Road Cycling - Bying a bike

I am wanting to buy a bike.I don't have much more than $800.00 to spend on one. I have looked at the Trek 1200 and the speacialized allez sport. They cost about the same. I can't make up my mind and need some help. Which one is better.

Thanks,
Rob

Have you test ridden them both? If not - do it. Then buy the one that fits and rides the best. They're both about equal when it comes to components.

Have you test ridden them both? If not - do it. Then buy the one that fits and rides the best. They're both about equal when it comes to components.

Thanks for the reply. I have ridden both and they ride about the same. I like the looks of the speacialized but, The Trek is americian made. Does that matter

Neither of them are American made.

I am wanting to buy a bike.I don't have much more than $800.00 to spend on one. I have looked at the Trek 1200 and the speacialized allez sport. They cost about the same. I can't make up my mind and need some help. Which one is better.

Thanks,
Rob

In March I bought my Lemond. It's a Tiagra bike with a 105 rear Derailleur. $700. The steel makes for a very supple ride as well.

I am wanting to buy a bike.I don't have much more than $800.00 to spend on one. I have looked at the Trek 1200 and the speacialized allez sport. They cost about the same. I can't make up my mind and need some help. Which one is better.

Thanks,
Rob
$800 is lot of money to spend when you don't have to in order
to have a really nice bike. Have you considered used? A you
in such a hurry that there is no time to shop used?

I see a lot of post from people who spend hundreds of dollars
on a new bike when the bike they buy is used the first time
they throw a leg over it on the first ride. What IS the point?

$800 is lot of money to spend when you don't have to in order
to have a really nice bike. Have you considered used? A you
in such a hurry that there is no time to shop used?

I see a lot of post from people who spend hundreds of dollars
on a new bike when the bike they buy is used the first time
they throw a leg over it on the first ride. What IS the point?

Used could also mean abused. If you don't know the seller then you have no way of knowing how well the bike was taken care of.

Also, there's the issue of follow-up maintenance. Many shops give you free tune-ups and other maintenance for a period of time that you don't get with a used bike. In many cases, these additional maintenance costs added to the cost of the used bike could make it as much or more than a new bike. In fact, if I'm not mistaken, Performance Bike gives you lifetime free tune-ups if you buy from them.

Obviously, if you do your own maintenance then this is not an issue. But for myself, I don't have the time or knowledge to do this. Personally, I would find it very hard to buy a used bike.

it's true though - if you don't have enough in your budget to make it to a new bike w/ a 105 group then your cash can go farther on a used bike - tuneup costs notwithstanding. this is even more true if you're not an usual size.

in the interest of full disclosure i haven't bought a bike off ebay myself. but it's more because of my height than because i'm sketched out about it on principle.

road bikes are incredibly durable imo and as long as the bike was maintained and the frame isn't damaged i'm sure there are some great deals out there that would crush a store-bought low-end trek or the like.

Thank you for your comments. I just bought my bike. I spent $50.00 more and got a Trek 1500. Do you think I got a good deal and do you think I made the right decision.

Well, if you already bought the bike then I think it was a good deal and the right decision :-)

Now go enjoy the bike!

don't complemplate and just ride more....

i think the 1500 is a great bike, enjoy it....