"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - to build a racing bike?

Hey, i posted this on the Road Cycling Forum... figured i'd post here as it fits better...

I'm planning on putting together a racing bike , sometime within the next 4-6 months. I just started thinking about it now but i wanted to know your guys' opinions. This is what i have selected so far... I'm aiming for a light build, no more than $7,500. I'd prefer aero wheels, but nothing too deep, and i don't really like Zipps.

Frame: Specialized SL2 Module(blue) 952g
F.Der: SRAM Red 58g
R.Der: SRAM Red 153g
Brakelevers: SRAM Red 280g
Crank: Specialized FACT crank 623g (withframe)
Wheels: Mavic Cosmic Carbone Ultimates 1185g
Tires:
Tubes:
Pedals: Speedplay 206g? Alreadyhave
Seatpost: Easton EC90 160g
Stem/Hndlbar: Specialized Wedge 380g Alreadyhave
Seat: Fizik(Aliante or Arione) 155g
Cassette: SRAM Red(10sp) 210g


All of this stuff i can get for heavily discounted so....

I'm not sure whether it'd be better to just get a pair of tubular racing wheels and maybe SRAM Red groupset, and throw it on my Merckx MXM(Chorus right now). It's plenty light as it is, but i got a birthday coming up+saved up money for a new bike+i can get it for cheap :) I like the idea of having 1 training bike, 1 racing bike. If i get a whole new groupset and wheels, do you think i should just take my old stuff and buy a cheap frame to train on?

I will just be starting to race this season, so i'm asking you expierenced racers out there.. Maybe i'm just being stupid, if i am, let me know.

opinions anyone?

Unless you are getting a REALLY good deal on the CCU, I'd spend the extra $500 and get some Lightweight Standards. Honestly, some Reynolds would be great if you don't like Zipp.... or even better; get some custom built wheels with the new Edge rims. They are even nicer than the Reynolds and come in a 38mm and 66mm depth. Retail is about $700 per rim, but they are just about the best money can buy.

i was looking at the Reynolds DV46 UL

So heavily discounted and a budget of $7,500?!?! I'd get multiple wheelsets and an SRM.

CAA8/9 frame, SRM, SRAM Red. The rest personal preference, but don't go to your limit. Save 3k or so for coaching for the next year or two.

CAA8/9 frame, SRM, SRAM Red. The rest personal preference, but don't go to your limit. Save 3k or so for coaching for the next year or two.

My bike:

CAAD9, (soon to be) Gigantex 50mm carbon wheels with either Vittoria Evo Corsa CX or Conti Competition 22, 2007 Chorus, Ritchey WCS OS Classic Bend Bar and OS -17deg 110mm stem.

Pure race, nothing more or less functional than a higher end bike with DA/Record (formerly an Ultegra user, this is way above that), not TOO expensive, and pretty light for the money. Swap in the training wheels and it weighs another kg more.

I don't know the weight of the bike yet, but I'd be willing to bet around 7kg all told. I'm getting free "coaching" from my friend/teammate (state Pro/1/2 TT champ and biology/physiology major), starting whenever it gets warm outside and I'm riding my road bike full time. Will basically mirror his training with adjustments for my goals, needs and present abilities. Kinda hard to get PT data when you're on daddy's early 90s MTB 3 or 4 days a week.

Not everyone has friends like that. ;) Personally I would put Rival/Ultegra level on a bike, but seems like OP wants some bling bling so I said Red.

My bike:

CAAD9, (soon to be) Gigantex 50mm carbon wheels with either Vittoria Evo Corsa CX or Conti Competition 22, 2007 Chorus, Ritchey WCS OS Classic Bend Bar and OS -17deg 110mm stem.

Pure race, nothing more or less functional than a higher end bike with DA/Record (formerly an Ultegra user, this is way above that), not TOO expensive, and pretty light for the money. Swap in the training wheels and it weighs another kg more.

I don't know the weight of the bike yet, but I'd be willing to bet around 7kg all told. I'm getting free "coaching" from my friend/teammate (state Pro/1/2 TT champ and biology/physiology major), starting whenever it gets warm outside and I'm riding my road bike full time. Will basically mirror his training with adjustments for my goals, needs and present abilities. Kinda hard to get PT data when you're on daddy's early 90s MTB 3 or 4 days a week.

I'm aiming for a light build, no more than $7,500.

is that all?

If you want to spend that much coin on a boutique 12-pounder, you'll get more help over at weightweenies.starbike.com.

I will just be starting to race this season, so i'm asking you expierenced racers out there.. Maybe i'm just being stupid, if i am, let me know.


I'm far from experienced, and I'm guilty of owning a $6,000+ bike (though I spent less than half of that), but I'd like to reiterate some of the above advice. At most spend $3,000 on the complete bike, maybe $1500 on some bling tubular race wheels and/or $1500-2000 on a power meter setup (for total max shwag budget of ~$6,000), then use the remainder to get you started with some coaching.

A $3000 bike, power meter and coaching will make you way faster than a $7500 bike.

If I had $7500 to spend and no bike that is what I would do.

I will just be starting to race this season

you want to take a $7500 bike into Cat 5 races?

do you use $100 bills to wipe your ass and light your cigars?

You will want two bikes considering you might trash your baby in a cat 5 race. I would echo the others and suggest an SRM setup over a lot of the super expensive other high end things, but whatever. You get great discounts, so build it up light and fast. go with SRAM Red, find any 60mm rimmed wheel of your choice and try to get an SRM in there.

I'll cut and paste my answer from the main forum:


I'd look at about 2500 max + an SRM for serious racing. Buy some race wheels for 2K, and there's your $7500.

If you must have carbon, Pedal Force frame, SRAM Force and some 404's/Stingers/Reynolds 46's. The wheels will make much more difference than the Red.

I'm looking for a light read. Can anyone recommend Stephen King's "It"?

Thanks for your input all.

$7,500??? WTF....I built mine for like $2,300 from the frame up....it's nothing special, but it gets the job done. Light (16.5 pounds), fairly stiff, good ride, and handles well. NOS Trek 2500 frame from 1999 that was never built, Easton EC90SL fork, SRAM Rival group w/ SRAM Force 50/36 crank, CK headset, Thomson X2 stem, Thomson Masterpiece post, Deda Netwon bars, Specialized Toupe seat, Niobium 30 wheels (which I hate), Michelin PR2's, Look A5.1 pedals. Other than the wheels (I sold my Bontrager Race X Lite Aero's w/ the Powertap :( ), it's a solid machine. If I destroy the frame....who cares. It was only $75.

eBay is your friend. At least it was my friend, as long as you have some patience.