After a couple of months of research, test rides and more research, I finely bought myself a new road bike. It is a 2008 Giant OCR A1. It sits between the OCR1 which is all aluminum and the OCR C3 which is all carbon fiber. The A1 uses a aluminum lower wheel stay and bottom tube, and the rest of the bike is carbon. I rode an all carbon C3, but I could not tell the difference in ride quality. The only difference was another $300 and the A1 had slightly better components. I also wanted the compact double on the A1, verses the triple on the C3. So far I have 76 miles over 3 rides since picking it up. All I can say is WOW what a difference over riding my mountain bike on the road. I have been able to climb the hills well, even though my legs were pretty tired on that ride. Plus even when facing head winds of up to 20 mph, it has just powered through it all. I know that there are nicer bikes, but this is what I could afford. Still, I love this bike so far !!!:love:

I saw one of those up close at the local shop. They're really nice. Congrats!

You made a very good choice.:thumb:

You also bought at a good time, considering that Giant is raising prices on all of the 2009 models soon to be at a LBS near you.

Transportation cost is hitting us from all sides.

[QUOTE=Hill-Pumper;7011855]I know that there are nicer bikes, but this is what I could afford.[QUOTE]

Why is this statement relevent? You got yourself one nice bike there, what is important is that you like it and you actually ride it.

Sweet ride pumper, I like those colors :thumb:

Now ride it until the wheels fall off. Then get new wheels and ride it some more :D

*whistle* I'll admit, I'm not much of a Giant fan but that bike.. *whistle*. That's a NICE looking ride. They got it right, enjoy it!!

You made a very good choice.:thumb:

You also bought at a good time, considering that Giant is raising prices on all of the 2009 models soon to be at a LBS near you.

Transportation cost is hitting us from all sides.

It is not just Giant that is rising their prices, I visited 9 different shops on my quest for a new bike, and every one of them said that 2009's are going up from 10 to 15 percent regardless of brand. I kind of am kicking myself because I had a chance to by a 2007 model for $150 less then this one from the same LBS. I just was not sure that at that time of what I wanted, so it was sold by the time I decided to get it. That is all right though, I was confident in what I wanted when I picked this one and like the color/looks of this one better too. :D

[QUOTE=Hill-Pumper;7011855]I know that there are nicer bikes, but this is what I could afford.[QUOTE]

Why is this statement relevent? You got yourself one nice bike there, what is important is that you like it and you actually ride it.

Sweet ride pumper, I like those colors :thumb:

I guess I mentioned it because I spent too much time reading the roadie forum and sub-conscientiously thought I needed a more expensive bike. :lol: Honestly I liked this bike better then a couple that cost more, so it isn't about what you spend, but what works best. Plus, bang for the buck it was a hard one to beat. Your are right, I like this bike and it will continue to get ridden. Right now I am training for my first metric which is a little over a month away. Now with this bike, I am confident that I can reach that goal. :thumb:

Nice bike..looks real sweet, what did that run if you dont mind me asking? All the bikes will be going up im sure one more reason to blame gas prices.

Beautiful bike man!

Congrats!

I guess I mentioned it because I spent too much time reading the roadie forum and sub-conscientiously thought I needed a more expensive bike. :lol: Honestly I liked this bike better then a couple that cost more, so it isn't about what you spend, but what works best.

Come over and look at the bikes in the Long Distance forum's picture pages, and you'll know it's not about how much money you spend on your bike, it's all about how much time you spend on it. There's a lot of people in the LD forum doing 250 mile (or longer) days on bikes that would make the gang on the road forum cringe.

good for you, use it for the best;)

Great looking bike, don't know why you'd want to spend more money.

Nice looking ride, congrats.

I guess I mentioned it because I spent too much time reading the roadie forum and sub-conscientiously thought I needed a more expensive bike. :lol: Honestly I liked this bike better then a couple that cost more, so it isn't about what you spend, but what works best. Plus, bang for the buck it was a hard one to beat. Your are right, I like this bike and it will continue to get ridden. Right now I am training for my first metric which is a little over a month away. Now with this bike, I am confident that I can reach that goal. :thumb:

Ah the Roadies. I spend some time over there too, but don't take those guys too seriously on the Scwag and Bling trash talk. There are plenty of guys riding entry level bikes too.

