Road Cycling - Looking for ideas on a new road bike.

Hi guys,
I was hopeing somebody might be able to help me out finding a new bike, I have about $800US to spend, maybe a bit for if really needed. I want a road bike to train on and do some low level competitions (if I start anything serious I would buy another). Perhaps you could offer some advice on specific models or where to look for good information,

Thanks,
-- S

Get a used "pro" bike, you can find TOP of line stuff with the money you have to spend, the components may not be "up to date" but, they can be replaced/upgraded at a later date.
Case in point: A friend of mine just bought a Schwinn OS Paramount, in excellent shape, with Shimano 7 spd Ultegra gruppo for $650!!
A new FRAME of that quality would cost WELL OVER $1000.
He's gonna hang some Campy stuff on it later on.

Ride little used
Pat

For $800.00 you'll be hard pressed to find something you'll be happy with a year from the purchase, although I know there are probably be a few people here that'll argue the point.

Pat gives sound advice, as always.

A poster here found a used Serotto (sp?) at a pawn shop that was a dream bike for fraction of the cost of buying it new. FRACTION.

I'd say, check around at bike shops, pawn shops, and papers for a real deal or save your cash until you can make a purchase on a quality frame with a quality gruppo.

All this advice is null and void if all the bike will be for is to do quick rides or just sit in the garage. :)

Whatever you get, though, MAKE SURE IT FITS! That is probably the single most important thing that will help you enjoy your ride, and keep you coming back for more. Don't let an LBS, or anyone else talk you into a bike that doesn't fit because they are anxious to get rid of it, and you're anxious to get something for a good price.

Good luck in your search.

Thanks for the advice!
The main purpose of the bike is to ride the work and train a bit at the same time 30km each way, with possible detours to brink it up to 50 to 70 depending on the day. I want to put up about 350-450km a week. I would ultimatly like to start at low level competitions, but if that gets serious in any way I would shell out for a much more serious and more expensive bike.

I hope this makes what I want a bit clearer,

Thanks again for the great advice,

:beer: --S

Consider a road bike with threaded eyelets for a rack or fenders.
You will be able to ride in all weather, and carry stuff for day tours and work.
I know you can clamp luggage racks to the seatpots, but compared to a frame-mounted rack, they suck. The Tubus Fly rack is designed for road bikes with threads at the bottom, but not the top. It attatches by the brake bolt, but is still very stable, 350g, and carries twice the load of a seatpost rack.

The shop where I help out on Saturdays, just started carrying another brand of lower end bikes called, "FELT". Very good looking steel frames with decent components (Tiagra & Sora level) starting price is $569 and $789. I'm telling you, they "look" better than some bikes at twice their price. Granted, they not "race level bikes", but for an entry level rider, these are a great deal!!!!

The reason we started carrying these bikes was for riders like "Spire". Wanted to get into riding, but didn't want to spend upwards of $1000.00. Our cheapest bike in the store was close to $800.00 We were turning potential customers/riders away faster than they could come in the door. Shop around, these FELT bikes look good, ride well and won't break the bank.

Good Luck!

L8R

Oh yeah, I second the thought to make sure to buy the right size bike! Makes ALL the difference!

Thanks for the adivce, I will look into the "FELT" bikes.
What is the best method of determining the right size of a bike, Currently I have a mountain bike with the seat extended as far as it will go.

Thanks agian,

-- S

Roadbikes usually have 1-3" of air between your vitals and the top tube when straddling the bike. More important is the reach from saddle to bars, set by a combination of
saddle layback(from the bottom bracket)
top tube length
stem lenth
bar/brake length.

If your MTb position is comfortable, use that as a starting position, and get the top of the brake levers in the same position as your MTB grips. You may want to ride your road bike in a different position, that is entirely up to you, but there is nothing wrong in setting up identical positions.

Its best to consider the bike as a 2d graph, with the bottom bracket at (0,0). Use a plumb-line to mark X=0 on the top tube.
Measure horizontally in the Y, back to the saddle nose, and forward to the grips. That gives you a measure of fit independant of frame angles or any other bike geometry, but it is NOT independant of the crank length.

If you get 170 on your road bike, but 175mm cranks on your MTB, then your whole road riding position will probably be shifted 5mm back and up relative to the bottom bracket. This is a pretty subtle change that you may prefer to ignore, but at least you know about it.

see How to Fit a Bicycle at
http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/

I looked into those FELT bikes.

FELT told me that there are no distributors of FELT in Canada :(.

Any other ideas of what I could consider?

-- S

Jamis are good value

For $1250 Candian ($800 US) try out the Giant OCR2 .You can read my review at roadbikereview.com. Mine is a 2001 model. For about $500 more you can move up to an OCR 1with better components and a carbon fork. Otherwise you could look into a Trek 1000 or 1200 if they fit.

Thanks for all the great advice guys.:) (The Trek 1200 is looking good. However, I cannot find many reviews for 2002 models of most bikes (for obvious reasons) how much do bikes change from year to year? Do 2001 model reviews usually hold?

Thanks again!

Thanks for all the great advice guys.:) (The Trek 1200 is looking good. However, I cannot find many reviews for 2002 models of most bikes (for obvious reasons) how much do bikes change from year to year? Do 2001 model reviews usually hold?

Thanks again!

If you know the size of frame that fits there's a cool site that has leftover NEW NEVER USED & Some slightly used Pro Road Bikes as well as Entry level and upgradeable bikes. It's located in California --- The Old Bike Shop ----- No Tax EITHER ___ LOW S&H! Tell them Jeannie from New York City Department Of Correction reccomended you.The Web address is: www.TheOldBikeShop.com Let me know what you think of it or for that matter anyone who checks it out! Good Luck! E-Z Wheelin' Jeannie

Just keep looking, Spire. Maybe you'll be lucky like me. A little over a year ago I was looking for the right bike with the right fit at the right price in all the small towns around here and in our metropolis, San Jose. Well, after a lot of shopping around, an LBS had this good looking deal, a 1999 Schwinn SuperSport with Shimano 105 throughout--front and back derailleurs, crankset, brakes--for $765. I read reviews of it on line and it looked as though I had a great deal. It has a 54 cm frame, just what I need. It rode great and I bought it.

I've put about 7,000 mi (11,000km) on it and love it more each day. Sometimes on group rides, I feel like the poor relative with my low-end bike. But this bike has given me so much fun and it feels so good, so who cares what the snobs think.

Keep the faith, Spire, your bike bike is waiting for you. Just keep looking for it.

Rich

It looks like a Trek 1200 might in the price range, and there appear to be many dealers in my area. Anybody had any experience with this bike?

Thanks

:beer: