Road Cycling - Recommended purchase

I'm in the market for a new bike...my dilemma is that I've looked at and ridden so many I can't make the decision! Any pointers from anyone on areas of focus that I may have not considered when riding? I'll be doing atleast 4 century rides/year and alot of rec riding in between.

Do you need a triple chainring? Fenders for wet weather. Luggage rack for a small amount of lugagge? A relaxed riding position ?
Something like
http://www.bianchiusa.com/veloce.html

There are a couple of other bikes in this style, which is often called "light touring"

I'm in the market for a new bike...my dilemma is that I've looked at and ridden so many I can't make the decision! Any pointers from anyone on areas of focus that I may have not considered when riding? I'll be doing atleast 4 century rides/year and alot of rec riding in between.

Fit! Fit! Fit! Fit! And when that's done, Fit! I guess my point is that the main concern you should have first is; does the bike fit? The very best bike, ill fitting, is worse that than a poor bike that fits well.

Have you taken any of your choices for a long (1~3) hour test ride? You can't tell too much, if you are inexperienced, in 10 or 20 minutes.

You will have to make the decision of which bike. Would you let someone else make a car buying choice for you?

How much confidence do you have in your LBS (local bike store)? A good one will listen to what you are saying you want and need, and try to channel you in the direction of bikes that will meet your needs. He will help you get a bike that will fit (there's that word again!) you properly.

There are a zillion bikes out there, very few are bad. You have a budget, stay within it. Talk extensively with your LBS about exactly what you want to do with your new bike and what your expectations are.

And lastly, is there a bike that you have ridden that "talks" to you? Every once in a while people will come across a bike that seems to reach out and grab them.
You've probably had that experience with a car. Listen, it may be calling your name!

This is really an impossible question to answer. Just look around and find one that fits you and your needs. Buying from a good LBS is an important factor too.

That about says it all,pretty basic.

I'm in the market for a new bike...my dilemma is that I've looked at and ridden so many I can't make the decision! Any pointers from anyone on areas of focus that I may have not considered when riding? I'll be doing atleast 4 century rides/year and alot of rec riding in between.

The quick answer is...............It depends.

IMO, the priorities in my bike bying are:

1.) Physical Fit, How much setback do you need? What does this say about seat tube angle? How high do you want the Bars? How much BB drop do you want/Need? Do you want/need longer seat tube compared to top tube or vice versa, or square?

2.) Fit to intended purpose, What do you want to be able to do on this bike? Racks & fenders? Peg pump? Crits & therefor shorter chainstays and quicker handling or touring & therefor longer chainstays and more relaxed handling? Climbing bike or flats bike? Do you want it to last forever or do you intend to replace it with a "new love" in a year or two? Will you racee it? etc.

3.) How important is the way it looks?

4.) How much do you want to spend?

5.) Does it need to be new?

Answer the questions honestly and you will narrow the choices dramatically.

Once you are down to a hand full, listen to your heart. A bike that stirs the soul will get you on it more often.

It's OK to make a mistake, that's how we learn.

Good Luck.

Len

I'd just be sure it was not Celeste.

What's wrong with Celeste? ;)

if its going to be a bianch, it better have celeste! Most bikes today are all built pretty well and if your LBS has done their job, then they figured out your fit and you've told them about how much you want to spend and what you want to use the bike for and they've narrowed your selection to a few models.

Now which bikes do you like?

I'm finding myself in the same situation. Trying lots of bikes but just seeming to become more confused. It's hard to hear the bike "talk" to you when you don't completely understand the "language" yet.

Maybe it really doesn't matter that much at the beginning. The bikes are all basically made from the same parts and many of the big brand frames on low-mid priced bikes seemingly come from only a few factories. I'm concluding that I will have to rely on my LBS to guide me down the right path. What seemed like such a simple task (buying a frick'n bicycle) can turn into a frustrating experience. The more I learn, the more questions I have and the less confident about it I feel.

knowing that you want to do centuries helps. what kind of terrain are you riding? hilly, flat, rolling.

are you someone who wants to hang onto your purchase or flip out of it like a lease to upgrade and better the stuff?

if you already have a bike you are riding, go to a bike store and ask about local rides. ask and look and you will get good answers.

Everyone has oppinions! Mine is this:

As everone lese has said FIT is the real issue!! once you find a bike that fits you can make look at what the angles are and compar it to other bikes with the same (or very similar) geomitry in your price range. I recently did the search thing and decided to go with a more traditional geomitry. I looked at the Giant compact geomitry carbon fibor (TCR1 I think) and didn't like that fit was so dependant on tweeking EVERYTHING. These types of bikes come in Small, Medium & Large. The result is that you have a bike that fits anyone from say 5'6'' to 6'. That is a very big range to accomodate. With a traditional geomitry bike the jumps are in one or two centimeters at a time. This allows for the FRAME to be fit to the rider as opposed to the fit being heivily dependant on finding the right setm length/angle and seat hight/position (just about the only bike adjustments usually made to arive at the right fit).

Knowing that you plan to ride a lot of century rides I would be looking into Steel (this is MY opinion, but it is shared mby many others on the forum). Steel gives a very responsive, but comfortable ride. I actually opted for a Lemond Bueos Aris (steel with CF fork) over the Giant (all CF and weighing much less) because of the feel of the bike when riden. Steel is also far more forgiving if you crash it!! A good frame builder can return your steel bike as good as new (well the paint and decales may still be messed up). A crash with a CF bike may mean that you are out shopping for a NEW bike!!

Oh, and LISTENING to the bike is important too. Next to FIT, how you think you LOOK on the bike will certainly sway your decision. A bike purchase is very much like a car purchase. You do all the research, compare EVERYTHING imaginable and then buy the one that GETS to you emontionally!! Hay, that is kind of like picking a spouse too!!!

Again, just my oppinion!!

Bill

I pity the fool who's pickin' on Celeste!!!

Frame material is one of the least important qualities IMHO. I feel that all bikes(non Walmart) made today are well built no matter what the frame material is.

It might not be number 1 but it isnt the least,imho.

Some good information on this forum local to my area:

http://tinyurl.com/yrzl5