Road Cycling - about to purchase a new bike...little help

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.

I am leaning towards the Cannondale r1000 CAAD7,and have looked at the new carbon and carbon/aluminun Giants. Also saw a real nice 2001 Litespeed for under $2500.

Any advice?

Why not add a steel Lemond and Bianchi to the lis.Ride em all then decide.

pokey...oh no, not more choices. Looking for opinions.

I want a high quality comfortable ride that I can grow into. I will never have time to test ride them all.

hey Mike

I'm in my mid 30's and got reintroduced to the joys of cycling this summer after a lengthy layoff. I needed to upgrade from my 1980's road bike. I did a lot of research on frames, components, and wheels etc. I ordered my bicycle online and saved big bucks. Like you, I decided to err on buying too much bike rather than too little. I hmmed and hawed over what components to get from Campy Record all the way to Shimano Ultegra. In the end, I bought a De Rosa Merak frame, Campagnolo record components, and Mavic Ksyrium SL wheels. The bike completely rocks!!!!!! The Record gruppo shifts precisely and effortlessly. The bike practically climbs hills all by itself. Having a great bike definitely makes me want to ride all the more. Everyday the bike challenges me, and I do my best to challenge it back. Anyway, what I am trying to say is that you only live once. You can get a Ferrari or Porche of a bicycle for just over $3000. If you are in a good financial position, which it sounds like you are, go for it, throw down for a great bike. A Litespeed, Colnago, De Rosa, Pinarello, Merckx, or FONDRIEST among many others is waiting to be ridden.

thanks joey. I was just checking out the LeMond steel frames and it sounds like the geometry may be good for me. Might check them out.

My current LBS carries De Rosa, I'll check them out also...too many choices, but the fact is I'll probably love any of these.

I mean, I currently enjoy my 40lb. hybrid, but am ready to rock-n-ROLL!

If you think you are hooked now with your hybrid, wait till you get yourself a 16 and half pound bullet and you'll really know what it is like to addicted!!!!

CAAD7 is really well done. It is a great frame so I would say it is world class and really fine tuned. That is to say it is not twitchy, not flexy, not too stiff, good geometry. It feels "just right" and very fast.

RacerX...can the CAAD7 compare to a steel frame for comfort. My LBS says yes.

Realistically I'm not going to seriuosly race, and should probably look for comfort.

GO FOR SOMETHING EXOTIC AND WILD, THE C-DALE R1000 (LIKE GIANT, SPECIALIZED, AND TREK) IS JUST ANOTHER SOULESS BIKE THAT YOU SEE ON EVERY CORNER OF EVERYTOWN.

Originally posted by mikemets5
RacerX...can the CAAD7 compare to a steel frame for comfort. My LBS says yes.

Realistically I'm not going to seriuosly race, and should probably look for comfort. . I think your LBS is full of applesauce. Do they sell steel bikes?LBS sell what they have and dish up lots of hype along with the applesauce.No one else can tell you what will be good for you,that's just applesauce too. Does racerX ride a caad7?Decide for yourself. Want comfort,consider something other than aluminum especially if you are not a clyde.Maybe that's applesauce too,but you won't know till you try it.

In my opinion, you can't go wrong with any of your choices. I've got a Cannondale CAAD3 that I love, but I really have a soft spot in my heart for steel frames.

If possible try out a Lemond and see if it feels good to you compared to the Cannondale. Try not to get distracted by marketing hype and go with what feels right.

I know what you are feeling. Hmmm...this great bike or the other great bike? Decisions, decisions...

I'd like to hear about which bike you brought home.

Good luck and happy hunting!

Originally posted by cane
GO FOR SOMETHING EXOTIC AND WILD, THE C-DALE R1000 (LIKE GIANT, SPECIALIZED, AND TREK) IS JUST ANOTHER SOULESS BIKE THAT YOU SEE ON EVERY CORNER OF EVERYTOWN.

The rider gives the bike it's soul. A bicycle, as wonderful as they are in so many ways, is still a tool for it's rider.

