Road Cycling - Fantastic! Help me please with choosing new bike

Fantastic,

My friend's father will come from US to my country and promised me to bring a bike (much cheaper in USA)

here in Poland the bikes are 30-50% more expensive - VAT taxes, duties, transport

So my choice is limited only to US producers

I consider: Cannondale R1000, Klein Q-pro Carbon and Q-Carbon, Trek 5200 (ouch, little expensive for me - but maybe its worth it)

What would you recommend
Cannondale - magnificent alloy frame, great value (mavic ksyriums) and is on ultegra - and light - price around USD1800

Trek, - to most expensvie (around USD 2600) carbon frame, light, but on bontrager (is mavic better?)

Klein - kind of cadillac, light, nice paint job, comfortable, but also expensive....

I usually ride a longer distances on my mtb (50-80-90 miles) and should go similar on road - so some kind of comfort is essential - I heard that cannondales are quite stiff and not for longer rides.

Unfortunatelly I will have to decide realy soon in 24-48 hours, my friends father will come soon to my country.

What would you recommend? Thanks for your help in advance.

Jakub,

The bikes you mention undoubtedly all have their pro's and cons. Two words of caution, if I may:

(a) FIT. Since you would not be present--physically--during the purchase, make sure that the frame size is okay.

(b) TAX. What happens if your friend's father is stopped at the border? Could it be that he would then have to pay those taxes/customs duties/fine/etc. anyhow? Then the bike is not that cheap anymore.

Originally posted by Jakub
Fantastic,

My friend's father will come from US to my country and promised me to bring a bike (much cheaper in USA)


Trek, - to most expensvie (around USD 2600) carbon frame, light, but on bontrager (is mavic better?)



What about a trek 2300?? Top of the line Aluminum with Ultegra components. Great bike.

Also lemond would be a good choice for you as well. They are made by Trek, therefore a US company.

Lastly Klein is also owned by Trek, so you get the picture.

Also Isn't Litespeed made in USA??

if you are looking at a carbon bike get the Giant TCR composite with Ultegra. The same price as the Trek carbon but lighter(16pounds) and I like the ride way better.

Originally posted by msparks
Isn't Litespeed made in USA??

Good suggestion, msparks! Especially since Ti bikes are very expensive in Europe. Fortunately, I got a good a deal when I bought my Arenberg. Still spent my entire budget, but I don't regret it.

Just had to mention this... Sorry, Jakub. In your price range, there are even more options than Aluminium and Carbon. (And sooner or later somebody will remind us of the fact that 'steel is real'. )

www.excelsports.com (http://www.excelsports.com) and www.jensonusa.com (http://www.jensonusa.com) sell re-decalled Arenbergs (under the names 'Macalu' and 'Zion', respectively). Same builder, geometry, weight. Don't know about quality, though. (What's in it for Litespeed?)

When I was checking into those, I found out about the taxation/customs issues mentioned above...

Thanks guys, but I am very limited to the choices as I would rather not cause too much troubles for this person - he is doing me a BIG FAVOUR anyway.

The person can bring me only one of the mentioned bikes as there is not much time for ordering other bike.

for the duties - everything should be fine - I did an enquiry about it.

Trek is a little bit too expensive for me - the bike is great but I won't be able to afford it.

Cannondale (although the colours are really ugly - silver with orange and red) is the best balue buy - and you get the caad7 frame - really light.

Litespeed also make nice alloy framed bikes, like the Vela, Capella, etc.
Check out www.litespeed.com

If aluminium is to be considered I would definitely go for Cannondale. R1000 is at the same price as trek2300.

Klein Q-carbon team is 100USD more than cannondale, with simiarl components.

I rather narrowed my choice to Cannondale R1000 and Klein Q-carbon team.

Can you feel the difference when there are alu or carbon seat stays? It there much more comfort?

Cannondale. They are smooth and so well made. The geometry is excellent and I've never ridden a finer bike.

Not that we have ever done this, but you can sometimes get around import duties if the bike is "used". Have the bike ridden, enough to not look new, if possible before bringing it in country, then it is no longer a new bike. This worked for importing bikes to Europe.

That's funny, a reverend telling people how to cheat! :)

Technically it works like that:

The comment above about bringing bikes to Europe is true.
Cannondale R1000 is in US for 1800 USD and in Europe is for 2600EURO, the exchangte rate is 1.17 so in Europe the bike costs 3000USD - its huge difference

As for the bike - Today is my decision day. There is possible a good price for Trek and maybe it will fit into my budget we will see. If not - there is going to be a Cannondale - best value (in that situation).

Thanks for your comments. Once I get bike and get picture of it (it may take some time - I have a normal camara) I will post a picture.

Okay, Jakub. Good luck deciding and 'importing' your new vehicle! Let us know how it went.

PS You might combine your dislike of the Cannondale colour scheme (I have seen some beautiful, entirely black, R1000s here, by the way) with the Reverend's suggestion not to make the bike look too new ;)

Guys, the bike is confirmed Trek5200 at great price. Can't tell where but for 2120 (without local US tax) - so great deal.

Now I have to pick the right size and can't make up my mind

my dimensions are:

inseam 87 cm (when I press hard 88, without pressing 86)
hight - 183 cm
reach 67cm (according to wrench science, but I could measure it incorectly +/- 1.5 cm

What should fit me better Trek 58 size or Trek 60 size?
What do you think, (the question is especially to Trek owners but others are also welcome)

Thanks again once more for your response

I have a 5200 and love it. Best bike I ever owned. I've had steel, aluminum, titanium and now carbon and this gives the best ride. Given a choice at your height I would opt for the 60cm. Trek seems to be pretty generous with their stand-over height. I am 6'6" and ride a 62cm frame that seems like a compact with the stand-over I have. Good luck.

For what it's worth. I ride the 5200. I'm a bit taller than you. I'm very comfortable with my fit:

height 6' 3.25" (191 cm)
inseam to floor 35.5" (90 cm)
reach ?

I ride a 62 cm with a 130 mm stem. I would think that either a 58 or 60 would work. You're going to need a test ride to be absolutely certain.