...on which direction I should be looking for my next bike. I started riding last September after roughly a 30 year hiatus. I'm 6' 1" and currently 230 lbs. (down 10 lbs. since Christmas); up to riding about 10 miles per day during the week and longer on weekends; and have logged almost 900 miles since returning to riding. I plan to keep increasing my distances but doubt I will have time to get in more than 15 miles a day during the week (even after the time change when I plan to start commuting to work) and maybe 20 - 30 miles per day on weekends.
I returned to riding on a $40 '86 Diamondback MTB that I fixed up and it has worked well so far. I had been planning to buy a new MTB when my tax refund comes in but was recently given a '77 Schwinn Le Tour II and, after a bit of work, got it road worthy. I still ride the MTB 90% of the time but am starting to get more comfortable riding the road bike. This has me thinking I might be better served getting something other than an MTB for my primary bike but far from convinced that a road bike would be the right choice for me.
The bike lanes around here are pretty badly littered with gravel and glass, not to mention potholes, so I don't see myself having a road bike as my primary bike. I still haven't totally given uip on a MTB but recently discovered cyclocross bikes and thought they might make a better choice. They would give me a lighter, faster bike with tires better suited to my normal terrain.
I am on a really tight budget, $500, and the bikes that seem to me to be the best bang for the buck at this point are the Ironhorse Warrior 3.0 MTB http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=23881&subcategory_ID=3050
or the Motobecane Fantom CX Cyclocross Bike http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/fantom_cross_cx.htm .
Any opinions would be appreciated.
BikEthan
02-20-08, 07:02 PM
Those are two very different bikes. Given the riding you're doing and your interest in a speedier lighter bike, I say go for the cyclocross bike. If you're going to get into doing some more off road riding (or if the roads in your area are THAT bad) get the mountain bike.
late
02-20-08, 07:11 PM
The CX bike, you can always put larger tires on it.
v1k1ng1001
02-20-08, 07:12 PM
1. I'd say go with the cylcocross bike given your riding profile.
2. I'd save up another $500 and get something nicer. That motobecane is OK but you'd probably be happier with a properly built Surly or Soma. Bianchi, Lemond and Jamis have nice cyclocross bikes too.
3. If you live in a city you might be able to find a hot deal on a used cyclocross bike on craigslist or something.
JosephPaul86
02-20-08, 07:36 PM
i agree, the cyclocross bike looks to fit road duties much better, and is better than a full on road bike. Only if you do rail riding or are one of those people to ride down curbs, on sidewalks, and etc would I get a mountain bike. I am the same height and weight as you and I ride a 01 Diamondback Response MTB. I have had to put a rigid fork on it since I do mostly road riding, slicks, and rider bars just to get it to work with me on the road. I am eying a motobecane road bike for when/if this bike ever fails on me or I crack the frame. Thats one thing about the Mtn bike though, the frame and components will be more stout.
Tom Stormcrowe
02-20-08, 08:03 PM
Agreed, cyclocross, or alternatively, a touring frame....especially if you're planning to commute or do anything like touring over the summer, for example :D
I'd look at the Cyclocross though since your LeTour IS basically a touring frame. :D
Go to your LBS and look at bikes and discuss with them your wants and pricing. See what they can do for you.
jaxgtr
02-20-08, 10:17 PM
Ask about close outs and also check your craig's list.
flip18436572
02-21-08, 05:12 AM
Ask about close outs and also check your craig's list.
I check my craigslist.org site everyday and there are some great finds there, and also some people that thing they are dealers. But, you can find what you want if you want to wait for it. Go back a few weeks and look what is posted, some people don't sell it and never use craigslist again. I have sold cars, motorcycles, jackets, tools, quickly and easily on craigslist.
I thought you were wanting new, so that is why I say go to the LBS, unless you are someone who likes to build their own.
CACycling
02-21-08, 09:46 AM
Thanks for the responses.
I am a Craig's List adict. Bought and sold much there and check it daily (that's where I found my Diamondback and my son's '93 Diamondback). Frames to fit me in any type of bike are few and far between. Those I've found that are in my size range fall into 2 categories. At one end, they are the $50 - $200 bikes similar to what I have or newer, entry level bikes. At the other end are $1,000+ higher end bikes. Nothing close to what I'm looking for in my price range as of yet.
I've been to all the LBSs and talked to them. No decent road or cyclocross bikes in my price range. I would have to drop down to a very entry-level bike. The Ironhorse seems to be the best componentry of any MTB near my price range.
Finally, I can't justify spending more than $500 at this point. Too many other demands on my time and money (i.e. wife and 2 teenaged sons) to put more than that into cycling having only been back into riding 5 months. And speaking of my wife, she loves to accompany me on rides. She has a comfort bike that she loves and I have to control my speed on my MTB to not lose her and the road bike isnt really a good option if we are riding together. I will have to convince her to do a serious upgrade at some point in the future as well (and have been actively looking for an inexpensive older road bike that I can put her on).
Maybe I should look at it differently. Buy the MTB now (it seems to be a solid bike with pretty good components bought through a LBS and in my price range) and see how my riding progresses. A year or two down the road, I can reassess to see if adding a cyclocross or road bike is worth spending the money to buy a better quality bike. In the mean time, I'll have my road bike, old as it is, to remind me what it is like to ride in the drops. Does this make some sense?
JosephPaul86
02-21-08, 11:09 AM
Get this and start a build. I am an idiot for passing up this deal, but I've learned to stick with one bike.
http://houston.craigslist.org/bik/580847908.html
v1k1ng1001
02-21-08, 01:54 PM
I'd ride what you got until you can afford what you want. You can put a few bucks into the bikes you have and keep turning out miles on them.
Scratch up something to sell if you're desperate. All of the bikes pictured you can probably find discounted right now in Feb.