I think your confused with the corporations that produce and market them. ;)

You may not have the time to ride lots of bikes, but you really should ride aluminum and steel frames to make a good comparison. You mentioned riding distances. I don't think you will be as comfortable on distances if you buy an aluminum frame. Ask your LBS if they will let you take one for an hour or so.

Mike, I was in the exact same situation as you about 3 months ago. Had hybrid and decided I wanted a road bike. I spend a lot of time looking at all major brands - frame materials etc. My advice is to look at everything within your budget, then slowly narrow your choices - then go for the one that fits best and will be most comfortable. As an FYI I ended up with a 2003 Lemond Zurich - which wasn't even on my original list.

If this is your first road bike, I wouldn't break the bank on exotic bikes with, um, "soul." My opinion is that your first road bike will be the one that you learn about fit, etc., on. So, find a good one that fits right, based on your LBS's best input, and ride it for a year. By then, you'll have a better idea of what you like and dislike, and can make a more educated decision based on your personal experience. And, if you do upgrade, you'll appreciate the more subtle differences you wouldn't even know about otherwise. More likely, though, you'll be spending money on bits and pieces, like saddles, tires, etc. That said, it's worth getting quality. I believe in aiming a little higher than I really need, so that I will be satisfied longer. Both bikes you mention probably meet that criteria (you weren't specific about which LS).

Of the 'Dale and the LS, I'd go for the LS, if it's a Ti model. If you like it, it'll last you years. If you don't, Ti retains higher resale value. Bottom line; If the fit is wrong it doesn't matter how good the bike is.

Just my $0.02.

I was run off the road 2 years ago and my bike was ruined. I wanted to get a bike quickly and only had $1,000. I ended up getting a cannondale R600 and I can't wait to upgrade. The frame is harsh and uncomfortable. If you've got the money and are truly hooked you should buy the best bike you can afford. You won't regret it.:beer:

Hi,
look into touring bikes. As a middle aged guy who just got one, I was also looking for more than what my hybrid could do. Do a google search for an
article titled "Raise Dat Stem". Gotta run, if you want we can go into this more later....

Thanks all...I am planning on test riding the Cannondale r1000 CAAD7 and a LeMond steel frame with similar components and will let you all know the results.
Only bummer is that I leave on a week long business trip to Europe tomorrow. Also it seems that the few LBS's that I have been too won't have a good compliment of '03 bikes until early to mid November.
Will squeeze in a night ride tonight though!
thanks again, Mike

touring bikes?, what is the main difference?

joeyjindan ...


The bike practically climbs hills all by itself

Wow! I gotta get one of those!

-r

Hi Mike,
a touring bike has a riding position between what you would have on a hybrid, and what you would have on a typical road bike. They are designed to be ridden for long periods of time, which takes a lot of stress off your back. Now, mostly what I am getting at here is a comfortable riding position.
I am hoping to do a lot more miles, than I have ever done. But I don't want slow. So my bike is a compromise between a road bike, and a honest-to-God tourer. Touring rims run well over 500 grams, the rim I picked is only about an ounce heavier than a typical road rim; and a couple ounces lighter than a touring rim. It also has a reputation of total reliability (something I like a lot).
If you search the internet for info on tourers, you will find a bunch of stuff. Trek sells a basic touring bike, the Trek 520. Most likely you have a dealer nearby that has one.
You might also take a peek at titanium frames.
Ti strikes me as a good choice for a long day of riding.

getting close...will be test riding 2 bikes when I get back from my trip:
LeMond Zurich & Litespeed Veneto (steel vs Ti)

question: is the Dura Ace groupo worth the extra cost over the Integra?

Yes better components are worth cost. Go Campy Record or at minimum Campy Chorus. Campy smokes Shimano!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Originally posted by mikemets5
Only bummer is that I leave on a week long business trip to Europe tomorrow. Also it seems that the few LBS's that I have been too won't have a good compliment of '03 bikes until early to mid November.

