I just purchase the Tommaso Imola and rode it yesterday and boy is it a great ride. I am going to participate in a Dualthon and did not want to use the old Trek Hybrid that I have owned since 2005. The Imola is light and handles well. The location of the shifts takes a little getting used to since they are located near the handle bar brake levers but as i rode it for 4 miles I got more comfortable. As others have stated, I didn't buy the genius build. I took it to my LBS since I did not want to even take the chance of ruining my new toy with the small assembly required after a genius build. Most bike shops can do this work in a day and have it back to you with a free tune up offer (after you ridden it for a few miles). Even the guy who assembled the bike thought it was pretty slick looking. I did purchase the 9.95 pedals from GiantNerd and should not have tried to pinch pennies here (hindsight is 20/20). I now regret the pruchase and should have paid a little more for the pedals. They will do for now but when my competiton starts I will defintely swap them out. All and All a great buy for this entry level road bike which doesn't feel so entry. Although I checked today and the price at GiantNerd has dropped another $50. Bummer, but at least the next buyers will get this extra added benefit!!!

After about 500 miles on this bike, I am ready to submit this review. Overall, I am satisfied with my Tommaso Imola with a stainless steel fork. For the price it really can’t be beat. It rides smooth and the gears shift nicely for an entry level road bike. Also from an aesthetic standpoint, the bike is attractive and I often receive compliments on it. I opted out of the genius build and had my LBS build it for fifty bucks

There are some downsides to this bike that I have experienced, most of which are easily fixed. First off the tires are terrible. I had a complete blowout after about 300 miles. But tires can be easily replaced. Also, I find the Sun race shifters to be really noisy. They buzz quite a bit but I can live with that if they continue to function well. One thing that I found to be disconcerting was that after about 50 miles my bottom bracket started creaking. I took it back to the bike shop and they tightened it up for me and it was good for 7 miles. I took it back to the shop again and they told me there was nothing else they could do so I needed to replace the bottom bracket. When they tore into it the mechanic found that the bracket was completely bare of grease. They packed it full of grease and tightened it up and it has been fine since then. My wife also bought the Women’s version of the Imola and just to be sure I had the mechanic take a look at it and it too was bare of grease. Lastly the handlebar wrap job was shabby, the bar tape was ripped right out of the box and the packaging was sub par. The bikes were practically falling out of their box at my door step.

For the most part I am happy with my purchase and am enjoying my bike quite thoroughly. I think the value you get for this bike is much more than you would get at your local bike shop but you lose some of the accountability by buying online. Also expect to replace the tires soon and pay your local bike shop to make sure the bottom bracket it greased and the bike is assembled properly.

I ordered the Tommaso Imola (demo) bike from Giant Nerd. It arrived in less than a week. I did not use the Genius build, instead I decided to take it to my local bike shop to be assembled and fitted ($50). I paid $350 for the bike including shipping and handling.
The bike looks and rides great (from a beginner's perspective). I bought it to compete in my first duathalon this April. I have rode it 4 times for a total of 40 miles. The seat is a bit hard and the gears don't shift the smoothest in certain gears but otherwise I have no complaints. I would recommend this to others who want a good entry level road bike.

I don't want to be the guy that just complains about everything but I have some problems with my overall experience purchasing the bike. Let me first start off that they are priced unbelievably low for what you get. That being said it I was surprised at how smooth the bike was once I finally got it. I purchased the bike on the 11th of Feb. and it didn't arrive until this afternoon (26th). I just moved to a new area and don't have a bike shop I opted for the nerd assembly but was surprised at the lack of finish work. Everything was there but the brakes were way off and had to be adjusted to function, the front wheel wasn't padded and was just floating in the box with everything else. On top of that both tires were very under inflated. I feel like thats being very picky but if i pay someone $75 to put a bike together I expect to be able to ride it from the box. Overall once I had everything together and adjusted it was a great ride. Very smooth and an amazing fit. Due to the lack of communication and length of shipment I will give my transaction a 3 out of 5.

I submitted before I rated!!! This is the real rating! Wildirishman Berea, KY

So I have been riding a 26 year old Schwinn "old school" 12 speed from my college days. I put 1586 miles on her just last year and was tired of dreading hills and long rides. Decided on this bike to be my jump into "present day". It arrived four days later, in tact (packaging was top shelf) and in under an hour had all the parts on the bike including the transfer of my aero bars and pedals from the world tour. FYI, did not pay for the extra 75.00 to have it put together but anyone with some patients/bike building skills can do it. I adjusted the high/low on the front derailer and the rear was smooth out of the box. Great looking bike, so pumped! Great service, smooth transaction and quality product! Giant Nerd, definitely my future asset for bikes! Wildirishman, Berea KY

Coming from the mountain biking world I was interested into finding out what the fuss was about with road bikes, I didn't want to drop a grand on my first roadie so while searching the web I came a across this beauty. I have had this for just over and year of use with 1K+ miles, and I can say it was worth every single penny spent and saved. I use it on the daily basis for commuting 10 miles to college which is a very comfortable ride and also for longer runs when I feel like going for 30+ miles for a good work out. I cant really imagine going any further do to the vibration discomfort I get when I hit the 2 hours mark. I really like the compact frame which is strong and aero but the components is some what lacking; but in this price range you cant really complain. Within the year's use I ended up replacing a few things: The caliper brakes didn't cut it for me, the stem stripped after installing a new compact bar, and the wheels where only okay but decent for commuting. In all if your looking to get started for an extremely low price. This bike is it. If you know you want to get into road bikes, and can spend a couple more benjis, please do, Giantnerd has a good variety of Tommasos. A well worthy brand.

I got my bike over the summer and so far it hasn't let me down, is is light, it has good gear, everybody compliments me about it. I ride it everyday to school and it is a pleasure to ride it. They tires kind of suck but I won't complain about that since it is something I'll have to change once the summer comes anyway. i'd totally recommend this bike to anyone getting into road biking. Thanks giantnerd!

This bike came 3 days after I ordered it. I am new to road biking and have been on it a few times now. Just went for a 40 mile bike ride this AM and the bike is feeling great. Very light and sturdy and has shown no problems thus far. Only issue I had at all is that when the bike arrived it had no directions or tools to put together. I have plenty of tools so that was not a problem but having never put a bike together a page or two of instructions would have been nice. I watched a couple of youtube videos and was up and running in no time. This bike is incredible for the price and I could not be happier. As soon as mine arrived my wife ordered one too. Hers also arrived very quickly and is running great. Thanks giant nerd.

