Northern California - help with first time roadie

hey i want to get in to road biking and i've looked around at a few stores for good entry level bikes, so far i've found 3 in my price range and i wanted to get some opinions on which to go with. keeping in mind that i'll be going to school in southern california so services are a plus

first off is the '07 specialized allez triple from cupertino bike shop for $770, its comes with no special discounts or anything
and only one shop location, here up north, but close to home

second is the '07 (i think) trek 1000 from chain reaction, going for $680
two shop locations, both up north, but close to home

and lastly is the '06 fuji roubaix from performance bikes, msrp of $1300 marked down to $850 with another 15% off makes it $722.50
its from performance and they said they provide lifetime service at any location, not sure if thats true, or free.

any input would be appreciated.

-andrew

Well, Performance Bike usually sets a really high initial price and then knocks the price down to highlight the discount so I wouldn't look at their MSRP. And I've heard that many people don't like their bike service but I've never personally used it.

Do the Specialized and Trek have the same components? Why not ride both and get the one that fits you better. At this price point, there isn't a lot of difference in bikes.

The Specialized and Trek are good bikes for the money if they fit you well. I have never seen the Fuji you mentioned, so cannot comment on it.

i think all the bikes are basically in the tiagra range (not exactly sure if thats good or not). the trek should be about the same

all the bikes fit well, but the specialized would have to be ordered and would take a week or week and a half to get to the store.

i've been reading reviews of the fuji here http://www.roadbikereview.com/cat/latest-bikes/road-bike/fuji-america/PRD_290504_5668crx.aspx#reviews
and so far it seems like people like it

o yeah, and any suggestions on other bikes within the same price range would be appreciated also

My suggestion, and its only a suggestion, is go with the Trek. I'm not a company guy, and not a total Trek honk (although I have a couple), but the availability of the bike makes it easier to get what you need for it. Granted a bike is a bike, and any decent wrench is going to know how to fix it, but you run into a lot of cases with proprietary parts, which makes replacement a pain when you have a more exclusive company, i.e Fuji.

Just about every bike shop I've ever been in has a Trek, not all have specialized, and even fewer have Fuji. In the end, its your choice, get what you're comfortable with, and what you can afford. Of the 3 you mentioned, Trek is the most "generic" so thats why I would pick it as an entry level roadie.

Just my 2 cents.. somebody who knows more will probably contradict everything I've said, and if that happens listen to them, because I'm still kind of a newbie myself. :)

Oh yeah.. if you do get into road biking, just understand from the start that its more expensive then drugs.. but in this case you don't have to worry about prison.

I'll give you the advice I got when I was looking for my first bike last year... ride them all and buy what feels best to you.

But for the bang for the buck I'd say the Fuji was the best deal. If it's the one I saw on the Fuji website it has a carbon fiber seat stay, something the base Allez and Trek 1000 don;t have. So it may be a bit more comfy. But again, you'll have to ride them. Plus it comes with a compact crank instead of a triple. But that's a personal preference that's up to you.

The Specialized and Trek have the name and reputation and Fuji is a good bike manufacturer from what I've read. So either one you pick won't be a bad choice for a first bike.

So again, ride them all and see what's best to you, but the Fuji looks to be the best bang for the buck if the ride is good to you.

Good luck!

thanks for the advice, i was thinking to go with the fuji, the crankset is TruVativ Elita, 30/42/52 teeth, doesn't that mean triple?

does anyone know anything about performance bikes "lifetime service"? good? bad?

and does fuji really use proprietary parts? cuz i would probably upgrade pedals in the future, possibly shifters and everything, but not sure as of now. would it be difficult/impossible to do?

I just looked up all the bikes you mentioned. Since they are all pretty much in the same price range I suggest you get the most you can get for your money.

First of all, fit is the most important thing when purchasing a bike. You want the bike to fit you. Not the other way around. Now, assuming that all bikes are available for your size, once you've determined your fit its time to look at the components that comes with the bike.

The Trek and the Specialized are a mix of Sora and Tiagra. The Fuji comes with a mix of Tiagra and 105. The Shimano food chain goes Sora<Tiagra<105<Ultegra<Dura Ace with the Sora as the entry level component. There is absolutely nothing wrong with Sora/Tiagra mix. But since you are basically paying almost the same amount for each bike, the Fuji will be the best bang for your money with the higher end components.

But make sure it fits. The worst thing you can do is to buy a bike that doesn't fit you.

