Road Cycling - Confused but still looking!!

Confused!!
I'm 6'2", 210 lbs. and looking for a road bike that would suit my riding style. I've started riding about 4 months ago and now I'm hooked. I'm riding approximately 30 to 40 kms a day about 3 to 4 times a week. My average speed is currently around the 25 - 26 kms per hour range. I'm very athletic and intend to ride more and more as time goes on. With this infromation can anyone lead me in the right direction as to what I should be looking for. My budget is $2500.00 canadian.

Thanks,
Clutch

Confused!!
I'm 6'2", 210 lbs. and looking for a road bike that would suit my riding style. I've started riding about 4 months ago and now I'm hooked. I'm riding approximately 30 to 40 kms a day about 3 to 4 times a week. My average speed is currently around the 25 - 26 kms per hour range. I'm very athletic and intend to ride more and more as time goes on. With this infromation can anyone lead me in the right direction as to what I should be looking for. My budget is $2500.00 canadian.

Thanks,
Clutch

Hey Clutch! Your $2500 CND looks like $1893 USD. Within your budget, I have not seen any new titanium or carbon fibre framed bikes. That doesn't mean you can't buy a really great bike with your money. In fact Bicycling magazine just picked a combination aluminum/carbon fibre frame built with Shimano Ultegra as it's best road bike buy. The bike is a Douglas Fusion. It retails for around $1600 USD. There are some really nice steel framed bikes with Ultegra setups that can be had for less than $2000 USD. You might keep in mind that aluminum frames are generally not considered to be long lived frames. You are a larger than an average guy, and if you expect to keep the bike much longer than 6-8 years and ride it a bunch, aluminum might not be the best choice. But, if it's a bike that you can afford to replace (or want to replace) every 12000-16000 miles aluminum is a great choice. Check this website for a list of bicycle manufacturers: http://www.bikesutra.com/manatoi.html
Bianchi, Lemond, KHS, Basso, are just a few names making good quality affordable steel bikes.

Welcome to the forums! Where are you from in Canada? I'm Canadian as well (it's ok you don't have to answer that if you're too shy ;) ) I was recently in the same boat as you, looking for a road bike. I wouldn't get too caught up in your riding style, I would say fit is the most important thing you need to worry about. Try out as many different bikes as you can, (quickly winter is coming :eek: ) and see which ones feel the best, then worry about things like alu/steel/carbon fiber choices. That being said, some brands I found went the furthest for my money were canadian ones. i.e. Devinci, Marinoni, Guru. I ended up going with a Marinoni bike after a LOT of deliberation, research, and test rides on as many different bikes as I could find (with help from lots of knowledgeable people on this forum I might add). Good luck with your search!

Hello Clutch! I'm also a tall guy so I can understand your concern. In your price range there are 100's of bikes that will work for you. I have my preferences but it's not about pitching bikes. I may suggest you stay with a steel frame.

I used to ride a Cannondale alum. frame bike some years ago that I raced. It beat me to death. I switched to a team racing Bianchi frames so I opted for a steel frame and found the ride to be much nicer.

I currently ride a highend Orbea that is Magnesium, Alum.,Zinc with a rear triangle that is carbon. If you want good value and good ride I would look into steel frames. Your size and weight would be a good fit for a steel ride. But, as I mentioned there is no end to the frames that would work for you.

Based on your size and weight, budget, and your riding style, I would suggest with the Cannondale R1000 or the Trek 2300.

The R1000 is not as bad as some think. In fact, if you want to go like a scalded jack rabbit and climb like a squirrell being chased by a pack of hunger dogs, the R1000 is the way to go.

Of course, there are other good bikes, but in my humble opinion, the 'Dale is for you.

Check out Supergo.com.
They have a carbon Scattante with full Ultegra going for $1500 US.
I think it is around 17lbs so if you are interested in going fast for less....there you go. The R-650 is aluminum and is $995. 17.8 lbs. I have this one and love it!

Hello,
Thanks for the great advice. I'm from Ontario. I was at the cycling championships this past weekend and looked into some of the bikes being showcased. I fell in love with a Titanium LITESPEED (ghisallo and tuscany) with Ultegra components. Do you recommend Litespeed? I was impressed with the Titanium aspect because it would add a great deal of life to the bike. I really want to stay away from anything that I may have to change in 5 years. I think I'm better off spending a little more now so that I have a bike that lasts me a long long time. What do you think?

Thanks again for allowing me to pick your brain.






