Road Cycling - Trying to decide on new bike...opinions?

Hey guys,
I've been lurking around for a while and decided to register. I've been hunting around for a road bike for about 2 months and have started to narrow down the field to a few bikes. My budget is $1300 max. I've tried the following:
Specialized Roubaix
Specialized Allez Elite
Cannondale R600
Cannondale R800
Basso GAP frame with mishmash of components

I found that the Roubaix is damp...while i found it comfortable, it felt like it was too damp, which was a little unnerving. The cannondales both felt identical to each other. Very good tactile feedback and it gave me a pretty good idea of what kind of pavement I was on. The R800 is last year's model and is only available in 52 cm and I don't think I can get away with it...i struggle reaching the pedal with the rear reflector removed and bike seat lowered almost all the way. The person helping me said the R600 MIGHT be available in a 50cm so it's one of the options I'm thinking of keeping open. The Allez felt VERY light. It was the first thing I noticed when i started pedaling...the loud wratcheting sound is annoying when i'm coasting tho...can this be remedied? Aside from that, I really enjoyed testing the allez. THe Basso was a little out of my range, but it felt muted but responsive...aside from that, i think it wasn't very memorable...

I'd like to check out a few Giants and Treks comparable to the R600 and Allez. Any recommendations? Also, are my observations about those bikes in the ball park of being somewhat accurate? Thanks for your times guys! I'm looking forward to making the transition from mtn biking to road biking.

melloboy

I just bought a Trek 1500T and love it. It was on sell for $850.00. The regular price was 999.00. You could go a step up and get the Trek 1800.

that $1300 budget is a curious one, isn't it? that's just about where i am and the landscape is less confusing for me because i'm really tall and few bikes are available in a 63 or 64cm.

the one i'm looking at is the Viner Competition from http://www.gvhbikes.com . i realize it's not a big name company and i won't be buying from an LBS, but i don't have too many options looking for a steel frame in my size and i thought i'd point it out to you just in case. what i'm doing is going by the geometry of a 63cm Cdale R600 that i test rode (nice light bike, but the components were a rainbow mix of everything you could think of and anyway i wanna get a steel frame). it seems worth considering mainly because it's an Ultegra bike on a quality steel frame, where bikes at an LBS <$1500 will almost always be 105.

speaking of which, have you checked out the '04 Jamis Quest? if it was available in my size i'd seriously be considering that bike as it's also full Ultegra and steel (allbeit Reynolds 631) for $1299.

lastly, my friend just got this bike and likes it:
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/legacypro.htm

it will be a bit heavier - his 54cm weighed ~21lbs, but that was on my bathroom scale with the saddle bag still on it so i'm not totally sure. looks like they have a 49 and a 52cm - so i thought i'd mention that as well - hard to beat that price.

My recommendations:

http://www.giant-bicycle.com/us/030...149&model=10808

This is the Giant OCR Elite. Currently, just outside your price range.
Here's the Giant site:

http://www.giant-bicycle.com/us/030.000.000/030.000.000.asp?bikesection=8834&lYear=2004

Best prices I found for the 2004 models:

http://kozy.com/site/itemdetails.cfm?ID=3300&Catalog=1&sort=Price
$1400

This store is in Chicago I believe.
Performance also carries the Giant line. You could try this:

http://forums.roadbikereview.com/showthread.php?t=7705

a 10% off coupon code.
Performance price matches. So you could try print out the ad from Kozy.
If Performance will price match and honor the coupon code, then the
OCR Elite is $1260 (just makes it!?).

And no ... I don't ride a Giant.
But I do ride a Compact.
Stand over height is wonderful.
Compact frames are lightning quick.
And don't forget the HELMET.

Best.

