Road Cycling - Recommendations for buying a new bike?

What new bike do you suggest I should buy?

I've been looking at getting a new bike. I have a Giant OCR 2. The bicycle store owner sold me this bike about 2 1/2 years ago with advice that I should try a low end bike (without investing a ton of money). If I hang the bike up and don't ride, I wouldn't be out a lot of money. (I was moving from a sedentary lifestyle to a more active lifestyle.) I didn't just hang the bike up; I've stuck with it.

My body build is probably not a "typical" cyclist body frame. I'm short legged (i.e. torso is longer than my legs.) The Giant frames seem to be O.K.; I don't kill myself when I dismount. I like to do the Century events; so long distance and comfort are a key to the right bike for me.

With this little information, what bikes do you like and why? All suggestions and input welcome. I like to gather as much insight from your experience as possible.

THANKS! and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Traditionally the Lemond bikes are used to fit those of us with shorter legs and a longer torso. They are also fine bikes.

Tourmalet, Buenos Aires, Zurich and a number of other models.

I am sure you will get a lot of other suggestions, though!

Have fun.

What new bike do you suggest I should buy?

I've
THANKS! and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

The question is: what are you trying to gain by purchasing a new bike? Less weight, better gear sets, etc.

I have a 2004 OCR2. It's a great bike! I know the version I have is somewhat upgraded from the earlier models, nonetheless for me, a higher end bike is not necessarily going to add to my enjoyment. So, you've got to look at what you are trying to accomplish overall. You may be able to simply swap out a lower end component for added performance.

Sheldon

I second DnvrFox's suggestion, especially since your torso "matches" one of the strengthes of the LeMond frame geometry. At least test-ride the LeMonds at/near the same pricepoint as your budget, because they should be a good fit benchmark for you.

I have the 2004 Buenos Aires, and love the fit and ride.

Hi,
I have very short legs. The Gunnar Sport fit me wonderfully well. Try and find a Gunnar Roadie to test ride; see if you like it. If you consider getting one, get the Waterford paint job.
http://www.gunnarbikes.com/data/mainframe.htm

Do you like your Giant? Sometimes just getting some new wheels and a few new components or a new group can make a huge difference. The compact geometry of Giants should be easy to fit for your body type. If you like Giant and want a more performance frame, try testing one of the TCRs.

I myself like Cannondales. I bought one of the very first that came out when everyone thought big tubes were really strange. I still ride a cannondale. They handle nicely and are nice bikes. Treks are good too. Really any quality manufacturer makes good bikes. I have owned a lot of bikes and really have never had a bad one. There is nothing wrong with the Giant OCR. They are also a quality machine.

I would suggest that first you get something with Shimano 105. 105 is the sweet spot in components. It gives you almost all of the performance at a reasonable price. You save a little weight going up to Dura Ace but saving a couple pounds is not that big a deal for a recreational cyclist.

Get you bike at a Local Bike Shop (LBS) and one that will take the effort to fit it properly. Of course, some people can eyeball the fit. I recall a bike shop guy looking at me and fitting the bike and a few years later I bought a bike at a place that used the "fit kit" and the results were VERY similar!

Another thing about a LBS, they will not carry bad bikes. If it has Shimano 105, it is going to be a very good bike even if it is one of those bikes that trys to give you a generic situation - most of those come with pretty good steel frames.

Besides that, it is largely a matter of taste and set up. Some people like aggressive, twitchy bikes and others like laid back ones. So ride the bike before buying it and see what YOU like, not what the rest of us think you should like. Personally, I can afford a high priced rig. But I put in a pile of miles and when I am out there in the wet and slop and have to duck behind the bushes, I want to be able to rest my bike against a sign post and if it gets a little ding, well that is OK too. I go with pretty utilitarian bikes. I love the looks of the real fancy paint jobs. But I would hate dinging up one of those lovely babies, so I ride a more basic look. It depends on what you want.

You know, a friend of mine once said that the most important thing about a bike is the color. It really makes more sense then what you think. On quality bikes, you are going to get a good ride if it fits properly. From that, it is more a matter of what appeals to you.

What new bike do you suggest I should buy?