This bike came 3 days after I ordered it. I am new to road biking and have been on it a few times now. Just went for a 40 mile bike ride this AM and the bike is feeling great. Very light and sturdy and has shown no problems thus far. Only issue I had at all is that when the bike arrived it had no directions or tools to put together. I have plenty of tools so that was not a problem but having never put a bike together a page or two of instructions would have been nice. I watched a couple of youtube videos and was up and running in no time. This bike is incredible for the price and I could not be happier. As soon as mine arrived my wife ordered one too. Hers also arrived very quickly and is running great. Thanks giant nerd.

I ordered this Bike on Sunday the 29th. I received it today. All I have to say is WOW!!!. I am new to biking and on a budget. You guys have outdone yourselves. Awesome bike at an excellent price. Going on my first ride in the morning. Wish me luck. I will let you know how it handled...

I ordered this bike last Tuesday, and it arrived at my house on Saturday - which was way, way faster than I expected. I also requested the Genius build, mostly because I didn't want to have any issues with the warranty. Thanks to Scott's hard work, all I had to do was put on the front wheel and the pedals. I absolutely love this bike. I've been riding it to work, and on various errands all week. I have gotten a lot of compliements on how attractive the bike is (the black and white paint scheme is really sharp.) It rides very well, and I've been able to cut about 3 minutes off my commute time as compared to my commuter bike. My only quibble is that the derailleurs needed to be adjusted again after shipping, and there was no instruction manual included with the bike. Nonetheless, this is a great, great bike for the money, and I am really impressed by Giantnerd!

This bike was a great buy for the money. Rides great, most of the reviews were very helpful and right on. It came very well packaged. Love it!

This bike is great. I got the genius build, but I'm not sure if that is the best choice because my friend also got a bike from Giantnerd without the Genius Build but his bike came more assembled then mine did. But I digress. The bike itself is great and rides smoothly. Everything was in great shape out of the box and everything works like a dream. This is my first road bike and so far, the Tommaso Imola is making a great first impression.

Well, First off, I started on a trek with suicide shifters and the Tommaso is huge upgrade. The packaging the bike came in was great. Everything was wrapped and protected very well. I did not do the genius build and do not regret it a bit, because if you put the bike together yourself you get to know your bike from day one. I did a group 33 mile ride and the bike did great. This bike is well worth the money and was really impressed with giantnerd.com.

I Received the Imola without Carbon Fiber 5 days ago and have finally had the chance to put the bike together and bring it to a Local Bike shop for finishing touches and for them to inspect everything I did.

Shimano FD 2303 derailleur + Imola frame
When I was putting the bike together and "fine-tuning" the bike itself, I noticed that the Shimano FD 2303 would not move closer to the seat tube than it's intended use. Therefore, in the lowest gear (closest to me), the chain would rattle against the derailleur. This was super annoying because I like for my chain to me quiet and I could not fix it so therefore, I felt that it was outside of my control. My LBS worked on it and he could not solve the problem too. He told me that this is as far as my derailleur could go and therefore, the chain will rattle when I'm in the lowest gear. But he did tell me that this isn't so bad because some racers set the front derailleur's lowest gear to rattle so they could get out of the gear faster + the chain will never fall off.

Sun Race R80 shifter:
-This shifter is okay for the overall price of the bike. It's a good beginner's shifter. One thing I don't like about the shifter is when I press on the brakes, my shifter is exposed on the inside. It would be nice had Sun Race made the brake+shifter not so revealing. The shifter also has no indications of what gear you're in, which kind of sucks because the shimano Sora (this shifter was listed on the actual Tommaso website) does have indicators for this.

Wheel Frame
My wheels were both so out of tune that I had to get my LBS to tune them for me ($20), which he charged me $10 per wheel; however, the back wheel was SOOOO out of tune, he told me that to do a proper and complete job, he needed to keep the bike overnight so that he can take off the back wheel, cassette, tire and tire tube to properly adjust the wheel. He told me that this wheel was probably machine built and therefore, it will never be as straight as if someone did it by hand. He was generous and offered to charge me another $10 dollars on top of my already $20 truing total to do all of this. I did not jump on the bandwagon right away and he recommended that I go ahead and ride my bike to see if I feel a difference, and if I do, then bring it back and the offer will still stand.

Overall: Tommaso Imola
Other than the FD 2303 and the Sunrace R80 shifter, and the rear wheel, the bike overall is pretty good for the value. The aluminum frame looks nice with a nice mature colors. The wheels are overall light. I was very impressed with how light the handle bar was. I'm also impressed with the design of the seat, they feel relatively soft. It's a pretty bike and it's probably one of the best beginner bikes with good beginning technology for under $500.

p.s. (1): get your bike w/o genius build and go to your LBS store to get it tuned + trued. You'll have to do this anyways. but the convenience of getting to know your LBS people will really pay off.
p.s. (2): I wrote the prices on both of my reviews so that you may have a reference to work with. Some of the adjustments etc really does not take long and if you find a good LBS store that is passionate about bicycling and not just money, then you will get a good deal!
p.s. (3): the LBS store that I went to is a JAMIS Bicycles distributor.

Last Recommendation: if you're an intermediate rider, go ahead and get the Tommaso Monza. It has all the necessary components that you would want in order to ride competitively in a competition. If I had the extra $300 to put out, I would definitely have gotten that bike.

Ever wanted to know how disassembled the bike looks like without Genius Build but had trouble finding the information for it, other than a vague "bicycle comes in 75% assembled"... this review is it. I ordered my Imola without Genius build because I did not see a benefit for getting the Genius build. Before I delve into why I don't think it is beneficial, let me tell you what I saw when I opened the box without Genius build.

