Road Bike Racing - Buying new bike

I don't know much about road bikes but I would like to start riding them though. I am sixteen years old and work at a bike shop in Georgia, Bicycles Unlimited. I've been riding my Trek Fuel for quite some time now and I would love to ride the road. I have been looking at the Klein Q-Carbon Team as my first bike, but i'm not compleatly sure. If anyone has any recommendations that would be great.

Thanx,
Klaver

I'd feel a little queasy about a newbie spending kilobucks for a top end Klein, unless you have a well-heeled patron. Get a little experience under your belt on a less expensive bike. In a year or two you'll have a lot stronger knowldege and experience base to make a decision.

your absolutly right, this Klein in my shop is 2k. but i can shave off a few hundered since i'm an employee. But, is it an elite class bike?

i'm not going to go cheap when i'm going to buy a road bike. my price range is going to be 1-2k that way the machine has better componets that will last longer

does anyone think i should stick with the klein or something else?

Nice bike, if I had the money I'd look at it myself. After I considered a range of similar bikes. Look around and see what you can get for your money.

okay, cool thanx man

i think starting out you should get a cheaper bike.
What if you don't like it?

Good point. You should always test a bike before you purchase it. Just because a bike's specification read well, doesnt mean it will feel comfortable to ride. All bodies are different, and yours may be suited to a different frame.
I dont see any reason to start on a cheaper bike, as if you start on a decent bike you are going to get used to the feel of a good bike. I started with an OCR, and now have the Trek Team frame. It made a lot of difference and I wish I had've saved the money for the team frame in the first place.

Just remember that Lance or Greg or Miguel could hop on a Wal-Mart Huffy special and destroy anyone here.

It's amazing how much money some people waste on bikes that will at best give them a fraction of a second advantage over the guy next to them. Or the people who buy titanium everything but have a gut that hangs over their shorts. Am I missing something?

You all have great points, but I would like to stick to a higher end bike mainly because the componets will last a bit longer than if i were to purchase a lower end one where the componets will only last so long.

It's debatable how much longer Dura Ace components will last than 600 stuff. Properly cared for, a 105 grupo will probably last longer than your interest in cycling.

i think i should go ahead and get the Klein q carbon

You can always put it in the closet next to your shortwave radio, guitar and karate outfit. :)

I don't mean to be so hard on ya. If you've got the money and are sure that racing is for you, then go ahead. I just hate to see anyone waste their money on something unnecessary.

I used to love flying uphill past someone whose bike cost twice what mine did.

Good luck.

i'll have to make the money to get the bike, i don't want to make just enough to buy a fairly good bike that i will have to replace parts a year later or 1,000 mi later. like i said, i don't know much about road bikes as well as how fast the parts ware.

If you're a serious racer and plan to put in 5K+ miles a year in training on the road, you could probably justify D/A level components. I can amost guarantee you, however, you'll replace your bike before there's perceptible wear on your components---even at the 105 level. I'm extrapolating from the experienece of roadies I know; you may be lucky enough to find the bike you'll be comfortable with long-term on your first try. I'm probably commiting heresy, but I'd argue a well-fitting pair of road shoes would probably pay more dividends than an elite frame or wheelset.

Originally posted by Klaver
i'll have to make the money to get the bike, i don't want to make just enough to buy a fairly good bike that i will have to replace parts a year later or 1,000 mi later. like i said, i don't know much about road bikes as well as how fast the parts ware.

600 series components will last you years.

I'd have loved to have had Dura Ace stuff but just couldn't afford it. My 600 stuff works beautifully though.

I don't think you have to worry about wearing through your components too quickly! I doubt you will ever ride enough to kill them. The key is regular maintenance. I put about 15-16k miles a year on my bike, racing, training and fun... I had Ultegra components on my previous bike and they are just as durable as Dura Ace I have now. Maybe their only week point is the plastic in the shifter body-but we mortals very rarely will wear them out. Again, get a bike that fits, and you are comfortable with. Nothing will ruin your self esteem more than riding a $2K bike and getting trounced by a guy riding a low end, 10 year old Trek with touring wheels!!!

Don't forget to get appropriate gears. Getting gears, such as a 53/42 front and 11/23 rear may make you look like Lance, but unless you can pedal like him, get something more realistic, at leat 52/39 with a 12/27 in back, or better yet, get a triple.

Get the klein its a great bike. I'm sure you will enjoy the ride.
I own a klein and it improved my ride. the most improtant thing is to have a good fitting bike that you love to ride and the Klein will do it for you!
GO FOR IT....

i'll have to make the money to get the bike, i don't want to make just enough to buy a fairly good bike that i will have to replace parts a year later or 1,000 mi later. like i said, i don't know much about road bikes as well as how fast the parts ware.

Unless you buy something in the $500 range, or ride some 5,000+ hard miles a year you aren't going to have to replace stuff in a year (and even then I doubt you're going to wear out much more than a chain/cassette and tires). I certainly don't have issues with people spending money, but I think you should start off with something a little cheaper until you decide you are going to like road-riding, something in the $800-1000 range would suit you just fine for a year or two, then you will be in a much better position to decide what you want.

Andrew

i am planning to buy a new road-bike too...

3 bikes are available at dealers near me:

The Wilier Escape 105, the Stevens San Remo with 105 components and the Giant OCR 1T. All would cost me about 1200 €.

