Road Cycling - Need road bike assistance please...

Hello everybody (again) my name is Sean and I'm new to the Forum and the Sport and I'm ready to make a purchase.
I've Been shopping around and spending alot of time on this forum trying to get my info together. I have about a $1500 budget and have ridden a few bikes. So far I liked the 53cm CIOCC 12.5 with Campy Centaur and a 54cm 2002 Trek 2200 with Simano Uletgra as far as ride goes.
However , I was really attracted to a Litespeed Antares w/ Campy Centaur that I can get for $1500 w/pedalas, but I'm not sure about the comact frame geometry. I am 5' 9" 190 lbs. (recently retired weightlifter) would a 55cm compact frame be right for me?
I'm am going to ride it tomorrow, should I be looking for specific characteristics? (sorry for bringing up the compact frame thing again)
-Sean

More important than you height for fit are such things as the ratio between your legs and upper body, the potential use of the bike (recreation, racing, touring ???), how much you want your body to be flattened during riding, and overall fit.

You need to work through a local bike shop who really knows how to fit you properly, considering the above.

The bike fit is more important than other factors, which become secondary. If the bike does not fit properly, you will eventually end up not riding, or with some pretty good aches and pains, and even potential damage to your body (knees, especially). Once you get a good fit, you can then decide on components and materials, consistent with your price range.

For example, I have a lloonngg body and short legs. Few frames accommodate me very well, but the Lemond frames are far better than any other for me, so I ended up getting a Lemond. which fits me very well.

1. Fit ( and frame)
2. Material (steel, AL, Ti, Carbon)
3. Components. Both Campy and Shimano are good, depends on who you ask.

Very simple on the size. You said you like the Ciocc 53cm. Fidn out the top tube lenght on that and just buy any frame with that same top tube lenght.

Ciocc 53cm has a 55cm top tube. This means buy a copmact frame that gives you a 55cm top tube.

The mystery is over ;)

They are selling the Marin Argentena with full Daytona group (same as Centaur-they just changed the name) for only $990! I think they have a 53cm available. There was a thread on this a bit ago. It's at overstock.com.
For your weight, I think aluminum would be better. Steel is more flexible in the bottom bracket and you will get chainrub and maybe ghost shifting.

Everyone I know says the Litespeed stinks poo
Ciocc is pretty cool.

For your weight, I think aluminum would be better. Steel is more flexible in the bottom bracket and you will get chainrub and maybe ghost shifting.
What?

I believe Pokey would say something like..."Applesauce".

I weigh a bunch more than that and my steel bike does not Ghost shift or chain rub or ...
Besides, he never mentioned any steel bikes. (well, I don't know the spec of the CIOCC, but I doubt it's steel.)

Litespeed stinks??

Thank you all, The LiteSpeed is a 55cm TT, The CIOCC (12.5) is a "new" Steel bike.
however because of the damn snow, I wasn't able to ride anything today...So I assume I'll be a busy man on Saturday. Why aluminum for a heavier guy? wont that flex more? Any comments or opinions are welcome. Thanx again, Sean

Hi,
1)Fit- you need to be comfortable. What's your inseam?
2)Frame material- They're all good, if the bike
is well made.
3)Durability- Steel and titanium will last indefintely, but some aluminum bikes only have a few years in them. What I find to be the serious problem with Alu bikes is that the ride is not as nice is it is with steel (at this price)
4)Compact frame- there are small differences between compact and traditional designs. How well it was designed and made is about 100 times more important. Maybe 200 times.
5)You sound like somebody who wants a bike in the sport/performance category. These are fast bikes, but are less scary and hairy than a racing bike. Am I correct?
6) Try a bunch of bikes, and don't be afraid to go for a real ride.
7) The quality of the bike shop is important.

Originally posted by ChipRGW
What?

I believe Pokey would say something like..."Applesauce".

I weigh a bunch more than that and my steel bike does not Ghost shift or chain rub or ...
Besides, he never mentioned any steel bikes. (well, I don't know the spec of the CIOCC, but I doubt it's steel.)

Litespeed stinks??

First of all, you're quoting Pokey?!
The Litespeed Antares aluminum is made in Taiwan and is nothing to write home about.

I would imagine RacerX has some personal experience to back up his experience with the Antares. However, I've ridden it and been pretty impressed. Aside from that, we've got about 10 people out of our shop on the Antares and its twin sister the Sirius. All of them have given it rave reviews and I even have a guy that has a Siena looking at getting an Antares because he likes his buddy's Antares better. Can't help you with the bike being made in Taiwan, though.
Best thing you can do is ride all your prospective choices, then decide based on which bike and/or shop you like the best.

Originally posted by RacerX
First of all, you're quoting Pokey?!
The Litespeed Antares aluminum is made in Taiwan and is nothing to write home about.

Are you insinuating that the comment about steel frames is NOT "applesauce"?

I've not ridden the Litespeed, but I find it hard to believe that Litespeed makes anything that "stinks poo". The 2 Antares that ride in our club seem to be fine machines. But that is all I know about them.

Sean - I am in the same boat you are. I am also 5'9" and weigh 194. I too am an ex gym rat. I tried steel but there was too much flex for me. My LBS set me up on a correct sized steel frame and analyzed my pedal stroke and everything else via computer program. They said that I had so much power in my lower body that the frame was flexing like they have never seen before. Tried the Al and it was a wonderful metal. Just a hint, with your weight be sure the bike is equipted with a carbon fork. The metal ones will have too much flex for you. But if your budget is 1500 bones, I'm sure the bike will come with one. Happy biking!

The draw towards compact frames is that they are stiffer...Some say they are lighter, but that is hard to say since you will need a longer seat post. If the bike that fits you the best and you like the most has a compact frame, get it, if it has a standard frame, get it. I don't think the frame style will make a difference in the end..It is, like all other aspects of cycling, personal preference.

Al bike frames are usually made to be stiffer than steel ones.
Al frames are made with fatter tubes than steel. It is the fatness which gives them stiffness. With Al you dont pay a big weight penalty for the extra material, and besides, you need to keep al tubes stiff to avoid fatigue failures.

When comparing bike size, measure the top tube length. The "height" of a bike is not always a good measure. Some bikes have a higher bottom bracket, others measure to different points on the bike. Take the straddling height as guide, and make sure you have sufficient clearance, but length is the more critical feature.

Try and avoid bikes where your toes interfere with the front wheel as it steers, this can cause problems at low speed . Compact or standard frame not really a big deciding factor, its more of a fashion statement. Pick a bike that fits you well that goes where you want it to go, and leaves you smiling.