Road Cycling - My first bike!

Okay, that's a bit misleading. I've been riding a trusted Mercian on loan from a close friend for nearly a year-and-a-half, when it was wrecked in an unfortunate accident (see: Frame bent in accident (http://bikeforums.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=29832)). It's been two weeks, and it will be two more months before I can ride the Mercian again. I'm going nuts without a bike. So I resolutely decided to just purchase my own wheels. I wanted something that's high-end for a modest budget (under $2K) for my needs, given that I commute 2 hours daily and also participate in several weekly group rides and tours.

I found an Airborne Valkyrie at a local shop on sale. The only thing is that while I was aiming for Shimano Ultegra components, it comes with Shimano 105. But Ti for under $2K? Isn't that insane? Is it too good to be true. So far I haven't heard anything bad about it (I heard the suggestion that I should invest in a good frame -- components are always interchangeable). So I'm planning to actually purchase it tomorrow.

Is that a wise decision? Are Airbornes trusty, given that they've been around for only 6 years?

Thanks a bunch,
Gingi0

Hi there,
I have a couple of friends with Airbornes and I haven't heard them complain. They're good bikes.

Colorado Cyclist has Douglas Ti bikes with Ultegra for right at $2000. ....Something to think about. My brother-in-law bought one and is happy with it....

Cheers!
Bikesick:beer:

My Airborne is now two years old, with about 6000 miles on it, and there aren't many other bikes I'd be willing to trade it for.

It's true that the Valk is their simplest and least expensive road frame, but I wouldn't worry about the quality of the materials or craftsmanship. If there's ever been a confirmed report of an Airborne frame failing posted anywhere online, it's well-hidden.

The main thing with any road bike is, of course, fit. Buying an Airborne at a shop where you can test it and adjust the fit before you decide (I did the same thing) removes that last lingering doubt that comes from buying a mail-order bike.

As for 105 vs Ultegra, well, I have a set of each of the shifters on two of my bikes, and I'm not entirely sure I could tell the difference with my eyes closed. And the shifters are the expensive part.

However, if you really like the fit and feel of this frame, you might want to go to www.airborne.net and use the configurator to see just how much more it would cost to have a Valk set up exactly the way you want it. It might not be that much more, and you can still work with the dealer (assuming they're an actual Airborne dealer) to have the bike set up and fit.

RichC