Hey guys,
I've been lurking around for a while and decided to register. I've been hunting around for a road bike for about 2 months and have started to narrow down the field to a few bikes. My budget is $1300 max. I've tried the following:
Specialized Roubaix
Specialized Allez Elite
Cannondale R600
Cannondale R800
Basso GAP frame with mishmash of components

I found that the Roubaix is damp...while i found it comfortable, it felt like it was too damp, which was a little unnerving. The cannondales both felt identical to each other. Very good tactile feedback and it gave me a pretty good idea of what kind of pavement I was on. The R800 is last year's model and is only available in 52 cm and I don't think I can get away with it...i struggle reaching the pedal with the rear reflector removed and bike seat lowered almost all the way. The person helping me said the R600 MIGHT be available in a 50cm so it's one of the options I'm thinking of keeping open. The Allez felt VERY light. It was the first thing I noticed when i started pedaling...the loud wratcheting sound is annoying when i'm coasting tho...can this be remedied? Aside from that, I really enjoyed testing the allez. THe Basso was a little out of my range, but it felt muted but responsive...aside from that, i think it wasn't very memorable...

I'd like to check out a few Giants and Treks comparable to the R600 and Allez. Any recommendations? Also, are my observations about those bikes in the ball park of being somewhat accurate? Thanks for your times guys! I'm looking forward to making the transition from mtn biking to road biking.

melloboy

The R-800 and R-600 should both be available in 48 cm and 2 cm increments above that. A bike can be a great bike but if it does not fit you properly, it is not any good for you. It is like shoes, a bad fit is a very, very bad thing. The bike shop you went to may not have the 48 or 50 cm in stock, but they should be able to get the proper size for you from Cannondale. But if you make them order one, you really should be very serious about buying it.

The thing is that many companies make "bikes". What the different companies do is make the frame and buy the components - handlebars, wheels, deraillers, brakes and so on to make the bike. Most components are made by either Shimano or Campagnola so bikes at the same price point vary primarily in the frame. Sometimes company A will spend more making a fancier frame and put cheaper components on it while company B will go with a more generic frame and put slightly better components on it. But the competition is pretty stiff and at any given price point, bikes made by various manufacturers will be pretty dern similar. The main thing is to go out and ride and see if you like the feel of a ride.

By the way, bike shops make money more by selling accessories and doing repairs & maintenance then they do by selling bikes. Bike shops make their money from people who fall in love with cycling. So it is in a bike shop's best interest in the long run to sell bikes that are pretty good rather then just those they can make a few more bucks on. In my experience, most bike shop owners have figured this one out. So you probably will not be able to make a dreadful choice. So go for fit, comfort and the ride you like.

Thanks for the reply guys. The $1300 limit leaves me with $200 or so for goodies and such as shoes and pedals, spare tubes, and a few other things :P

The reason I want to check out Trek is because I know they generally tend to be a little more pricey, but there's not sales tax until TdF is over, which is a significant amount :) I'll definitely hunt arond for a giant ocr elite as well. The sales rep said that because of the time of the year, cannondale may be out of a 50cm R600 for the 04 model year. Is this true?

So the bikes to look at for today seem to be:
Trek 1500
Trek 1800
Trek 2100
Trek 2200 (maybe)
Giant OCR Elite

I had $1300 when I went to buy my bike(trek 1500). I knew I would have to get some other stuff too Like helmet tube and etc. My trek was $850 and I got a good computer for the bike ,2 tubes ,helmet ,biking shorts,gloves,pump,tool for bike with a saddle bag,2 cages for my water bottles and I think that is it.You don't have to get the jersy shoes and new peddles yet.Oh, my final price was $1,234.00 and Im planning on still getting a jersy,peddels and shoes in about a month.
Good luck from FortWorth,Texas.
Here is a picture of my Trek 1500.I hope the picture comes out ok.

I'm new to the road biking thing, too. I had narrowed my search down initially to the cannondale r600 and felt f60. decided the r600 was too stiff. the nod went to the f60. the other day i stopped by another LBS for the heck of it on the way home. gave the Allez Elite and the trek 1500 their shots. first off tried the allez. liked it, but something just seemed off. it was really light tho. tried the trek. loved it, but it was heavier and less well balanced (more weight in the rear) than the allez. after riding that one, the staff pulled out some tape measures and levels and set up the reach and seat height so it was EXACTLY the same as the trek. world of difference. I'm definitely getting the elite. but you are absolutely about the freewheel noise. i sure would like to know how to mute it a little. so, to rate the four, i'd have to say...

1. Allez Elite
2. Felt F60 - just a little less responsive and a teenie bit heavier feeling
3. Trek 1500 - too heavy feeling
4. Cannondale R600 - might lose my fillings on this one.