Bike w/o Genius build:
-It looks just like every other bike that you would receive: `) back wheel attached with chain and derailleur in place. 2) I had to attach the front wheel, handlebar, seat post (comes with seat attached), and front brake wire. The front brakes were already attached to the bike. This is like every other bike that you would receive from any other online site.
Note: I must admit the packaging was secure. Almost anywhere that there is paint has been sealed.
Recommendation: Buy it without "Genius build" and put it together yourself, then bring it to a Local Bike Store and have them check it and "fine-tune" your bike + True both wheels. I have called 4 bike shops, most of these guys LOVE working on new bikes because they are easy to tune, plus they are clean. The price that 3 of them gave me were: 49, 52, 55. My last store, which was the one closest to me offered me $35 to tune both of my derailleurs + true both wheels - they also checked my work. This is very cheap compared to Genius build.

Therefore, I recommend getting it without Genius build, and having your bike shop: assemble/tune/true your stuff and you're good to go. Assembling takes a long time b/c you have to cut all the plastic wires and rip off all the packaging stuff, which is why LBS may charge you $20-25. But I personally like to open my present =D. I hope this helps! Feel free to message me!

So I was worried buying a bike i'd never seen in person or knowing what the appropriate size would be like. but i needed a road bike and wanted to get a bang for my buck as a beginner and the tommaso imola was the perfect choice. it fit perfect according to the sizing chart and i payed extra for the giant nerd package and the setup only took about 3 minutes. i was amazed at how secure the packing was and the first ride had absolutely no problems. the bike is super light for aluminum and the gears shift quite smoothly for r-80's. i love my purchase and am now a true believer in giant nerd and vow to be a loyal customer. the imola is a great bike for commuters, beginners, or those looking to get into racing or endurance riding. thank you giant nerd!!!

Pros:

Cheap
Solid Frame
Super light

Cons:
Tires
Shifters aren't smooth in lower gears
Genius Build

Am I worried about the cheap tires and shifter issues? Absolutely not. Easy fixes. I already replaced the tubes for torn resistant ones and we're good to go. The white tape does get dirty rather quickly, but lets be honest, it looks super awesome. Absolutely worthy of at least 7 stars. Thanks Dave for introducing me to giantnerd.

As for the Genius Build? Don't do it. Have a local shop build it for you. Most often it will be cheaper (I got mine assembled for 30 bones) and most bike shops will garuntee their labor: ie, you'll be able to come back and have them tune your new baby up for you.

I just received my bike yesterday! The packaging for the bike was awesome! Even before I opened the box, a friend of mine sat on the box and crushed it! Once I opened the box, there wasn't a scratch on the bike! I was very very impressed!

More reviews to come!

This is an ok bike. I bought it this past summer (2011) and had to replace the bottom bracket, it cost $20 for the part and about 15 in labor. Go with the sizing chart. I'm 6'6" and got the 58cm because I read reviews saying the chart ran big. I wish I would have gotten the 60cm. Good first road bike over all. I would recommend it at the price I paid for it (430).

I've always done lots of mountain biking, but before I bought my Immola I had literally never ridden a road bike before. I wanted to get into recreational cycling, as well as have a reliable commuter bike for college. After about 2 years riding it and over 2500 miles on the bike, I can say it was one of the best investments I've made. I have a car, but riding my Immola everywhere is just way more fun and healthy.

For a road bike, this thing is also TOUGH. I've crashed it fairly hard about 3 times being the crazy cyclist I am, and came out of it each time with way more damage on me then the bike. If you want a durable, slick, fast and inexpensive bike to get around on and possibly log some miles, I can't recommend the Immola any more.

First of all, I hate that term “beginner” road bike. Don’t ever consider me a “beginner”. No car. I’ve been without one for at least two years. 99% of my transportation needs are met on a bicycle. Buy a bicycle based upon what you need, not want. At my age, weight & physical condition, I NEEDED a bike with 32 spokes per wheel, strong hubs & I dislike carbon fiber. One good fall or scrape or crack & carbon fiber is toast…history.

In reverse order…the Ugly. Although aesthetically pleasing to the eye, the white handlebar wrap will soon be a thing of the past. It’s already getting smudged & blackened from my leather cycling gloves.

The Bad… I’ve never seen a road bike with only two hex-head bolts holding the handlebar onto the stem. Somehow I missed that on the photos. It may last, or I may wind up replacing it with a more durable stem. If not sure how to assemble and TUNE-UP a bicycle properly, have a local shop do it for you or order the “Genius Build”. Mine had a rear wheel so out-of-true it was hard to believe…possibly in the shipping process.

The Good… Speaking of the stem, as most are today, it’s reversible (up or down) either to achieve a flat aerodynamic race profile or flip it over to raise the handlebar up for a more relaxed (upright) ride. The sizing chart from Giant Nerd was dead on the money – at least for me. I always consider the best way to choose a bicycle is TRY B4 you BUY; an extensive test ride. But…with the money back guarantee – a person really can’t go wrong. The Sunrace R-80 Series shifters are different than Shimano 2300 shifters. It may take some getting used to. There’s good & bad points to both. The angle on the front fork is sloped to absorb & distribute road vibrations. A straight fork would be more nimble – but also more vibrations shooting up my already weak back with degenerative disc disease. The triple crankset up front means lower gears & greater hill climbing power for these arthritic knees too. Choose carefully. A compact or double crankset my suit you better – or it may not.

Again…buy a bicycle based upon what you NEED – not want.

I have been thinking about getting into road bikes for some time now, but didn't want to break the bank in order to find out whether I would enjoy it or not. After shopping around for several weeks I came across giantnerd and the Tommaso Imola. For the price, I could not believe I could get such a great looking bike with such wonderful reviews. The price was less than half of what I was willing to spend so I also purchased the Tommaso Tiempo for the GF.

Both bikes came with the Genius Build as I have no knowledge of how to put together a bike and it took literally 10 minutes to put the bikes together once they arrived. Took them out yesterday for a spin and I can't express what a joy it was. The shifting was a little choppy but I expect to have that sorted out after I bring it in for adjustments after I ride it for 20-30 miles or so. Other than that, it's a very smooth ride and you can really get it going on the flats.

Great fun and highly recommended!