I've been looking at getting a new bike. I have a Giant OCR 2. The bicycle store owner sold me this bike about 2 1/2 years ago with advice that I should try a low end bike (without investing a ton of money). If I hang the bike up and don't ride, I wouldn't be out a lot of money. (I was moving from a sedentary lifestyle to a more active lifestyle.) I didn't just hang the bike up; I've stuck with it.

My body build is probably not a "typical" cyclist body frame. I'm short legged (i.e. torso is longer than my legs.) The Giant frames seem to be O.K.; I don't kill myself when I dismount. I like to do the Century events; so long distance and comfort are a key to the right bike for me.

With this little information, what bikes do you like and why? All suggestions and input welcome. I like to gather as much insight from your experience as possible.

THANKS! and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

I have the same type torso and the Lemond's fit me like a glove.

I would suggest that first you get something with Shimano 105. 105 is the sweet spot in components. It gives you almost all of the performance at a reasonable price. You save a little weight going up to Dura Ace but saving a couple pounds is not that big a deal for a recreational cyclist.

Get you bike at a Local Bike Shop (LBS) and one that will take the effort to fit it properly. Of course, some people can eyeball the fit. I recall a bike shop guy looking at me and fitting the bike and a few years later I bought a bike at a place that used the "fit kit" and the results were VERY similar!

Another thing about a LBS, they will not carry bad bikes. If it has Shimano 105, it is going to be a very good bike even if it is one of those bikes that trys to give you a generic situation - most of those come with pretty good steel frames.

Besides that, it is largely a matter of taste and set up. Some people like aggressive, twitchy bikes and others like laid back ones. So ride the bike before buying it and see what YOU like, not what the rest of us think you should like. Personally, I can afford a high priced rig. But I put in a pile of miles and when I am out there in the wet and slop and have to duck behind the bushes, I want to be able to rest my bike against a sign post and if it gets a little ding, well that is OK too. I go with pretty utilitarian bikes. I love the looks of the real fancy paint jobs. But I would hate dinging up one of those lovely babies, so I ride a more basic look. It depends on what you want.

You know, a friend of mine once said that the most important thing about a bike is the color. It really makes more sense then what you think. On quality bikes, you are going to get a good ride if it fits properly. From that, it is more a matter of what appeals to you.
Saving a couple of pounds is a big deal for anyone.Saving a couple of grams is different.

CyclingManiac, I want to echo what Pat said. I got to thinking about it a little more after I logged off and really, most bikes that come equipped with something like Shimano 105 are going to a good quality bike. I don't care if it is a Giant, Bianchi, Trek, Cannondale, Motobecane, Fuji...they will all be good bikes. Find one that you like and that you feel balanced on. Small differences in top and seat tube length can be adjusted for with stems and seatposts. Go to competetive cyclist web site and put your measurements into their size calculator and that will give you an idea of ideal frame size. Mine is 57cm, but I ride a 56cm. I could also ride a 58 - the differences can be adjusted for. As long as you don't stray too big or too small the balance will be fine. If you really have a long torso, you want to pay more attention to that top tube length. That is why a compact frame or something like a lemond or some of the Italian bikes may be more suitable. Lemond's philosophy is that if you are going to ride a long distance on a performance bike it would be better to stretch it out just a tad - makes for a more comfortable ride, while maintaining acceptable performance. Keep in mind he rode frames like that when he won his three tours. Good luck.

I myself like Cannondales. I bought one of the very first that came out when everyone thought big tubes were really strange. I still ride a cannondale. They handle nicely and are nice bikes. Treks are good too. Really any quality manufacturer makes good bikes. I have owned a lot of bikes and really have never had a bad one. There is nothing wrong with the Giant OCR. They are also a quality machine.

Me too...I ordered an R3000 with Dura Ace '04...

I put 20,000 miles on a CAAD4 in three years and am keeping it for poor weather and the Cycleops Fluid2. I re-equipped it with Ultegra from the original 105.
LeMond is a very nice bike...amazing how few know that it's a Trek.

I'm another one in the "leg-length challenged" category. I have a Specialized Allez Comp. Fits me great. It has a compact geometry like your OCR2.