I'd go for the Fuji. Sign up for Team Performance and earn another $72 in points to be used for stuff on subsequent Performance bike visits. That makes it net about $650 and I think it's a better bike than the Specialized and Trek. Also, isn't the Trek 1000 Sora-equipped?

i'm going to look at a store tomorrow that says they have an '06 specialized allez sport triple for 730, would that be better than the fuji? they both have tiagra/105 components

i'm going to look at a store tomorrow that says they have an '06 specialized allez sport triple for 730, would that be better than the fuji? they both have tiagra/105 components

follow Blastradius' advice..he knows bikes....

yeah the fuji is still one of my top choices, but the thing is i'd have to buy pedals to go with it, and i wouldnt know which to choose

i'm going to look at a store tomorrow that says they have an '06 specialized allez sport triple for 730, would that be better than the fuji? they both have tiagra/105 components

Ok, those two bikes have comparable components. The biggest difference between the two is the geometry. The Fuji has a more aggressive and traditional race geometry compared to the Specialized Allez. This now depends on you and what you want to subject your body to. Typically, race geometries have you bending more at the waist and a more relaxed geometry has you a bit more upright.

The best thing to do now is to ride both the Fuji and the Specialized and decide what you are more comfortable with. Performance should install some platform pedals for you to try out the Fuji.

Again, make sure the bike fits you.

yeah the fuji is still one of my top choices, but the thing is i'd have to buy pedals to go with it, and i wouldnt know which to choose

There are a lot of pedals to choose from. You have toe clips, platforms, and clipless. Toe clips and platforms are pretty basic and inexpensive. Powergrips will give you more performance when married to platforms.

Clipless on the other hand has too many choices. Also you will have to buy shoes that will be compatible with the cleats you will use. Its hard to make suggestion as to which is better. Every type has its own pros and cons. Also will this bike be for weekend/fun rides only or will you be using it for tooling around and commuting? I suggest you do a search for clipless pedals in Commuting and Road Cycling sub-forums for suggestion and info on clipless pedals.

Personally I use Powergrips with platforms for all my bikes. If I do go clipless pedals it will be for weekend rides and fun rides. Speedplays have always been in my radar screen for a while.

After getting used to clipless (look and now spd), I have a hard time riding without them. There really isn't a right and wrong choice when it comes to pedals, I'd start with one of the cheaper Look or spd type pedals. What you pay for when you get expensive pedals (except the speedplays) is usually lighter weight and smaller platform (means more clearance when you lean the bike over to turn).

one other thing, did they have a Trek 1500 at chain reaction? When I was there, I test rode an '07 that was on sale for I think 700-800. I believe those are full 105, and makes a great first roadie. If not, the fuji probably is the next best..

yeah i think i'll probably just go with platforms for now, or whatever is cheap

and i'll upgrade to clipless after i get the hang of road biking. do you know if clipless pedals makes the ride completely different? will i have to re-learn to roadbike with clipless after switching from platform?

man i wish they had the 1500 for that cheap, when i went into the store off of homestead, the 1500's were going for 950

yeah i think i'll probably just go with platforms for now, or whatever is cheap

and i'll upgrade to clipless after i get the hang of road biking. do you know if clipless pedals makes the ride completely different? will i have to re-learn to roadbike with clipless after switching from platform?

You'll have to re-learn stopping and starting, that's the biggest part of it.

I have pedals that are double-sided, one side clipless, the other side platform. I go back and forth between without any problems.

If you're going to SoCal for school, having Performance shops there really helps unless the other stores have shops in SoCal too. Personally I don't like compact geometry of the Specialized but that's just me.

As for pedals, Shimano SPD compatible pedals will give you the most versatility. You can have the advantages of clipless (stiff sole, pull on upstroke, etc.), and be able to walk because most mountain shoes have lugs that recess the cleat.
These are decent and inexpensive.
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=22338&subcategory_ID=10045

There's also double side pedals that have a platform on one side and SPD on the other.
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=2275&subcategory_ID=10045

Here's a pair of shoes that seem decent for $50. You really should try the shoes on though.
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=23592&subcategory_ID=2120

Don't forget to factor in the $$ for a helmet and padded shorts. You'll may want a jersey but it's not critical at first (although cotton t-shirts are BAD).

Figure at Performance, $650 for bike, $30 for pedals, $60 for shoes, $40 for shorts, $50 for helmet, $30 for bottles and cages, $20 Team Performance... that's $880+tax.
That's $86 in Team performance points you can use later for other stuff (gloves, jersey, glasses, etc).

PS. No I don't work for Performance, just spend a lot of $$ there and at other bike shops and Craigslist and Ebay. :eek:

thanks man, would these shorts be fine? or would i need something better
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.cfm?SKU=19862&item=10-4561&slitrk=search&slisearch=true

and i already have helmet from my mountain bike, i'll be ok without a new one for awhile.

do you think it would be possible for me to sign up for team performance, buy the bike, and use the points i earn to buy the pedals and stuff? or does that usually take a few days

Unfortunately the point won't show up until the next day.