I just hate buying something that's OK and then having to buy something else a year or two down the road. In the long run, it saves money to just get what you want in the first place.
ilmooz
02-21-08, 07:17 PM
For that price range try matching up the Kona Dew, Dew Plus or Jake to what you're looking at now. Good bikes with very good bang for the buck.
BigBlueToe
02-21-08, 09:53 PM
I'm wondering if the bike lanes are really that bad where you live. I've ridden my road bike in a lot of different places and have never been to a place where I couldn't find places to ride. If you're worried about flats you can buy tires with puncture resistance - like Specialized Armadillos or Schwalbes to mention a couple.
I bought a mountain bike as my first bike when I got back into cycling. I was hanging out with a couple of mountain bikers and had never owned one. They seemed cool. Well, when I got back into the habit of riding on a regular basis, it turned out I was riding on the road 80% of the time. The mountain bike was okay, especially with some street tires, but a road bike would have been better.
I'd decide where I was going to be riding most and buy a bike for that. I'd also bear in mind that the chances are that I'd eventually settle into a bicycling lifestyle, which might not be what I had anticipated. Whatever bike you buy, you may want to get something else later. Or, best of all worlds, you may want to buy a second bike and have both kinds.
CACycling
02-22-08, 01:53 PM
I'm wondering if the bike lanes are really that bad where you live. I've ridden my road bike in a lot of different places and have never been to a place where I couldn't find places to ride. If you're worried about flats you can buy tires with puncture resistance -
I decided to take my road bike out this morning and hit many of my typical roads. First, there are more good areas than bad. Less than 10% is fairly rough and most of that ranged from mildly annoying to teethchattering but I was almost bucked off the bars a few times. There was a bit more mud than normal as we just had rain (quite a few of these roads are in agricultural areas with tractor crossings so mud is an issue year round but worse after rains) but the sand was firmer packed than normal (we're on the coast so a lot of riding along the beach) and much of the smaller debris was washed out of the bike paths. Also, about 1/3 of the ride was on roads with 3' or less of bike lane (much of that with no marked lane) with posted speeds of 45 to 55 MPH. Add to that I ride after dark 4 nights a week so have less than optimal visibility.
So a road bike will definately work but I'm still not convinced it is the best option for the majority of the riding I do now. And for spending more than $500, jumping from a $40 bike to an $800 + bike isn't something I could see myself doing in one leap (it has been hard enough for me to consider spending $500! And waiting till I get my tax return isn't due to lack of funds, it is to force me to take my time making the decision on what bike to buy). As long as I keep riding as much or more than I am now, I definately see having at least 2 or 3 different types of bikes. It is just a matter of determining what would be my most logical next step (and I use "logical" quite loosely).
Thanks for all of your time and input. It is giving me a lot to think about.
v1k1ng1001
02-22-08, 02:06 PM
We are here to confuse! :D
CACycling
02-23-08, 05:57 PM
We are here to confuse! :D
Mission Acomplished!:)
v1k1ng1001
02-23-08, 07:26 PM
I just noticed that Bikes Direct is offering the Surly Cross Check for $900.
For that price range try matching up the Kona Dew, Dew Plus or Jake to what you're looking at now. Good bikes with very good bang for the buck.
Another +1 on the Kona Jake. I picked up mine in the prime of cyclocross season brand new for $650, so deals can be had.
Fun bike that can do a lot and take a beating. The drivetrain spec isn't all that great compared to what you can get on MTB in that price, but you can easily upgrade as money allows.
jaxgtr
02-23-08, 08:46 PM
I might have gotten that Surly if they had offered when I was looking
v1k1ng1001
02-23-08, 11:45 PM
I might have gotten that Surly if they had offered when I was looking
You have to ride with the saddle in that exact position though. :D
rickyaustin
02-24-08, 01:26 AM
The $900 bikesdirect price is the normal price... no actual deal. I'm bummed BD sells Surly, I feel it cheapens the brand.
Anywho - some people do get buy on a single speed bike for commuting. They are plentiful in the $500 range. Just adding options even though I don't think this is what you're looking for.
Between a cyclocross road bike or a mountain bike... unless you commute off road, go with the roadish bike. That's what it's made for.
v1k1ng1001
02-24-08, 01:35 AM
The $900 bikesdirect price is the normal price... no actual deal. I'm bummed BD sells Surly, I feel it cheapens the brand.
The spec looks different. FWIW, Surlys are just inexpensive, imported frames--just like BD's frames--so the brand is already cheap. Surly just has a hipster website while BD's looks like my mom designed it.
bikesdirect_com
02-24-08, 05:48 AM
Cyclo Cross is a great choice
For $500 we sell lots of these [actually over a thousand since it came out]
Well, on Saturday I did a 25 mile ride (longest yet!) on my MTB. The last 8 miles was into a 10 MPH head wind and I was not appreciating the more upright riding position on the MTB. More than anything yet, that experience is steering me toward either a cyclocross or road bike (i.e. drop bars) as my primary ride.
Visited our local Performance Bike Shop on Sunday (the smaller LBSs around here aren't open Sundays) and they had slashed the prices on a couple of bikes that, had they been the right size, one of them would have probably come home with me. Nothing else close to the level of componentry in my size and price range. I did enjoy the opportunity to get up-close and personal with road and cyclocross bikes (althought they only had 4 CX bikes amid 100 + road bikes) and get a better feel for what is out there.
I still like the Motobecane Fantom CX and its componentry is comparable to bikes I saw costing $100s more but am taking my time to do a lot more looking now that I am more focused on what I'm looking for.
One more question: What is the largest tire that will fit on a "typical" low- to mid-range road bike? Most seem to come with around 700 x 25 but if I decide I want something a little bigger (700 x 32, 700 x 35?), would they fit?