If I were you (and I have done this), while in Europe, try and visit a few bike shops and test ride some brands which may be harder to find in stores here in the US. Then when you get back, you'll have a better idea of non-local selection. For many bikes, you can find dealers that are local who can import a frame for you. OTOH, if you really love the bike, you may be returning home with one extra bit of luggage. |8^)

Originally posted by cane
Yes better components are worth cost. Go Campy Record or at minimum Campy Chorus. Campy smokes Shimano!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

cane...the LeMond Zurich doesn't have a Campy option. Seems that the Intergra groupo is very good. Also, it looks like the LeMond Buenos Aires may be a much better buy than the Zurich.

Originally posted by mikemets5

question: is the Dura Ace groupo worth the extra cost over the Integra?

Integra? Perhaps you mean Tiagra. I have Dura-Ace and have ridden Tiagra. As far as performance goes, Dura-Ace shifts much smoother and more quickly. People will always debate the high price of Dura-Ace but like anything, it's all about what you're willing to pay for. That said, I certainly would not turn down riding a bike with Tiagra. IMHO, Tiagra is the lowest I'm willing to go in the Shimano lineup simply because when you drop to Sora, you have to deal with the crappy hood-mounted thumb-shifter and you can't shift from the drops with those.

Originally posted by khuon
Integra? Perhaps you mean Tiagra.

I forgot to consider that you meant Ultegra. |8^) The differences between Dura-Ace and Ultegra are IMHO once again smoothness although they are very slight although you do notice them. I went with Dura-Ace because at the time I bought my bike, the economy was not as bad and I had the cash to burn. If I were more budget conscious I would have gotten Ultegra. Ultegra is nothing to sniff at.

Originally posted by khuon


I forgot to consider that you meant Ultegra. |8^) The differences between Dura-Ace and Ultegra are IMHO once again smoothness although they are very slight although you do notice them. I went with Dura-Ace because at the time I bought my bike, the economy was not as bad and I had the cash to burn. If I were more budget conscious I would have gotten Ultegra. Ultegra is nothing to sniff at.

khuon, yes I did mean Ultegra sorry and thanks. My head is spinning with all the quality choices.
Was just looking into a Ti w/ great groupos from SAMPSON...looks like a very high quality operation for MUCH less $ than Litespeed!

What size frame are you looking for mike????????What is your bottom line budget for a complete bike???$1500, $2500, $3000, $3500. $4000???

Originally posted by cane
What size frame are you looking for mike????????What is your bottom line budget for a complete bike???$1500, $2500, $3000, $3500. $4000???
cane...I fit nicely on a LeMond 57, just stood over it, haven't ridden it yet.
I don't really have a budget really, just want to make a smart choice. I want a bike I will grow into and won't want to change 2 years from now.
I was just looking at a Sampson Silverton Ti with DA for 2,400 the LBS I was in earlier today wanted $2,100 for a LeMond Zurich w/Ultegra.
They had a LeMond BA w/Ultegra including pedals for $1,500
I guess I would like to spend up to $2,500, but would go more if it made sense.
I will ride a Ti and a steel when I get back from my trip, but it seems that if I like the Ti better which I might...the Sampson is about $1,000 less than a Litespeed and the comopany looks impressive.

Here is what you should get mike...go to www.competitivecyclist.com and order a 57cm Fondriest Carb Level U107 Team Lampre model. Competitive Cyclist is blowing out the Team Lampre colors 30% off. You can get a complete bike equipped with Shimano Ultegra for $2648 or you can get a Campy Record equipped Bike for $3400. Order it now and they'll have it built and sent to your house by the time you get back from Europe!!!!!!!!!!

The bike is made from the best Aluminum available and has a carbon fiber forkset and carbon fiber seat stays to give you a smoother, better ride than both steel and ti. FONDRIEST bikes are the S H I T!!!! It's definitely a bike that you can grow into and grow old with. Why not get a great bike now and ride it for ten years, rather than getting a mid grade bike, like a Lemond or Cannondale, and replacing it in a year or two??