I don't know about those particular shorts, but I have a pair of Performance Elite and Ultra shorts and they're pretty good. I guess the $20 ones may work if you're not overly sensitive in the saddle area.

*edit: just make sure your butt is CLEAN before going on a ride and you shouldn't get saddle sores. Your butt may get sore for sitting for a long time but you shouldn't get festering boils.

are you sure they appear the next day? cuz if i sign up for team performance and buy the bike, i can wait to buy pedals and stuff for a day or 2, as long as it isnt like, 3 weeks

I usually see the points on the website the following day, occasionally two.

The Fuji is the better buy. If it fits thats what Id go with. I own Treks and Specialized bikes, but the entry levels are nothing special and the Fuji is better then the entry level 1000 or Allez.

I would go with the Fuji. Plus, I just got a coupon in the mail, 15% off anything in store. that should save you a few bucks. ends 9/9/07.

and to thnk of it, you would want to buy your own pedals. so you can figure out the best combo shoes/pedal for yourself.

and about performance, their yltra bibs are the best bang for the bucks. just saw them on sale for $45 last week. it doesn't get better than that. and get bibs, don't even bother with shorts.

+1 on the bibs. I never tried shorts and I'm glad I did.

I got that coupon too for 15% off. I'm doing some shopping tonight.:D

OP, if clipless is out of your budget for now I really recommend the PowerGrips with platforms. Not as efficient as clipless but its almost just as good.

thanks for the input, i just went to go test ride the fuji, and i gotta say it seemed a lot worse than it did yesterday. i got out of the store for a test ride and within 2 minutes the front tire blew, and overall the bike was too small.
i hear your legs are supposed to be almost straight when biking (am i right?) and on the fuji, even when at the bottom of pedaling my legs were still bent quite a bit

i also test rode the trek 1000 which i have to say overall had a lighter feel to it

i hear your legs are supposed to be almost straight when biking (am i right?) and on the fuji, even when at the bottom of pedaling my legs were still bent quite a bit

No, there should be a noticeable bend in your knee at the bottom of your pedal stroke (about 25-30 degrees). However, unless the bike is way to small for you, you can adjust the saddle height to the correct level. A good bike shop should help you with the sizing and fitting process. If possible, try to visit on a weekday morning when the more senior sales/tech people have more time for you.

yeah i went to the good bike shop first, the guy looked at me on the bike and said right off the bat that i might need a bigger size, then they positioned the seat so i could get the best fit on that size anyway, cuz they only have a bigger size at a different location

i went to the performance bikes to test the fuji, they just took it off the shelf, stuck pedals on it and let me go on my own, no sizing or anything

yeah i went to the good bike shop first, the guy looked at me on the bike and said right off the bat that i might need a bigger size, then they positioned the seat so i could get the best fit on that size anyway, cuz they only have a bigger size at a different location

i went to the performance bikes to test the fuji, they just took it off the shelf, stuck pedals on it and let me go on my own, no sizing or anything

Don't buy from Performance unless you are willing and able to do the sizing and fitting by yourself. Buying a bike that doesn't fit is a waste of money.

How tall are you? How much do you weight? How flexible are you?
Check out www.competitivecyclist.com and plug your measurements into the fit calculator. It'll spit out some measurements that should be in the ballpark.

yeah i went to the good bike shop first, the guy looked at me on the bike and said right off the bat that i might need a bigger size, then they positioned the seat so i could get the best fit on that size anyway, cuz they only have a bigger size at a different location

i went to the performance bikes to test the fuji, they just took it off the shelf, stuck pedals on it and let me go on my own, no sizing or anything

Any good bike shop will take measurements of you to determine the correct frame size. From there, they will adjust and replace parts (stem, handle bar, etc.) to get the best fit for you. I know Chain Reaction will do this when purchasing a bike. For a newbie, this is a must (IMHO).

hey so i'm thinking of dipping in to my cd account to up my price limit(i'm 19, what do i need to start saving money for? :p, nothing drastic, just from my limit or 800 to whatever it'll cost for the trek 1500 so probably 200 more or so

is the trek 1500 worth it? or are there other bikes in that price range (about $950 before tax)?

If you increase your budget, you should look at more than just the Trek 1500.

