Road Bike Racing - Best Road Bike for Racing

What is the best road bike company for racing? I ask this because I am coming up to the end of the season and looking for a new bike on sale in the spring. New England is full of hills and I am a climber who really loves to climb, so I am looking for a light bike that can fly up the hills. Not only that but I want it to be worth the money because I have to pay for it on my own. Thanks for any help you might be able to give.:confused:

This question cannot be answered. There is no answer.

Buy what is in your budget, fits and you like.

thanks xavier, anybody else?

Originally posted by Xavier
This question cannot be answered. There is no answer.

Buy what is in your budget, fits and you like.

Would the answer have about a few hundred different possibilites of bike choices or about 20-40?

Sorry, dude, but even though I'm new to racing, I'm going to have to agree with the rest of the replies. There's just too much to comprehend. I suggest you go to your local, friendly, and helpful LBS, and ask the road guru that question. Seeing he (hopefully) knows a bit more about you than we do, he can maybe narrow the choices down to about 5-10.

If you don't have a LBS w/ an experienced roadie mechanic there, I suggest you get one mad style. Mine has helped me oh-so-much.

Good luck!:beer:

Yea,
My shop features a former Tour rider and knows me welll because he sponsors my team and I've found that I don't want to spend the money for a new bike and I'd rather just upgrade the parts. Thanks for all the info boys...

How much can you afford.
This narrows down the options a little!

Being a newbee here, I'll agree with the majority of responses. If you have a limit, then consider those bikes that fit within that limit. If you don't then read further.

For talk sake, I just purchased a Fondriest Titan Level 9...with full campy record. I am heavier then most, 210lbs and at 5'10, work out a lot and push hard when climbing. This frame has worked very well for me, handles great on tight fast turns down hill turns and soft on the hands and butt so far, considering I only have 250 miles on it in 3 weeks.

I live in a hilly section of So Ca...and have geared it, 10speed, 13-26 and 53/39...for starters and will adjust as I learn.

Garbear,
Where in SoCal?

To add to the original question
What is the best road bike company for racing? some might say COLNAGO, specifically the C-40.

For the last 3yrs, The Wine Country of the South; Temecula, CA...in Southern Riverside Cty. Just north of the San Diego Cty line.

Where are you?

A lot of good riding around there my friend.
I'm over by Laguna Niguel and do a lot of riding around Santiago Canyon.

Originally posted by knifun
A lot of good riding around there my friend.
I'm over by Laguna Niguel and do a lot of riding around Santiago Canyon.

Sponge... You're right about the riding beauty. However, most of my riding miles in my past were put on in the South Bay area. MBch, north to Malibu, back south to PV, and back north... pretty flat and fast. Easy to ride 50-60 miles.

In Temecula, almost every road is got some serious hills, only 4 flat roads in town. I am having to rebuild my riding style in the hills and determine the proper gearing. Presently 53/39, 13-26. My rides are sure not as long as before. I think I am going to visit the beach for a few good rides.

What's Santiago Canyon like? I recall many riders talking about it.

and the answer is.....

the bike that fits you best and is responsive in the sprints, stable in the turns and comfortable for the long haul!!!

and you gotta like the way it looks, so you'll ride it a lot, which improves the engine, which has a lot more to do with winning races than the bike does.

"and that's all i have to say about that" (Forest Gump)

Garbear,
MBch is where a good frind of mine used to ride all the time - Marcel Calborn, used to own BiciSport/CeloEuropa in MBch, now in Laguna Niguel. Santiago Canyon is great, many miles of rollies with no signals nor stop signs. Come by some time on a Sunday at 7:45 at the Tustin Marketplace for the "old-man" Como.

I have ridden out your way a few times, "some serious hills" - now that is an understatement!

The Cannondale CAAD5 frame is being raced by 7up in the US. It is much less expensive than the CAAD7 (the Saeco frame). Is it best? For the $$, it's a "pro" frame and won SFGP.

But the rest of these guys are right....it depends on how many dinero you want to spend.

Originally posted by sean_kach
looking for a new bike on sale in the spring. [deletia] Thanks for any help you might be able to give.:confused:
Aside from answering your question ;), if you're going to race next season (i.e. spring), get the new bike now. Adjust it, train on it, get the bugs out. Then, when spring rolls around you can worry about racing instead of getting used to the new bike. And, you'll probably find better prices this time of year.

If you are concerned about cost, I'll have to go out on a limb and suggest to stay away from Trek Carbon frames and other popular high priced frames. When I can go to e-Bay and buy a brand new Giant ONCE frame/fork for $500 to $600 and a new Campy Record 10 groupo for $1000 I couldn't go with anything else.
There are hills and mountains everywhere here in New England, I like a good climbing machine myself.
There certainly is no problem climbing with the Giant compact road frame. If one can't climb with that frame they can throw in the towel. Everyone seems to be wrapped up into Trek and DA. They are certainly not the best value out there. Shop around.
The Fife

Hey Everybody,
Thanks for all your help, I've haven't been on in a while and just wanted to say thanks for all the info...not only that but i'll update u on the current situation...
Just invested in a Specialized Allez Sport 27- 2003, need adjust a few things but i can do it and should be ready to race by spring time...it's also quite a bit of bike for the money cuz my sponsor/local bike shop specialist cut me a sweet deal and i have to pay only 700 new...plus i was sized perfectly something that didn't happen with my previous bike...I'm lovin life, thanks for all the guidance....have a good one...
:D

If you are going to race, many would consider Shimano 105 the absolute minimum to race with. Some would even say Ultegra, most would say Dura-Ace. Looking at Specialized's website, it looks like most of the components on your new bike are Tiagra.
Here is what Shimano has to say about this gruppo - "Shimano Tiagra, Components for the new generation of recreational road bikes". Even before the race starts, I'm sorry to say that you are already at a disadvantage.

knifun,
That may be true...but that is why i train 6 days a week. Alternating days with speed work, hill days, pack riding with 40- 50 riders once a week, time trial days and active recovery. I also weight train 6 days a week, only the legs building more power, not only that but i ride in any weather, except snow, in which case i'm on my rollers...when it comes to race day, we'll see who has the disadvantage....