Originally posted by cane
Here is what you should get mike...go to www.competitivecyclist.com and order a 57cm Fondriest Carb Level U107 Team Lampre model. Competitive Cyclist is blowing out the Team Lampre colors 30% off. You can get a complete bike equipped with Shimano Ultegra for $2648 or you can get a Campy Record equipped Bike for $3400. Order it now and they'll have it built and sent to your house by the time you get back from Europe!!!!!!!!!!

The bike is made from the best Aluminum available and has a carbon fiber forkset and carbon fiber seat stays to give you a smoother, better ride than both steel and ti. FONDRIEST bikes are the S H I T!!!! It's definitely a bike that you can grow into and grow old with. Why not get a great bike now and ride it for ten years, rather than getting a mid grade bike and replacing it in a year or two??

I think he should be able to ride the bike first before buying. That is a lot of money to spend and not like the feel of the bike!!!!!!!!!!

Hi,
this may not apply to you, but I can't help but wonder..... Are you planning on racing? Racing bikes trade comfort for speed; for a young buck that's not much of an issue....but backs ( racing bikes put a lot of stress on the back). There are many bikes that straddle the distinction between racing/sport and also sport/touring. Regardless of what bike you get, even in training for competition, you spend much of your time just pedaling along at a easy to moderate pace. My thought is that it is worth trading a little speed
to stay injury free. A Ti bike from the sport category is a possiblity.
This is one bike I tried, and would have bought...
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/habanero.html

I got an Airborne frame on sale. The Habanero is
a good basic Ti bike, the Airborne shapes the tubes and does some of the fancier work...

http://www.airborne.net/eready/janette/store/roadhome.asp

I got the Carpe Diem.I wouldn't mind having the Zeppelin. You might want to call Airborne, I have talked with them a number of times. They are very low key, and helpful. Sheldon Brown is something of a bicycling guru.

One thing,
The Century Special I tried had a carbon fork, I don't much care for aluminum forks. I also don't see the need for 36 spoke wheels. I used to mountain bike, and did plenty of massive hits on 32 spokes.
The only time I ever hurt a wheel was hitting one of Boston's famous car eating potholes at something over 30 mph. Consdiering that i figured I was dead, bending a couple spokes was a pleasant
alternative.

Originally posted by late
Hi,
this may not apply to you, but I can't help but wonder..... Are you planning on racing? Racing bikes trade comfort for speed; for a young buck that's not much of an issue....but backs ( racing bikes put a lot of stress on the back). There are many bikes that straddle the distinction between racing/sport and also sport/touring. Regardless of what bike you get, even in training for competition, you spend much of your time just pedaling along at a easy to moderate pace. My thought is that it is worth trading a little speed
to stay injury free. A Ti bike from the sport category is a possiblity.
This is one bike I tried, and would have bought...
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/habanero.html

I am looking at a Litespeed Veneto(sp) just for that reason.

I got an Airborne frame on sale. The Habanero is
a good basic Ti bike, the Airborne shapes the tubes and does some of the fancier work...

http://www.airborne.net/eready/janette/store/roadhome.asp

I got the Carpe Diem.I wouldn't mind having the Zeppelin. You might want to call Airborne, I have talked with them a number of times. They are very low key, and helpful. Sheldon Brown is something of a bicycling guru.

Again, get the fondriest!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Cane,
one size does not fit all. Last yeat I was shopping for a used Camry. One guy was selling his Camry and a very hot Mitsu sports car. He had just had back surgery and needed a ride even softer than the Camry. I tried the sports car, and it rode harder than most trucks, and I had a good idea why he got back surgery. Racing style gear is not for everybody. For somebody in his middle years, the truth is you're not just trading speed for comfort. You're also trading years of riding for a little speed. That's a poor bargain in my book.