As nice as it is, there's lots of other choices out there too. Bianchi, Fuji, Felt, Scott, Raleigh, maybe even Cannondale...

just got back from calmar bikes on el camino, picked up my first bike :) :)
got the trek 1500 cuz it just seemed like the best deal, it was 899 before tax but instead of the 105 components it had a mix of ultregra and 105.
i cant wait to start riding more! anyone know any good routes in the cupertino/saratoga/san jose area? basically the de anza blvd/stevenscreek/prospect area.

That's the same place I bought my bike.

James from Calmar is a really good guy... Congrats on the bike!

There's a short loop I usually do with a buddy from his house just on the border of Saratoga. We head up prospect, go through some of the neighborhoods of Cupertino to get to foothill, then around the reservoir to mt eden. Then right at pierce, up and down to hwy 9, take that through big basin way there and then head down Saratoga back to prospect.

i cant wait to start riding more! anyone know any good routes in the cupertino/saratoga/san jose area? basically the de anza blvd/stevenscreek/prospect area.

There are lots of great rides from the De Anza area. Here is a good beginner route, starting from behind De Anza college (corner of Stelling & McClellan).

West on McClellan
Left on Foothill/Stevens Canyon
At the fork, turn left on Mt. Eden Rd and go over the hill
Left on Pierce Road
Left on Saratoga-Sunnyvale/De Anza Blvd.
Left on Prospect
Right on Stelling back to the start

Total distance is about 12 miles with one short hill. There are lots of options to make this route longer and harder, e.g. Montebello, Redwood Gulch, Bolhman, or go up Hwy 9 to Skyline and have fun up there.

lol for a second i got that confused with mcclellan and stevens creek so i was picturing going down that road, and i remembered the GIANT hill before foothill and needless to say i though you were pretty beast if you meant that was part of the trail

You can ride Stevens Creek or Homestead or whichever west until it dead ends into Foothill, then just pick a direction from there. South to the reservoir and a few hills, or north up into Mt View. I forget all the names of the streets, but I had a loop I did in the Moffett Field/Mary/Maude/Mathilda/Homestead area. Even in a city that big you would be surprised how fast you can cover ground on a good bike.

lol for a second i got that confused with mcclellan and stevens creek so i was picturing going down that road, and i remembered the GIANT hill before foothill and needless to say i though you were pretty beast if you meant that was part of the trail

After you ride your new bike a few times, McClellan will feel more like a speed bump than a mountain. Remember that pushing yourself a little is the easiest way to improve.

lol i wasnt talking about mcclellan, i was talking about the hill on stevens creek, keep going west past the 85 entrance, its right before foothill

i thought you meant that one

o yeah, that route looks pretty good, would you say the climbs are really hard for a beginner biker? should i work my way up smaller hills before trying that?

and is that really just 12 miles? seems like a lot more

just got back from calmar bikes on el camino, picked up my first bike :) :)
got the trek 1500 cuz it just seemed like the best deal, it was 899 before tax but instead of the 105 components it had a mix of ultregra and 105.
i cant wait to start riding more! anyone know any good routes in the cupertino/saratoga/san jose area? basically the de anza blvd/stevenscreek/prospect area.

Congratulations on the new bike. But this is not a true statement without pics. ;)

Now get that camera and start posting.

When I first got my bike and was exploring the area I did that route a few times as a n00b. Mt Eden was tough, but it's certainly doable. If nothing else, just turn around and it's instantly a downhill.

woot woot, picture time

http://ee.1asphost.com/aznvegieboi/bike/IMG_0003.JPG
http://ee.1asphost.com/aznvegieboi/bike/IMG_0004.JPG
http://ee.1asphost.com/aznvegieboi/bike/IMG_0005.JPG
http://ee.1asphost.com/aznvegieboi/bike/IMG_0006.JPG

http://ee.1asphost.com/aznvegieboi/bike/IMG_0007.JPG

picture no workie.

but yea, come out on the labor day ride so we can all check out the new ride.

o yeah, that route looks pretty good, would you say the climbs are really hard for a beginner biker? should i work my way up smaller hills before trying that?

and is that really just 12 miles? seems like a lot more

Mount Eden is not steep or long. Putting the "Mount" in its name is really a stretch. The other side (coming up from Pierce) is a little steeper. Whether or not it is "really hard" depends on your fitness level. If you have a reasonably smooth pedal stroke and you do some other kind of exercise besides cycling, it won't be too hard. If you need to, you can take a short break to catch your breath and then continue. Maybe you'll make it all the way the next time. You need to start somewhere. All the real flat roads in Cupertino are also boring.

Many weekend-warrior recreational cyclists start around Stanford, go south Foothill, then over Mt. Eden and up Pierce (steeper) and Hwy 9 (longer) to Skyline. Mt. Eden is just the warmup.