Well... what can i say that others havent already!? The bike is seriously the best deal on the internet! I've been considering upgrading to a road bike for the last few months because I need good transportation around my city now that I have no motor vehicle. lets just say this gets me around and then some :D

I got the bike w/ the genius build, and I would say its worth it. Took me less than ten mins to get the front tire on, handlebars in the right place(they even put the pedals that I ordered w/ it on!), and the seat post on and I was riding! Im still riding! Now don't get me wrong, If i were to do the whole thing over again, I would STILL probably get the genius build, but ppl are right when they say your cables are gonna stretch and whatnot... i mean unless you live in colorado, the bike just went through some major transportation to get to you. Of COURSE your cables are gonna stretch still! your brakes might even rub a little bit(for the record, the tires were PERFECTLY true :D) Regardless, Its been about a week now and about 35 miles and she's still purring! I figure I'll put another 40 miles on before I need to get the gears fine tuned.

Bottom line: If you're trying to get into road cycling, but don't want break the bank in the process, THERE IS ONLY ONE CHOICE: IMOLA. Thank you Giantnerd!!

Bought this bike for my wife with a budget. Very impressed so far, she has only put around 70 miles on it. Did not get the pro build. Would not recommend the pro build either. The stand shipping comes with the seat, both wheels, and the handlebars off. Installation took about 10 minutes total. Adjusting cables has to be done no matter what?

Cost was very reasonable. Shipping and packaging was by far the best I have seen. I ha ve bought and sold over15 bikes in the past4 years and this packaging stands out. I ordered another bike on a Saturday before buying this one on the following Monday. The tomasso showed up at our house before the other bike ordered 2days earlier. Their shipping like their packaging is top notch?

Have already recommended this bike to others getting into cycling.

I just got this bike 2 days ago. I live in Mississauga, ON and considering the international affair package, the shipment was fairly fast not to mention I opted for a basic fedex ground shipment. The Genius Build was absolutely a breeze! It's a much better deal compared to nearly $100 charged by the local bike shop. The bike itself is very neat and sleek. I especially like the fact that the parts don't feel cheap at all. The shifters take a bit of getting used to but its not a big deal! I already put nearly 30kms on this bike. I was going to shop for a used road bike, but this is by far the better purchase. New bike and warranty- can't get any better than this for pretty much the exact same price! I highly recommend getting the clipless pedals. If you're new to clipless pedals i suggest you practice thoroughly before hitting the road! Highly recommended to anyone getting to into cycling

This is my first true road bike, so although I cannot offer detailed critiques, here's what I've found. I believe this bike is the best road bike you can get for the price. Has decent Shimano components, good design, and looks sharp. Shipping was awesome, and the Genius Build was well worth the money. Bike is 100% assembled, minus the front tire and seat (both super easy to put on). That's the pros, now the cons.

Although the Genius Build does save you money over bike shops (mine quoted me $100 for assembly), it will still need a professional tune done. Ride it a few miles and see what needs to be adjusted, fixed, moved, etc. The only complaint I have on this bike are the shifters: well designed, but not nearly crisp or fast enough. This might be able to be tuned up, but if not I'd recommend better controls up front.

Most importantly, this bike will get you on the trails and riding, fast. And I do mean fast: I hit 30mph on flat trail first day out. I guarantee you won't regret this purchase, especially since your alternative name-brand bikes for this price are 10 years old. I personally love getting stuff brand new and with a warranty, so this was a no-brainer. Put on a good pair of clipless Shimano pedals and hit the road. Enjoy!

I ordered a Tommasso Imola a year ago from giant nerd and everything was great. The Bike was awesome for the money and the services at Giant Nerd was great. Then I got hit by a car which totaled the bike. I liked it so much I ordered a new one! Only this time it came with different shifters and brakes which I believe were not on par with the original. I think it is unacceptable to show one thing and send something different. They offered to pay for shipping to get new parts put on but I decided it wasn't worth the hassle. Still was a bummer though.

Just got my Imola last week, the genius build was great! Took me all of ten minutes to get it ride-ready and everything I thought about the bike was true. Smooth ride, everything works great especially the gear shifts. Thanks for such a deal Giantnerd!

i purchased this as a birthday gift to myself and am so happy i did, such a great bike, smooth ride , gears shifts smoothly, and the best deal on the internet. giantnerd you guys rock!

Just bought my first road bike ever, and after shopping for months found this high quality bike for a very reasonable price. I went with the genius build so everything should be pretty easy. It should be here in about a week, so I'll be sure to update the review when I know how it rides!

Still could not be any happier with my Imola! I ride it around UC Davis, a huge bike town/campus and it is well received throughout! Even without the carbon fork, it is still a great ride with supreme balance from the front wheel to the back. The seat is amazingly comfortable and in good condition even after well over two-hundred miles! The only issue I had when I got the bike was that I needed to true both wheels after arriving in the box. I loved this bike so much, I bought my dad one and he's been riding it around our hometown getting in shape. Thanks Tommaso and thanks Giant Nerd!

I purchased the Imola as an early christmas present from my wife, and her parents. It has been the smoothest riding bike, and best decision I have made regarding road bikes. The price was unbeatable, the components and all around mechanics of the IMOLA are perfect for my needs. Now when I need bike gear, I always check Giant nerd first. Thanks for the deals Tommaso

this is my first road bike, and i absolutely love it. I ride fixed also, but the first month i had it, i completely forgot about my fixie. I ride this bike all the time, whether to school, or just on long bike rides for the hell of it. I'm always getting compliments on it and I always tell people how I didn't pay that much for it, and how it's such a great bike. It's so smooth on the road, definitely stoked with it, and look forward to the many rides to come in the future.

I rode this bike for city commuting all summer and kept pace with the cars, while riding quietly and free of gas emissions! The price is not to be matched and makes for a fun commute, joyride through parks, or getting into a race. I'm hoping to test out my racing nerves next spring. Also just a very cool looking bike - you can't go wrong with black and white stylings.

The service at Giant Nerd is great. I live in CA and my biked arrived in a week even though I chose the slowest shipping. I decided to build the bike myself. I was a little worried when I contacted Giant Nerd and they told me that 75% of the bike is built. Turns out, it wasn't that difficult to build. The parts that need to assembled were: Handle bar, chain, seat, and front/rear wheels. Once I finished, I did notice that the wheels needed to be aligned, and the derailleurs needed to be tuned. Good thing I have a friend who is more advanced and could help me out with this issue. Other than that, the bike looks and rides great. Sold my mountain and cruiser bike to make this purchase and I don't regret it at all.