Training or Overtraining? 6 days of hard riding in the morning coupled with 6 days of weight training in the afternoon is overtraining my friend.

[previous page] RoadWarrior - you are correct, I have looked into this same topic and have come to the same conclusion, Cannondale CAAD5 is the best "bang" for the "buck". If you want a little lighter (and higher $$$), go CAAD7. They claim 16.5 pounds for a Dura-Ace equipped bike.

I am guessing the Tiagra equipped bike will come in at about 22 pounds? And a 22 pound bike has an advantage over a 16.5 pound bike how????? Yes, I forgot - downhill !!!!!

no,
active recovery 3 days
pack ride one day
speed work one day
hard ride one day
the caad 5 is far to expensive- compare
700 (my bike) to over a grand at discounted price(caad 5)
weight training- 6 days a week, enough to build muscle
it's all hard work, but it makes me better
it's notovertraining if you sleep and eat properly

I'm thinking about buying a Cannondale r1000 with the new CAAD7 frame...any thoughts

the CAAD7 seems to be almost as absorbing as the Giant all carbon and "hybrid" alum/carbon

how many years have you been riding...if this is your first year riding and you are under 18 (parents getting it for you) then you are a spoiled rich kid...if your older and can afford it all the power to you...

Doesn't matter how long he's been riding. He can buy whatever he wants with no judgements on him personally.
He is asking about bicycles, not a value judgement on his life.

thanks racer x,
what kind of bike do you have?
and hanging out at a bike shop it does matter to me, because i see it all the time...a kid comes in and blows his parents money on a bike he may never be able to ride properly.

sean-kach, I am 42 years old. I bought a hybrid bike early this past Spring, TREK 7300.
I hadn't been on a bike in over 20 yrs.
I am absolutely hooked/addicted to riding my bike.
I ride 3-5 days a week, and would love to ride everyday. I am up to 15-30 miles per ride in pretty hilly terrain in NY. I already own plenty of cool weather gear and plan to ride as much as possible for as long as possible.

I just want a real road bike now. I will use my hyrbrid for family rides, kids 6 and 9, and night rides.

I'm sure that a r1000 CAAD7 will be more bike than I need, but I do not want to be in a situation a year or two from now wishing I had more bike.

I have spent many hours online and in bike stores reaearching new bikes. I want more bike than I am currently ready for. I plan on joining a club and start racing next year, albeit, with riders of my level if I can find them.

I think about riding all day/every day, and have the means to buy any bike I want. I just want to make a good decision and err too buying too much.

Originally posted by sean_kach
thanks racer x,
what kind of bike do you have?
and hanging out at a bike shop it does matter to me, because i see it all the time...a kid comes in and blows his parents money on a bike he may never be able to ride properly.

Ride properly? I think this discussion has been done before but I, personally, am not judging anyone on what they ride or how they ride. A 40 yr. old "beginner" may be perfectly comfortable spending $3000 on a bike. A 23 yr old college student may by perfectly comfortable spending a lot less and a 16 yr old's parents may see $3000 on a bike as an investment in their kid's sport or whatever. Doesn't matter to me. People can and do buy whatever they want. I'm just glad they all are buying bikes. 20 yr olds own multi million dollar homes and drive $200,000 cars. 60 yr olds are living on a thread and scraping by and everything in between. It's just life.

I own several bikes as I race road, cross-country and CX. I have used alot of equipment and the stuff I haven't, I don't comment on except to say what I heard of it from reliable sources like fellow racers, shop owners.

I love hanging at the shop, so you're lucky to do that. I love talking shop so its a treat for me to see someone buy a bike and see that excitement.

Originally posted by sean_kach
how many years have you been riding...if this is your first year riding and you are under 18 (parents getting it for you) then you are a spoiled rich kid...if your older and can afford it all the power to you...

You're labeling him spoiled just because he might be inexperienced and his parents have the ability to purchase something that cost X amount of dollars... Being a spoiled child is a resulting state of mind, one that is not usually chosen by the child and is caused by a lack of pro-active parenting.

Once a year, my son voluntarily collects all the toys he hasn't played with and old books and donates them to his school sponsored charities. He's being taught respect, appreciation, consideration, compassion, right from wrong, love thy friends and neighbors and to live by the 10 Commandments.

My son could be that same boy you're talking about and that's saddens me. Being a good person, doesn't deserve ugly generalizations or assumptions.

I have spent many hours online and in bike stores reaearching new bikes. I want more bike than I am currently ready for. I plan on joining a club and start racing next year, albeit, with riders of my level if I can find them.
-Mikemets
Dude that's the way to go! Good luck it sounds like you'll have great fun, just keep the rubber on the road.
Peace

Sean,
It sounds like you have found your bike for next year.
Just keep riding and don't worry about all the complicated training programs. Have you read Phil Maffetones book "training for indurance"? He has trained Mike Pigg and others. 180 Hr- age is the secret. The Fife

Fife,
Dude thanks for the info, maybe i'll pick up the book! I've read Lance's training tips and outline, as well as go by what my coach encourages. He tells me I am built to be in the hills and I love every second I'm in them. Thanks for the encouragment dude.
Peace,
Sean