Looks to me like you did great. It sounds like a good deal, looks awesome, and it's easy to tell you like it. Sounds like the perfect bike.

Best of luck on your upcoming Century, I know you will do great on the new ride.

That looks like a nice ride. You must not be much of a Clyde.

I have a carbon/steel Lemond of a similar design. :beer:

Nice bike..looks real sweet, what did that run if you dont mind me asking? All the bikes will be going up im sure one more reason to blame gas prices.

I don't mind you asking, I paid $1399 for the bike. The LBS owner did a 90 minute fitting plus throws in 2 years of free tune ups included in the price. It was a little more then I first wanted to pay for a bike, but with all the extras that I got, I felt it was a very good deal.

That looks like a nice ride. You must not be much of a Clyde.

Ouch, that hurts !!!!:lol: Actually I am now close to the bottom of the Clyde scale at 202 pounds. That was not always the case. At the first of the year I was over 220 pounds and 26 percent body fat on my 5' 9" stocky frame. My goal weight is 195 at 15 percent body fat, which will technically take me out of the Clyde ranks. Still, I hope to still hang out here since this is my favorite part of the forum.

I don't mind you asking, I paid $1399 for the bike. The LBS owner did a 90 minute fitting plus throws in 2 years of free tune ups included in the price. It was a little more then I first wanted to pay for a bike, but with all the extras that I got, I felt it was a very good deal.



Ouch, that hurts !!!!:lol: Actually I am now close to the bottom of the Clyde scale at 202 pounds. That was not always the case. At the first of the year I was over 220 pounds and 26 percent body fat on my 5' 9" stocky frame. My goal weight is 195 at 15 percent body fat, which will technically take me out of the Clyde ranks. Still, I hope to still hang out here since this is my favorite part of the forum.

And we're happy to have you! Regardless of my weight, this is still the only forum I'll frequent. Great goup of folks in here, to put it mildly!

And we're happy to have you! Regardless of my weight, this is still the only forum I'll frequent. Great goup of folks in here, to put it mildly!

Touring and 50+ are also fun places. Commuting used to be, but there are an increasing number of threads on gas prices - sometimes started by infections from the Living Car-free/Living Left Wing Forum.

You made a very good choice.:thumb:

You also bought at a good time, considering that Giant is raising prices on all of the 2009 models soon to be at a LBS near you.

Transportation cost is hitting us from all sides.

And on a related note, my local Freecycle list is getting "WANTED: bicycle" requests every few days this summer. Last summer there was one.

Touring and 50+ are also fun places. Commuting used to be, but there are an increasing number of threads on gas prices - sometimes started by infections from the Living Car-free/Living Left Wing Forum.

It more likely that threads on gas prices, are being started by folks who just put $156 in the Hummer, and realise that they are going to need to do that on a weekly basis now, and maybe driving the Hummer for every trip longer then around the corner, isn't something that borders on financially sustainable......

As for touring, I visit once in a long while and I'm not allowed in the 50+ forum, at least not for another 3 years:D

With pics, Joe you were suppose to take the pics in front of the garage door. Besides the water bottle and seat bag, I think you made an excellent choice. I know for a fact those bikes have a super strong frame, the paint quality is the best and carbon material is undestructeble, LOL.

ANyway, cheers!

With pics, Joe you were suppose to take the pics in front of the garage door. Besides the water bottle and seat bag, I think you made an excellent choice. I know for a fact those bikes have a super strong frame, the paint quality is the best and carbon material is undestructeble, LOL.

ANyway, cheers!

First of all it is Jeff not Joe, but I think I can get over that one (I've been called worse):lol:I did consider the white garage door, but wanted to be different. I know that the seat seat bag and water bottle could be better, but I just took them off my other bike so I could get out and ride. Then again we're Clyde's here, so we're not known for our fashion statements. :D Anyway, I did check to make sure that Giant is one of the companies that does not have a weight limitation on their frame warranties, should I ever need to replace it.