Im 6'4 and bought the 61cm version, it has not yet arrived but I will update my review when it does and is assembled

Arrived at my house in record time. Use it to commute to work and school and it has been working great for me. Looks great too. The shifters are awesome.

I recently purchased the Imola as my first road bike and I am have not been dissapointed! I ride my bike to work and I absolutely smoked in this bike! It is perfect for me as somebody who can not spend a ton on a bike but really wanted something of quality. there is no way i could have gotten this much bang for my buck any where else (trust me, i looked everywhere!). Thank you Giantnerd and I hope to have many years of riding on my new Imola!

For the price you can't ask for anything better than this Tomasso Iloma!

For the price you can't ask for anything better than this Tomasso Iloma!

Great bike, Looks good and preforms better.

I recently purchased this bike because a close friend had gotten the same exact model and has truly enjoyed it. I haven't ever rode on the road regularly but this bike has made the switch from mountain biking to road enjoyable. The gears shift nicely and haven't had any problems with it yet. Props to my buddy who recommended it.

I received my Imola about a week ago. I decided to purchase the genius build. I was very pleased with the condition on the bike when it arrived. Fifteen minutes after receiving my Imola, i was out trying it out. This is my first road bike and I couldn't be happier. It is a great, fun, smooth ride. It has so far proven to be a great beginner bike and I am looking forward to continue riding my Imola!

I took this bike out for a ride as soon as I pieced it together. It was a super fun ride. I'll be testing the full capabilities (and myself) of the bike next week with my nephew on the open road. The price of the bike was perfect for me, and I really appreciate how quickly the genius build and shipping took.

I ordered my bike on Friday. They built it and shipped it (Ground) and I had it by Thursday! Some very minor adjustments and I was on the road that night.

I love the Imola. It's light, fast responsive. Overall a great bike for the price. One thing I would advise. With the aluminum frame you feel every bump on the city streets. I am not a long time biker but If you are in an urban area I would look into the carbon fiber fork or steel frame to absorb.

I have already put about 40 miles on this bike and will be riding it for a long time.

Thanks

This is my second road bike that i have purchased, and i am in love with it. Tommaso is a brand of bikes that deserves a lot of respect. This bike rides smoothly and comfortably. Once i got the shift triggers down, the bike shifts with ease. All around, this bike has exceeded all my expectations and i think my future bikes will be Tommaso!!!

great bike love it

well last year i was getting more into cycling and needed to convert from my mtn bike to a road bike...for i had never even ridden a road bike than i fell in love with a felt f95 but (unfortuantly which turned into fortuantly) felt ran out of bikes b/c the previous year over produced...anyways i was getting anxious and then took a look at the trek 1.2 entry level road bike but both the felt f95 and trek 1.2 retailed for about $900...which seemed like a lot for my first roadbike...then i discovered this tommaso imola bike and to my surprise it was quiet similar to the trek 1.2 and a few other entry level road bikes...

so i decided to purchase the tommaso imola but i didn't go with the carbon fork b/c my logic was go cheap and i had never ridden a carbon fork so i would never know what i'm missing (but since then i have ridden on a bike with a carbon fork/will give more details in a few)...although i didn't go with the carbon fork i still debated it b/c i live in brklyn nyc and some of the streets are on the rugged side...but i decided not to go with it...

anyways my plan was to commute on my trek 820 mtn bike and do more serious cycling with my road bike but to my suprise the tommaso seemed to be built well and hold up...so i started commuting on it and when i went to ride my trek 820 mountain bike i knew i couldn't ride it any longer...so i actually sold it to a colleague (not that he's riding it either)...anyways, last summer i put on some good mileage (approx over 1000)...anyways i am also commuting on the tommaso imola this year but i've upgraded to a felt s32 tri bike b/c i'm into triathlon...as far as the carbon fork goes i still can't feel a huge difference but i'm on the heavier side for a cyclist (220 lbs) and i'm a lard ass when compared to other triathletes...

bottom line:

1 i would purchase the tommaso imola road bike without a carbon fork (knowing what i know now)
2 i would not go with the pro build or whatever build service they go with b/c even if they set the gears (tension ect) cables will strech and loosen after riding the bike and if you get the bike built at your local shop, they will probably give you discount to adjust the gears afterwards or might even do it for free
3 the tommaso imola is a great puchase for someone getting into cycling or just want a quality commuting bike (ie: it's comparable to the entry level big name brand bikes but it's priced well below the range of bikes it belongs in) and yes i know you could go cheaper but keep in mind if you buy a bike from walmart or some schwinn from a walmart, they aren't even build by schwinn< it's just a licensed name so really you're getting far inferior bike/components and you'll end up paying much more in the end plus you'll never really enjoy riding
4 i actually spent about $25 for new crank housing soon after i started commuting on the bike and also upgraded to kevlar tires, i bought a pair of gatorskins which i wasn't to happy with, i'd actually suggest kenda (that's right kenda) caliente's b/c they have the same kevlar protect but are a far superior tire (actually i ride the kenda caliente's on my felt tri bike)...

i hope this review helped and didn't seem to bias towards the bike

also b4 i purchased i read that the bikes run a little smaller which i somewhat agree with but i'm 5'9 and should probably be on a 54 but i like being stretched out a little so i choose the 56 but in hindsight if you're not sure about the size you should probably get the smaller one b/c it's easier to stretch out a bike than to shrink it (different seatpost, headset etc)

i doubt they'll print this but if you have any questions for me you could email me panda078@hotmail

my friend has this bike for commuting to classes; feels super smooth and is great for commuting. waiting to get my own so i don't have to borrow my friend's. :) thinking about getting a different set of tires as they seem to be one of the weaker points, but otherwise, love this bike.

My wife and I each ordered bikes, I got the Imola and she decided to buy a bike elsewhere for a similar price. When both bikes arrived it was clear that the Tommaso was far superior to my wife's bike. We immediately returned her bike so we could order another Tommaso. You just cannot beat the quality of the bike and it's parts for the low price. GiantNerd's customer support has been very helpful in the process and were able to help us get exactly what we wanted!