Any opinions on them?? I personally like the Wilier very much, think its a beautiful bike?? But are there disadvantages? Let me know :beer:

I plan on getting that Klein q-carbon team. I believe the componets are Tiagra. Nobody really said anything about it. Are they better or worse than DA?

Klaver,

Tiagra is a much lower gruppo than Dura-Ace (top of the
line).
If you're going to blow lots of cash on your ride you might
want to look into Campagnolo gruppo's, they tend to
last a bit longer and you can service them
do a search on Campy vs Shimano here, there
are lots of threads.

Marty

Hey thanks. Once i get enought $$ to get this particular bike, i'll have it out-fitted with dura-ace componets.

Tiagra is the entry-level gruppo in the Shimano STI series. It's a cut above Sora (which doesn't allow shifting from the drops), and just below the 105 gruppo, as far as quality level is concerned. The Shimano STI series in ascending order of price and quality: Tiagra, 105, Ultegra, Dura Ace.
Tiagra is a legitimate racing component gruppo for the beginner. It essentially operates the same as D/A, with a weight penalty and lots of steel and plastic instead of titanium. I've heard some negative comments about tiagra brake's stopping power...might want to upgrade your brakes to 105.

Tiagra, 105, Ultegra, Dura Ace.
I have a correction, i had the Ultegra mixed up with the Tiagra. The Tiagra was outfitted on a Giant ocr2 (i think thats the name) of course the Klein q-carbon wouldn't have tiagra for the price that its at. The klein had the ultegra componets.
Thanx poppaspoke

heh, I had an OCR once...

nice

Originally posted by FOG
Don't forget to get appropriate gears. Getting gears, such as a 53/42 front and 11/23 rear may make you look like Lance, but unless you can pedal like him, get something more realistic, at leat 52/39 with a 12/27 in back, or better yet, get a triple.

Dude! why recommend a triple??? :) Doesn't sound as if Klaver here plans to throw 50lbs worth of gear on his bike to go camping.:)

You know, I was told today that I should stick to the Ultegra rather than the DA because i will only notice the difference between the two if i were to ride 10k a year and that DA will make the bike prettier...

You get what you pay for when it comes to bikes.
My first MTB was $1250 on sale-year end close out. I knew I would like MTB at that point and decided to spend the money once. That was 5 years ago and the bike has held up to severe thrashings. I have only had to replace the rear wheel. The XT/XTR performed.
When it came time to buy a road bike, I decided to not go all out on the first bike and picked up a Zurich at 23% off. Ultegra is great stuff and will last many years. I really like the Z.
If I'm still riding like I am in a year or two and getting better I plan on getting a custom steel bike with Dura Ace and what ever else is strong/light and performing well.
What will I do with the Zurich? Don't know. Maybe keep it as a beater/vacation bike or give it to my brother...
Great bikes can be had for $2500.

Klaver,
As a Cat. III who has won races at each level up till now (collegiate, 5, 4, and 3), and who regularly races and trains 10,000+ miles a year, please consider my advice carefully.

1) The most important thing is bike fit.
Any bike shop worth its salt should know how to fit a rider properly.
This entails more than just standing over the bike to see if you have clearance. There are a number of measurements you need to take. Check out Wrench Science (http://wrenchscience.com), they have a free bike fit calculator at their site.
You should be able to breeze through it in 15 minutes with a friend and a yard stick.

2) Ultegra is just as good as Dura-Ace, just not as light.
At 16, the weight really shouldn't be an issue for you.
Its only the fattie masters that need titanium brake cables and carbon fiber chains ;) With the money you save, buy a set of lightweight, race-only wheels. Or if the bike comes with a set of light wheels, buy a set of heavier, cheaper training wheels and save the others for races.

3) Learn how to maintain your bike. This entails more than just keeping the tires pumped up and the chain lubed. Overhaul the bearings (hubs, headset, bottom bracket) at regular, pre-defined intervals. Learn how to true wheels and keep yours true.

4) If you don't like fixing flats, get a pair of heavy-duty, puncture resistant tires for your training wheels. I double up and put a tire liner in mine. This has the added benefit of making it feel like you're flying when you finally put your race wheels back on :)

That's about it.
For what its worth, I've been riding a 2000 model alluminum Fuji Team with Ultegra components for the past 3 years (3 x 10,000+ miles/year == 30,000+ miles). Its still going strong with no need to be replaced. It could use a good paint job, though ;) That's in the works.

If you have any more questions feel free to contact me at:

bspeerNOSPAM@yahoo.com.

and remember to remove the NOSPAM part to the address.

Good luck,

Originally posted by Trouble
You get what you pay for when it comes to bikes.
My first MTB was $1250 on sale-year end close out. I knew I would like MTB at that point and decided to spend the money once. That was 5 years ago and the bike has held up to severe thrashings. I have only had to replace the rear wheel. The XT/XTR performed.
When it came time to buy a road bike, I decided to not go all out on the first bike and picked up a Zurich at 23% off. Ultegra is great stuff and will last many years. I really like the Z.
If I'm still riding like I am in a year or two and getting better I plan on getting a custom steel bike with Dura Ace and what ever else is strong/light and performing well.
What will I do with the Zurich? Don't know. Maybe keep it as a beater/vacation bike or give it to my brother...
Great bikes can be had for $2500.
Great bikes can be had for half of that.

Originally posted by shokhead
Great bikes can be had for half of that.

I was going to say the same thing. Great bikes can be had for $1000.

Klein. My next road bike is going to be the Q-pro carbon-$$$$.