Welcome to the forums! Where are you from in Canada? I'm Canadian as well (it's ok you don't have to answer that if you're too shy ;) ) I was recently in the same boat as you, looking for a road bike. I wouldn't get too caught up in your riding style, I would say fit is the most important thing you need to worry about. Try out as many different bikes as you can, (quickly winter is coming :eek: ) and see which ones feel the best, then worry about things like alu/steel/carbon fiber choices. That being said, some brands I found went the furthest for my money were canadian ones. i.e. Devinci, Marinoni, Guru. I ended up going with a Marinoni bike after a LOT of deliberation, research, and test rides on as many different bikes as I could find (with help from lots of knowledgeable people on this forum I might add). Good luck with your search!

Hello jchet,
Thanks for the response. I was at the world cycling championships this past weekend and it gave me a great chance to see a wide selection of bikes available to me. One bike that caught my eye was the LITESPEED (ghisallo and tuscany) with Ultegra components and titanium frame. Any suggestions about these bikes? I'm beginning to lean towards titanium or steel for its comfort and longevity. I really want a bike that will last a long long time.

Thanks again for the advice!!





Hello Clutch! I'm also a tall guy so I can understand your concern. In your price range there are 100's of bikes that will work for you. I have my preferences but it's not about pitching bikes. I may suggest you stay with a steel frame.

I used to ride a Cannondale alum. frame bike some years ago that I raced. It beat me to death. I switched to a team racing Bianchi frames so I opted for a steel frame and found the ride to be much nicer.

I currently ride a highend Orbea that is Magnesium, Alum.,Zinc with a rear triangle that is carbon. If you want good value and good ride I would look into steel frames. Your size and weight would be a good fit for a steel ride. But, as I mentioned there is no end to the frames that would work for you.

Hello jchet,
Thanks for the response. I was at the world cycling championships this past weekend and it gave me a great chance to see a wide selection of bikes available to me. One bike that caught my eye was the LITESPEED (ghisallo and tuscany) with Ultegra components and titanium frame. Any suggestions about these bikes? I'm beginning to lean towards titanium or steel for its comfort and longevity. I really want a bike that will last a long long time.

Thanks again for the advice!!

JCHET makes some good points. I have zero experience riding titanium frame bikes. However, the physical properties of titanium would make it my second choice to steel. How you plan on persuing your cycling interests should in part determine the type of cycling machine you buy. I ride for recreation and fitness. Been doing it a long, long time. If I were involved in competitive cycling, I might look at frames made of some composite material or a titanium.

It's pretty much understood that carbon, aluminum, and titanium all share the same alure: lighter weight frames. Why is that a big deal? Speed! We think that a lighter frame will somehow propel us to the front of the peloton. Guess what? The guys and girls that will outride you, could probably do it regardless of the frame material their bikes are made of. And some of folks you leave behind, will be riding lighter frames than yours. Whenever I get dropped, it's because I'm weaker. If I want to fix the problem I must get stronger. Not buy a different bike! Forgive the semi-rant, but you know that Lance or Jan could drop about anyone you've ever seen on a bike, and do it on a 20 year old Raliegh.

But you know what? I'd probably take a look at the new TrueTemper S3 frames being done by Waterford. They are building 16.25 lb. steel bikes (complete!).
Not cheap by the way.

Hello,
Thanks for the great advice. I'm from Ontario. I was at the cycling championships this past weekend and looked into some of the bikes being showcased. I fell in love with a Titanium LITESPEED (ghisallo and tuscany) with Ultegra components. Do you recommend Litespeed? I was impressed with the Titanium aspect because it would add a great deal of life to the bike. I really want to stay away from anything that I may have to change in 5 years. I think I'm better off spending a little more now so that I have a bike that lasts me a long long time. What do you think?

Thanks again for allowing me to pick your brain.


Well, I titanium frame should last a very long time. But then again nearly any frame with proper care should last a very long time. I have put over 30,000 miles on several aluminum frames. I have seen some bikes, steel frame, with over 50,000 miles on them. By that time the components are going. Aluminum frames are not that fancy so after awhile, you just go out and get a new bike with the more recent innovations. That is really what gets bikes is over time, components get redesigned and the "old" bikes look obsolescent. They are still functional.

I have not ridden a titanium frame, but I know a fair number of people who have them and they all seem to like them quite a bit. And Litespeed enjoys a very good reputation.

Another thing you might think of is this is your first real road bike. You really get something like 98% of what you can get out of a bike with Shimano 105. Beyond that you are getting a little less weight and changes in geometry. You might want to hold off and wait for your second bike because by then you might have a better idea of what you want.