As a beginner cyclist, I needed a bike that was cost effective but still have enough quality components for a fun and efficient ride. I searched high and low, then I found giantnerd.com. I felt it was a slight risk to buy a bike online, but my experience with this website and bicycle have been superb. I could not have asked for more. The Imola offers a fast and comfortable ride with a slick and stylish look (I got compliments at my LBS after they assembled it!). This bike has allowed me to experience a more active lifestyle and I love going on rides with friends. If you're contemplating the plunge into the sport of cycling, become a nerd and dive right in!

I got my Imola a few days ago and have fallen madly in love. Ive been taking it up to the hills around where I live (beautiful Nor-cal) and cannot get enough. The worst part of my day is when I have to throw my bike back into my car. The actual bike is amazing (even without the carbon fork). great balance throughout, extremely comfortable seat and handlebars and awesome styling which all contribute to an absolutely amazing ride every time! I haven't yet run into any problems and look forward to putting on more and more miles this summer! Couldn't be happier as a beginner to this sport! Thanks Tommaso!

I bought this bike last week and I have enjoyed every second while riding. It is also my first Road bike!!

Giant Nerd knows their stuff! My bike had an issue with the rear wheel, I sent it back and they replaced it free of charge! As a Manager of a store, Giant Nerd's Customer Service is a standard to live up to. The bike is fantastic and I can't believe how easy the gears are and how smooth the ride is. I definitely recommend this bike to anyone! Hands down, I will be staying with Giant Nerd for all my gear needs!

I really wanted to get into road biking for a while, so I looked around forever trying to find the perfect bike. Somehow I stumbled upon this website and found this bike. I was really drawn to the look of it. It is a beautiful looking bike, and when I went to drop it off and pick it up from my first tune up at my LBS, I got tons of questions about where I got it from,for how much, and that it looked like a really good bike. Everyone seemed really impressed with it. I took it out today for a 10 mile ride, and everything seemed to work great after the tune up, so I have no complaints. If you are looking to get into road biking I would definitely recommend this bike. Not only does it seem to be a quality built bike, but it also has the looks of a quality bike and you will get compliments everywhere you go.

Thanks Giantnerd

So far this bike has gotten me through two triathlons, 1 I took 2nd in my age group. Couldn't do it without my bike, really a great price for a road bike. I didn't have to go broke to get into tri and that is priceless!!

This is my first ever road bike and I absolutely love it! I have ridden a $1700 Fuji and a $1100 Trek and they were only marginally better than my Imola. The only area where the Imola doesn't quite measure up to the Fuji and the Trek is vibration dampening. Being an aluminum frame, your going to have more road buzz than an all carbon bike would. But, you are also going to pay less than half the price of an all carbon bike. I will be commuting to campus and going on moderately long rides, and I have no doubt that the Tommaso Imola will serve me well.

As a plus, Giantnerd was generous enough to include a set of Allen wrenches (or hex keys). Had all the sizes I needed. Great bike and even better service!

I received my bike about a year ago and was excited to get it. I had it professionally assembled and couldn't wait to ride. I live in North Idaho and the weather can be really cold. I was lucky enough to take it out in decent weather and found out I really enjoyed this bicycle. I have ridden this bicycle on extreme hills and it handles very smoothly. I've had this bike tuned up and the chain replaced. 1,700 miles later and I still enjoy getting out on the road. It took me several weeks until I felt comfortable riding it because I had only ridden mountain bikes. I am almost 50 years old and I am in the best shape of my life thanks to my Tommaso Imola Road Bike. Happy trails and happy riding.

I have been looking for a solid Entry Level Road Bike for around 2 months now. Made a number of visits and calls to all the local bike shops and found my perfect bike at GIANTNERD! I wanted a bike with all of the bells and whistles of the mid level road bikes, without having to pay an arm and a leg to get the quality too. I am ordering this bike within a week for a gift to myself (Birthday) and also as a means of transport. Things I'm looking forward to the most:
-The Warranty
-The Brake/Shifters
-The Price!

I can't wait to get my Imola! Updated Review to come soon!

This is my first road bike ever, and I don't have one bad thing to say about it. It is quite simply put - awesome. I have ridden bmx for the past 10 or so years, and wanted to start getting into riding longer distances and commuting to work so I decided to go with a road bike. I stumbled upon Giant Nerd from a series of bike forums and ended up ordering a Tiempo originally, but since it was scratched I received a phone call from the wonderful staff and was upgraded to the Imola for no extra charge.

It arrived just as everyone says - in a nice package with nothing dinged up and ready to ride after 10 or so minutes of unwrapping/adjusting.

I am 5'5", and have pretty short legs, and the 50cm fits me perfectly. The only modification I had to make was cutting a few inches off of the seat post so it would go lower.

So far I have put about 10 miles on it (the weather in SLC, UT is insane right now), but I am looking forward to an awesome summer of riding. I don't know a ton about road bikes, but I am steadily learning. I would recommend this bike to anyone else looking to get into road biking for the first time. It is a lot cheaper than buying a Raleigh or Bianchi from your LBS, and the service is just as good - if not better.

Mine arrived packed very nice in an aircaddy box... nothing dinged or scuffed, all parts wrapped in plastic and everything in great condition. I opted for the genius build, everything seemed adequate with the build.

I'm extremely happy with this bike, it's far more beautiful than I was expecting it to be. This purchase was a dream come true for someone wanting to get into cycling but didn't have the $800-$900 it takes to get a bike that is anywhere close to as nice as this Imola.

It's very light weight; it has a great looking frame shape, quality welds and a really nice paint coat... It's a definite head-turner. The SunRace shifters are nice, smooth transitions. The Tammaso team saddle that comes with the bike is top quality and I see no need at all to change seats, just more testament to the overall quality of this bike.

If there is anything I see myself replacing down the road it would be the rims and tires… but with most enthusiast this is one of the first things you can afford to change that really effects the overall performance of your ride. For right now I'm looking at getting some "Continental Ultra Gatorskin Tires", I've heard nothing but great things about them and I've found them online as low as $32/piece. The rims I won't bother upgrading until I have an issue with them. In all honesty, the rims and tires are nothing to complain about, they're just the only items I see myself upgrading in the future.

No complaints at all… the Tammaso Imola is truly a top-quality product.