My local LBS said that the Litespeed Vaneto (sp) has a nice geometry setup for my wishes...any ideas.

if Mike has back problems, and there has been no indication that he does, he shouldn't be getting a friggin' road bike anyway---- Lemond, Litespeed, Cannondale, or Fondriest. He should stick to the hybrid he has now. If your back is in good condition, Mike you owe it to yourself, and the World, to investigate Fondriest ---the BEST built bikes on the PLANET!!!!!!!

WOW, just checked out the Habenero $2,000 full Ultegra Ti. Looks like it could really fit what I am looking for!

Titanium, an old failed frame technology.

Originally posted by mikemets5
WOW, just checked out the Habenero $2,000 full Ultegra Ti. Looks like it could really fit what I am looking for!

I don't have a Habenero but I frequent the rec.bicycles.* newsgroups where Mark Hickey also hangs out in. He seems very responsive to customers (and non-customers alike) and also does custom work. Many people on the newsgroups seem to be very happy with their Habeneros. The most important thing is that you get a bike that fits you. I'd steer clear of opinions by those who don't know you and/or are trying to push you into purchasing a particular bike without you having tried it first. Anyone who gives you advise in any of these forums should be recommending you try something and not tell you to buy it. Besides... I've always found it fun to test ride all types of bikes. It's one of the very few encouraged truly free things left in life.

I thought this thread was supposed to be about mike erring on the side of buying too much bike. It seems Habanero is a huge step down even from a Lemond. It is not always possible to TEST ride every bike that you are interested in. Not all shops have the bike that you want in the SIZE that you NEED-- ready to be test ridden!!! In an ideal world, sure, it would be great to be able test ride a bike before buying, but it just isn't feasible for high end bike shops to stock every model in every size and in every possible component configuration available.

Once again Mike, seriously look into Fondriest. You will not be disappointed.

cane, you're an ass

hey phatman instead of making derogatory statements toward me like the one above, why don't you go do something much more useful like, umm, try to figure out how to install ergo shifting on a outdated obsolete 1980's road bike. Oh did I say road bike, I meant to say piece of junk. Have a nice day!!! Later----MUCH!!!

Hi Cane,
you are seeing the world through your experience of the world. Let's change the perspective; if you were 6 years old, and getting your first bike, would you want a Fondriest? Not if you wanted to reach the pedals. Something similar is going on in older guys. A lot of things don't work as well as they used to. You make some minor adjustments and concessions, and keep moving. But most of us old farts have also seen guys crash and burn who just kept acting like they were young. I'm glad you have a great bike, if I ever get the chance, I'll test drive one. But I also remember the first bike I tried as a middle aged guy. It was a nice used racing bike, I threw a leg over it, took off down the road...I could feel every grain of sand in the road, bumps felt like they were delivered with a baseball bat. Granted I hadn't been on a bike in 15 years, but this was no fun at all. So....have fun, hope that bike gets you some metal to throw on a shelf. But I think I will also have some fun, a lot of fun actually, on my old technology....which suits my even older body quite nicely, thank you very much....

I think it's getting too serious. When riding a bicycle becomes this serious it loses something. Enjoy!!:)

Cane,

I don't think you're an ass.

You're acting like one though.


Flame away!

Well, I'll express an unpopular opinion around these parts and suggest you look at the Trek 5000 series - if $$ is no object, then try the 5500. I now Trek is all over the place, and I know there's nothing unique about riding a Trek, but try one of the things and see what you think.

I fly fish as well as ride, and the mystique surrounding rods is similar to that surrounding rides. Fact is, there are many common name brands - such as Sage - which fish really well, if what you want is to have a good tool for fishing and not something that other fisherpeople will ooh and aah over. Likewise, there are no name brands that work exceedingly well but that won't get a second look by any of the river snobs. Really no fun at all if what you're in to is impressing others. Possibly really great if what you care about is having the best tool for the job.

So back to riding. Consider Trek. It won't impress any of the snobs, but it's the proper tool to allow you to do your best, if that's what you care about.

If you want to look cool, and impress the snobs, get a Calfee. It's the closest there is in the "head turner" catagory to Trek quality - albeit without the lifetime frame guarantee Trek offers.