for a stiff yet forgiving trek. For [$] you can't find a better bike, so far I have no complaints and it has been put through its paces.

        Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

        (5 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

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        Aug

        5

        2008

        (4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

         
        4.0

        My Squadra

        By oddsquad1

        from Richland, WA

        About Me Competitive Cyclist

        Site Member

        Pros

        • Absorbs Shock Well
        • Good Geometry
        • Great Components
        • Lightweight
        • Responsive

        Cons

        • Online specs
        • Paint
        • Tires racing only

        Best Uses

        • Climbing
        • Racing
        • Serious Training
        • Sprinting

        Comments about Novara Squadra Bike - 2008:

        I finally got my Squadra. I purchased it in March and I'm at 2000 miles. It is made in Taiwan. I looked at many others and this was the lightest machine for the $$. So responsive and so light for the $$. It wanted to jump from underneath me when I accelerated. Color is awesome, design is sexy. The power transfer is great. Frame is stiff yet it smoothes out the vibraions. I love the Sram gruppo especially the "double tap" shifters. The specs online mention an FSA headset, mine came with a Cane Creek and the front der. is a clamp-on not a braze-on as stated in the specs. The cassette is machined with a gap in the teeth to aid shifting and it does. Though in the rain the chain flexes slightly more and "ticks" on the gap-annoying and maybe a performance Q. It rains so little here, so no worries. The tires are soft, I had to toss one with still plenty of life left because a shard of debris cut the rubber and the threads to the tube-an isolated incident? Probably. Huge wind storms here riddle the streets and paths with debris. Still many other cuts on both tires. Great tire for the ride and grip, so save them for the race and get a more durable training tire. The paint issue is more annoying because I'm proud of the loud orange color the bike is dressed in. The left rear dropout has lost one paint chunk as large as a fingernail. I've heard of others with the same problem. I can live with it. No effect to function(in fact I dropped a gram or two-ha,ha). Overall, a fantastic, light, fast, and beautiful machine.

        Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

        (4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

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        Please let us know what kind of issue this is:

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