I have had my Imola for about a month and half now and I have really enjoyed it. I'm a road biker who rides 3 to 4 times a week. I do around town stuff so 12 mile round trips. I have really enjoyed my bike. I first got it came out of the box (with out the pro build) pretty much together. I had to straighten and raise the handle bars, put on the seat and fit it to myself. In addition I tuned it myself. I would really suggest you look up and watch how to tune it, I went through a long process before even purchasing making sure I knew how to do it. I spent a solid day getting everything right. Rear and front derailers, and setting the breaks at the right tension to where I was happy. I would suggest going for better components, I had some issues, but it is completely possible to get it tuned up, I only really get rubbing on the extreme sprockets (Smallest in the front and smallest in the back, along with largest in the front and largest in the back) Other than that I have nearly perfect shifting.
As for the ride. The ride is great, I climb hills, go down them fast. On smoother pavement the ride is very smooth... there are some roads near me that are very rough... not a lot of pot holes, but they need to be repaved non the less and that is where I can really feel the vibration in the road. I don't even think a carbon fiber bike could absorb all that vibration.

The bike is very clean and neat looking. After getting the black frame, white seat and white taped handle bars I thought it looked really sharp. The only warning I give you is to keep your hands pretty clean... When I was tuning the bike I had a tendency to get grease from the chain on my hands and it transferred to the tape on the handle bars. The bars still look clean and sharp, you can just see some points where I rubbed some off on them. The seat can get marked pretty easily so be cautious what you lean it against... I lean it against a brick wall on occasion when I close the garage behind me so I do have a little red mark on it after a month... BUT DON"T BE AFRAID, this is a great bike for a beginner rider. I will definitely buy a Tommaaso bike again, maybe in a couple of years after I get into biking more!

I have been using my Imola for a couple of months now and couldn't be happier! It's my first bike and its great for a beginner. Very smooth ride! I've used it for a couple tri's now and it has worked great! I highly recommend this and any other Tommaso

Took my imola for our first ride yesterday. Was having a blast and loving it when I blew my back tire after only 15 miles. Apparently (keep in mind I am new at this) you need to check the tire pressure before each ride. I figured out of the box they would be fine. After a trip to the lbs, and a little education in the tire department I should be good to roll again! So far, from my short ride, I am going to love this bike. Very happy with my decision to buy the imola.

First off: Kudos to GiantNerd for getting this bike to me so quickly. The Imola is a sweet commuter. I've gotten a ton of compliments from other bikers and motorist. I'm looking forward to summer cruising!

Just got back in to Bikes. Really is a great beginner bike. Great for commuters

im very impressed with the quality of this bike it performs really well i kept thinking if this a beginner bike what would the professional bike be!! i have tried another beginner bike and theres no comparison also the bike looks very nice the paint is very beautiful no regrets whats so ever
dont hesitate if your thinking about it

After putting the miles on the Imola since the last review, I still stand behind this bike as being THE BEST in it's price range. No if's, and's, or but's about it. There is only one weak point that I found: the tires. They wore a little quick for my liking, but I haven't had any pinch flats or punctures on them, which is rare if you know the roads in the state of Michigan (especially Detroit/Metro area).

Gave the frame a once over to make sure that there were no stress crack/fractures on the tubes or the welds, and everything is still as airtight as a frog's butt. All I have to do now is grease the chain, and that's going to be the start of my summer adventures now that the semester is over.

The Imola: in it for the long haul.

What a great bike i recently bought it here adn its been amazing right out of the box! cant wait to buy a new bike here in a couple of months for my kid

My first new bike in 20 years and it's been a great choice for me. I got it assembled at a local bike shop when I received it in the fall, and got a few rides in before the weather turned to winter. Brought it in to get pedals and bike shoes this spring and it rides like a champ. So smooth and quiet. I forgot that a bike should be that quiet. Once I got the hang of shifters integrated with the brakes I've really enjoyed it.

I love this bike. This is a great starter road bike. the bike has a great feel for the road.

Just bought the Tommaso Imola and I couldn't be happier with my decision! The bike got here quickly in a really cool box. Definitely recommend probuild, it was ready to ride in 10 min with no hassles. Its my first road bike, and after the first ride I was in love! Its an awesome bike for beginners, gears work flawlessly, are easy to use, and makes biking to class 100x more fun. On top of all that it's gorgeous to just look at! Giantnerd was awesome, the staff were super friendly and helpful, I've already recommended this site to my friends.

I bought the Imola a few months ago and have been absolutely pleased with its performance. It holds up well on rides both short and long. I was a bit skeptical when buying something that wasnt the big names in cycling but I had a good feeling about this bike and went for it. I am a beginner rider and this bike is perfect for any person looking to get into the sport. It is comfortable and the gear layout on it works just fine! LOVE THE IMOLA

I just got the Tommaso Imola and I couldn't be happier with my bike! I picked it for cycling and the ride part of the triathlons. So happy with the price, I didn't have to sell any internal organs to get it! Giantnerd was awesome as well, I had to use the customer service to make sure I got the right size. I finished putting the bike together after paying for the probuild and it took me little time. Very Happy!!

Just ordered the Imola and like everyone has said it's just too good a deal to pass up. Most importantly the giantnerd staff and order process was flawless and great.

I own this bike now for more then a week and I Love it.This is my first road bike and I can't really compare to anything else but for me as a beginner is just perfect.The bike was here in 4 days and I put it together in no time.
It look's like an expensive bike and gets a lot of attention.I already lost 4 pound's in a week and can't get enough time on my new bike.LOVE IT.

i recieved this bike in less than 4 days in the cool packaging. i chose the pro build so it took me less than 30 minutes to put together. i didn't get to ride it right away, seeing how i damaged the threads on my pedals and had to get them re threaded, which took a few days. but once i got on i was pumped. ive put on over a hundred miles adn have only rode it bout 8 times. i love the bike, plan on going to my first triathlon in april on it. GIantNerd customer service was amazing too. they were really helpful in my time of need when i stripped my threads. i highly reccomend this bike, especially if its a begginner.

