Road Cycling - In need of an answer

Hey! I'm new to road bicycling and want to get a new bike under a $ 1.000 (US). I'm 170 lb. and 5.8, any suggestion on frame size? What do I have to look for or need to know when buying a road bike, any tips?

Thanks!
:)

first of all, go to your lbs and get measured properly. this will help dictate what size bike you will need. while you are test riding bikes, make sure the bike fits YOU, not the other way around. ask around about reputable lbs. some people in these shops will try and sell you the most expensive bike, or a bike that is not suited to you because they don't care.

hang around these boards and you will pick up all the info you need.:beer:

oh i forgot. WELCOME TO THE GREATEST SPORT EVER INVENTED.!!!! you will love every minute of it. :beer:

I'd recommend checking out the Specialized Allez Sport (or Elite if you can pony up an extra $50). Both have Specialized's A1 aluminum frame, with a carbon seatpost and fork. The Sport is mainly Tiagra components with a 105 rear derailleur while the Elite steps up to 105 components and nicer wheels, along with a nicer fork. The important thing is to ride a couple bikes and find what feels best to you. Figure on looking at a 53 or 54 cm frame-have your LBS properly size you.

Some things to consider in bike fit:

Trunk/leg ratio (more important than height), type of riding you want to do, how much you want to "lean forward" while riding.

It really helps to have a really good LBS who should discuss the above with you, and should measure you - including such things as arm length.

Welcome and have fun.

Go to Roy's in Sheepshead bay and get
fitted, or more correctly get sized (don't do a
Serotta Size Cycle, fit kit etc.). Throw a leg
over a few bikes and find what works for you.
also do a search, there are tons of threads about
fitting here in Forums.

Good Luck,
Marty

in addition to frame size there is further tweaking that can go on. a set back seatpost or a riser bar can make little but noticable differences. i just got a ritchey pro +10 riser and can't believe the difference in fit.

Also, check out 'Steel Bike vs. Aluminum' thread in Road Cycling forum. Lots of info and opinions on frame materials. For under $1000 you can get a VERY nice used bike on eBay.

Depending on your inseam you will probably want a 52 - 54cm frame. This is measured center-to-center from the BB (crankset) along the seat-tube to the top-tube. You will want about the same length, or slightly longer along the top-tube, measured c-to-c from the seat-tube to the headtube. But, as mentioned above, go into your LBS (local bike shop) and see what fits you the best. You might even find something you like there. Ask them about used bikes, as well. Most don't handle used. But some do. Call around.

If you are asking for opinions, mine is that you stick with steel frameset for the ride quality. And stick with Campagnolo for the equipment quality, if possible. Shimano is also very good, but it isn't Campy. The major difference between the too is that Campy can be repaired while Shimano generally must be replaced. Enjoy!!

What about the fork? Should I stick to the steel or carbon will be fine?

Thanks for all of your help guys!

Originally posted by lotek
Go to Roy's in Sheepshead bay and get
fitted, or more correctly get sized (don't do a
Serotta Size Cycle, fit kit etc.). Throw a leg
over a few bikes and find what works for you.
also do a search, there are tons of threads about
fitting here in Forums.

Good Luck,
Marty

Yeah, I probably would. But after they sold me ****ty brake pads and said they were the best, I'm thinking of not going back to the shop. I figure if they lie in small things like that they will definitely lie to me when giving me advice on the choice of a bike.

i ride an aluminum frame, and my fork is carbon. it sure does make a difference in how it takes the "bumps." i say go carbon for the fork.

As for the fork, a good steel fork rocks, but I'm not sure what kind of quality you'll find in steel forks at your price point. You'll get an average (not bad, not great) carbon fork, which I would personally prefer over an average steel fork.

Welcome to the club!

thats the first time I've heard about bad service
from Roy's.
what was wrong with the brake pads?
Thats the only shop I know of in Brooklyn
(other than R&A cycles which is 1. expensive
and 2. EXPENSIVE).