Lots of good bikes out there. Ride them and see what you like.

the most important thing about a bike is the fit. sure its nice to have a lighter ride, but this should don't expect big jumps in performance with a new bike. with that said, a new bike is fun. A giant with compact geometry should work well with your body type. I would test ride as many different bikes as possible. Since you already have a bike, you should not be a rush to get a new ride.

Me too...I ordered an R3000 with Dura Ace '04...

I put 20,000 miles on a CAAD4 in three years and am keeping it for poor weather and the Cycleops Fluid2. I re-equipped it with Ultegra from the original 105.
LeMond is a very nice bike...amazing how few know that it's a Trek.


If you want to think of it that way, why not say that a Klein or Gary Fisher is a Trek, Masi and Del Sol are Haro, and Mazdas are Fords. It's hard to say that and really mean it when all of those brands have querks and feels to them. Just because the parent company owns smaller names, doesn't really say that the bikes are the same. They put different names of them so people will know that they are different.

If you want to think of it that way, why not say that a Klein or Gary Fisher is a Trek, Masi and Del Sol are Haro, and Mazdas are Fords. It's hard to say that and really mean it when all of those brands have querks and feels to them. Just because the parent company owns smaller names, doesn't really say that the bikes are the same. They put different names of them so people will know that they are different.

Well we weren't talking about Klein or Fisher. But you'd be suprised how few consumers know that Trek makes those bikes.

Well we weren't talking about Klein or Fisher. But you'd be suprised how few consumers know that Trek makes those bikes.
Trek owns them.Owning and making are two different things.LeMond is seperate from trek.

Am I missing something? Trek is a US manufacturer; LeMond is a US manufacturer. So, why does it matter, or why exactly should LeMond bike owners be "aware" that Trek owns LeMond? Is it because it takes away from LeMond's "brand cachet", that it's not a stand-alone company?

I see it as a strength for LeMond's economic viability, that it's part of a larger, successful company (albeit with its own frame geometry, and bike models distinct from Trek).

Am I missing something? Trek is a US manufacturer; LeMond is a US manufacturer. So, why does it matter, or why exactly should LeMond bike owners be "aware" that Trek owns LeMond? Is it because it takes away from LeMond's "brand cachet", that it's not a stand-alone company?

I see it as a strength for LeMond's economic viability, that it's part of a larger, successful company (albeit with its own frame geometry, and bike models distinct from Trek).

I think one of the reasons is to let it be known that Trek's reputation for customer service is also there for Lemond owners.

"I think one of the reasons is to let it be known that Trek's reputation for customer service is also there for Lemond owners."

That to me is certainly a positive, too - but I thought (always hard to tell in this electronic medium) that roadwarrior's tone was making LeMond's association with Trek to be a negative.

"I think one of the reasons is to let it be known that Trek's reputation for customer service is also there for Lemond owners."

That to me is certainly a positive, too - but I thought (always hard to tell in this electronic medium) that roadwarrior's tone was making LeMond's association with Trek to be a negative.

Noooo...it's better to do business with a bigger company that will be around for a while. There's reasons why bike companies kind of come and go...and while they may be "separate" they use, in the carbon frames Trek carbon and use Bontrager components. They are approaching a different market segment, that's all.

Noooo...it's better to do business with a bigger company that will be around for a while. There's reasons why bike companies kind of come and go...and while they may be "separate" they use, in the carbon frames Trek carbon and use Bontrager components. They are approaching a different market segment, that's all.
I think up to last year,trek did'nt make any steel bikes so you had to go to LeMond.

Good info about the Lemond, I have (as my wife calls them) Corgi legs :) I'm looking at possibly getting a Road bike in the New Year. I looked and sat on a few in the LBS (Trek and Cannondale) but the TT was always too short.

Same problem but tall (1·86 and a short leg , 4·5 cm ) so I know .
Go compact but a size large enough for your thorax .
Don´t have the bars too low .
105 / ultegra or campy equivalents .
triple ring if possible and you live in lumpy country , always gear for your bad days not the ' superman ' days that we all have at times ( like once a year in my case )

Make of frame ? how about you buy a colour you like , it makes as much sense as any other there´s a lot of good stuff out there .

Buy the best wheels ( convencional ) you can , you can buy something flash and expensive later and keep the others for rain , bad roads etc .

let us know how you get on .