After much deliberation about if I wanted to get a road bike and which one, I picked the Tommaso Imola. I asked around and checked out local bike shops, the Imola was an amazing price on what appeared to be an awesome bike for a road biking novice such as myself.
I ordered the Imola with the the pro build bought some three cleat pedals and shoes, and then prepared myself for the two week wait the economy shipping said it would take. Very much to my surprise and liking the bike arrived in just three days, from Bouldar, CO to St. Louis. Thank you GIANTNERD!!
I've now owned the bike for a week and all I can say is BUY IT! No regrets here. The bike is gorgeous, and takes down miles like no other. Within the first three days of owning the bike, I've but 70 of the easiest miles I've ever put on any bike or car. Just riding this thing around gives me a smile. Quit reading my poorly written review and put the money down.

The bike was a stunner. It came in perfectly with only a broken front reflector. Not an issue since Giantnerd sent me a new one almost immediately. I did not opt for the pro build and instead had the bike serviced at a shop and the handle bar tape replaced with black since the white gets dirty VERY easily. The bike was an incredible ride, with very smooth gear shifts.

Now let me be the first to say this in a review: if you reside on a college campus buy the best, I mean the very best bike lock system you can get if you want to protect your Imola. The bike stood out as a higher-end road bike and so it was a prime target for bike thieves. Either that or keep it in your room or house over night. I had forgotten to one night and sure enough it was stolen. It's strange how attached you can get to a bike in just two weeks.

The bike was well packaged, you could tell that Fedex had handled it just a little rough but the contents were very far from harm. The pro build was probably the best decision for me to have made, as everything was just flawless, all that I had to do was adjust my bike seat, handles, and attach the front wheel. A combination of quality components/design and the Giantnerd staff who did the pro build made this bike super smooth in ride. The gear changes were dead quiet and at times the only assurance I had that the gears were transitioning were from the resistance in the pedals. I was admittedly so please with this I was doing it just for fun for some time. The weight of the bike is very low, and as I am rather a small guy this was nice for lugging it up stairs today at my campus. I can confirm that Tommaso is a great brand now, so any doubters should rest easy ; )

There were a couple things that I noticed though. Both the seat and tape around the handle bars, while wrapped for shipping and protection, had several smudges on them. Now, they'll end up this way eventually, and the junk came off easy enough, but I thought it just a tad unprofessional, whether it be Giantnerd or Tommaso for leaving the bike like this when shipping to the customer. The other thing was that my tires were rated for a maximum of 90PSI, which I thought a low rated maximum for your average road bike tire, where someone even my size would run anywhere between 100-130PSI depending on conditions. No biggie though, the tires feel great and ride hard enough when at the maximum rating.

Overall, the product is great, just fantastic, Giantnerd is pretty keen on great stuff. This bike and I are going to be doing a lot of riding. I'm off now, actually, back to campus on my Imola, just because it's fun.

This will be my first bike in years, and specifically my first road bike ever. Honestly, there didn't seem to be much choice insofar as entry level bikes are concerned, it was either one of these nice Tommaso bikes or one of the countless other entry level brands that everyone seemed to detest. That being said, I do anticipate this bike to be really nice for what I paid, especially in comparison to anything else I found within my price range. I did get the pro build, too, as it seemed to have substantially favorable perks. This bike should make it here Saturday, and I'll go on a test run Sunday morning, then I'll give a review of the bike itself. I've given five stars for the Giantnerd website, quite easily one of the best online shopping places I've found. Great community!

The special day has finally come!!! Bike arrived rather late in the day, but thats OK it allowed me to build up anticipation. Everything is perfect!! No scratches , nothing broken , everything accounted for. I wont be able to tell you how it rides until Christmas Day. After viewing it up close and having something tangible ... Im 300% happy i went with this bike :-). I've already started to order more equipment from the site. Once i get enough funds pulled together I plan on getting some clothing.

This will be my first Road Bike , but I am not new to the biking world. I didn't purchase the Pro build ... but thats simply because i will be hitting up a shop regardless to have it fitted properly for me. I'm actually quite surprised with the speed at which the bike is being predicted to reach me. I made my Order Friday morning expecting to receive the bike by the following Friday at the earliest. Instead I should be delivered this hopefully outstanding bike by Tuesday!!! I will keep you all updated on the pros and cons on the bike, and if I run into any problems with my packaging.

I just got this bike about five hours ago. Man, jaw dropping bike. I went on a 25mile ride and was stopped by a police officer saying "Nice Bike!" I could not ask for anything better. It handles like a baby, i feel less vibrations.

I recently purchased this road bike with the pro build. I am not bike savvy but you don't need to be to own this bike. Everything was ready for me. I only had to do the minor things while giantnerd did the rest. I totally recommend the pro build.

As for the Imola, it is a wonderful bike for a beginner. I say so because in Montreal, Quebec, road bikes start off at 700 for generic/local bikes. For this price and the reviews this company has, you can't go wrong. Hopefully they will still have excellent deals for when I upgrade!

What can we say about the Imola? The frame and fork combo is solid, the shift levers are crisp and clean, the seat has good padding, bars and tape felt like butter... and because of how clean this bike is, you will turn heads, and probably get that one girl pass by everyday's number ;P

From other bikes i have demoed at local shops of much higher price range, the Imola stands and delivers like Adam Ant. The compact geometry makes the bike much lighter and livelier. It still has some weight to it, but once you get rolling on it, you almost don't notice it.

The shifters may be great, but the derailers I had a little issue with during the build. The rear functioned perfectly out of the box, but the front had some slight rubbing, even when the chain was in perfect alignment with the front and rear gears. Luckily, that problem was solved with a quick adjustment on the cable using the barrel adjusters that are threaded into the frame on the routing points. After a couple quick trips up and down the street and putting some more tension on the cable, the problem was solved and the derailer worked perfectly.

The wheels felt wonderful, but i had some slight twisting of the front after it was mounted. I went around the wheel with a spoke wrench doing quarter turns on all the nipples which stopped the creaking from the wheel flexing. It was straight as an arrow, so no tuning was needed. After doing some minor barrel adjustments to the rear brakes, the whole thing stood solid and stopped on a dime.

Those minor fixes are expected with any new bike, so over all, the bike is amazing, fun to ride, responsive, and for other beginners like me to road biking, serves as a great platform to start with.

As an added bonus, Tommaso gave you the option to mount a water bottle to the seat post or down tube of the frame! some bikes only offer one or the other, so if you like to do those long hauls and need the H2O, you can mount both and have even more water. You know they were thinking when they did that for you at no extra cost :D