Marty

Originally posted by ImprezaDrvr
As for the fork, a good steel fork rocks, but I'm not sure what kind of quality you'll find in steel forks at your price point. You'll get an average (not bad, not great) carbon fork, which I would personally prefer over an average steel fork.

Welcome to the club!

First of all thanks for the comment!
Second, the price point is not mine
Third, what makes you think that I would purchase something from that website.


:beer:

Originally posted by lotek
thats the first time I've heard about bad service
from Roy's.
what was wrong with the brake pads?
Thats the only shop I know of in Brooklyn
(other than R&A cycles which is 1. expensive
and 2. EXPENSIVE).

Marty

Well, the braking pads are "Ritchey" (blue) the only thing they do rite is eat up my rim. They also trap little rocks and scratch it as well. The brake pads that came with my bike had much better grip and kept my rim healthy.

Originally posted by Chuvak
First of all thanks for the comment!
Second, the price point is not mine
Third, what makes you think that I would purchase something from that website.


:beer:

wait, you say that you are looking to stay under $1000 (US), but that is not your price point? Is the significant other shutting you down or something?

As for the website, I have no idea what you're talking about. I don't know anything about the website that other users have mentioned. So, I cannot make an educated comment about your likelihood of purchasing anything from that site. Sorry, but I don't know what a website has to do with my comment.

My mistake. You said price point, I thought of a website pricepoint.com.

Originally posted by lotek
thats the first time I've heard about bad service
from Roy's.
what was wrong with the brake pads?
Thats the only shop I know of in Brooklyn
(other than R&A cycles which is 1. expensive
and 2. EXPENSIVE).

Marty
Here is what happen to pads and my rim:

pad

I took them off today, and put my old ones back on. They should be fine for a while.

Originally posted by Chuvak
My mistake. You said price point, I thought of a website pricepoint.com.

Ah. I see. Double meaning of "price point". We'll look back and laugh someday.

The dark spots are parts of stock rocks. On the pick with the rim you can see the scratches but can't really tell how dip they are, well they pretty deep.

Originally posted by ImprezaDrvr
Ah. I see. Double meaning of "price point". We'll look back and laugh someday.

Yeah, sorry about that.

wow, that really is the pits.
Did you talk to them about what the pads were
doing?
what are the dark spots?
I've never seen a pad score a rim like that before.

Marty

the dark spots are little rocks stock in.

Check out Felt bikes. You get a lot of bang for your buck from them. For $1000 you should be able to get a full Shimano 105 bike with a carbon fork. I don't remember the model designation but I think they only have one bike with 105's.

ignore this

lotek, I'm really surprised you know about Roy's since you're located in TX.

I purchased 3 bikes from them last year. From my limited experience, I felt they were the most honest.

Chuvak, where do you usually ride? I'm getting bored of riding alone.....want a partner this season....or at least ride where "more hardcore" riders ride.

Well, I mostly ride in Prospect Park, not something that you would call “hardcore”, but I managed to find some “trails” there. Personally, I don’t like it though.
What about you?

Prospect park is about a 15 minute ride from where I live. I usually ride out to the city (bike path.....or multi-use path) on the West Side Hwy, or Central Park, or along the Belt Pkwy to the Rockaways.

And if I really feel like it, I'll drive close to the George Washington Bridge and ride across the bridge to NJ. From there I ride up the road right next to the Palisades Pkwy (I think it's called Route 9A, but I'm not 100% sure).

I think I forgot to tell you that I ride MTB off road and the reason I’m in this part of the forum is because I want to get some advise on getting my first road bike. I would love to ride with someone else, because just like you I don’t have a partner. Going back to bikes….Which bikes do you currently owe? I want to get one under a thousand. Do you think I would be able to get a good deal at Roy’s ?

Cadd,

Spent the first few years of my life
in Sheepshead bay, still have family
there.
Grandmother lived across street from Prospect
park (empire blvd) and Ebbits field (where
I saw the Brooklyn Dodgers play).

Marty