"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Best budget race bike?

What would be your "ultimate" budget race bike build? Preferably not a CAAD (too common). It seems as if most alu frames are either pretty expensive (spooky, s1) or cheap and come w/ crappy components...

depends on the budget?

brand new I'd pick the new giant tcr with new ultegra if the budget allowed, it's a lot of good bike for the money.

Probably in the $2-$3,000 range. I'd like to avoid carbon as it will be a training/race bike, and I would rather not be paranoid about crashing it...

Spooky Sleketor with Ultegra and a nice wheelset.

I know where you're coming from; I raced carbon all of last year and while I trusted it, I didn't want to think abotu crashing it.
We got a new sponsor for 2010 and I'm getting a aluminum frame instead of their [very tempting] carbon frames, honestly, I'm an aluminum kind of guy. Carbon is nice, but IMO, aluminum is better all around.

Probably in the $2-$3,000 range. I'd like to avoid carbon as it will be a training/race bike, and I would rather not be paranoid about crashing it...

I want to pre-face this with "I am a shill", but PedalForce provides great bang for the buck carbon frames. Plus the replacement policy is quite good from what I hear. I rode with someone who got replacement RS2 frame for 400-600 bucks after crashing and destroying the old one. The downside is you can't test ride one before you buy, unless you know someone who has one. I think they are even running a promo on ZX3 frame with Force group for 1200.

UD

I want to pre-face this with "I am a shill", but PedalForce provides great bang for the buck carbon frames.

I've had one and rode several. If you're a crit racer or bigger guy you might find them flexy. Good value on the whole bike though.

I'm definitely not a bigger guy or a power house (race weight is probably less than 130lbs), so I don't think flex will be a problem :P

Here's a REAL shill suggestion: why not one of the aluminum Bikesdirect frames with a decent groupset? You can pick one up for basically the cost of the groupset, and if you crash it, no tears. I bought a Windsor somethingorother (hell, I can't even remember what it's called) this year for the Ultegra 6700 group that was on it. The frame's sitting in my garage waiting on me to Ebay it. It'll probably go for $150 and it's actually not a bad frameset; reasonably light, carbon fork, yada yada.

As attractive to the budget as that is, I don't want something that budget. I ride a lot and plan to also do some longer rides and I want something which will handle well and have a good ride quality.

Have you checked out the Giant TCR alliance for 2k?

http://www2.giant-bicycles.com/en-US/bikes/model/tcr.alliance/3886/36663/

I feel like I'm shooting down everyone's suggestions, but I'm not a huge fan of carbon/alu mixes. Seem to just be asking for trouble...

Right now my shortlist includes

Spooky Skeletor
Cervelo S1
Salsa Podio

Of the 3 listed above, the Cervelo S1 w/ Force (https://www.nytro.com/products2.cfm/Buy/Cervelo-S1-Sram-Force-Road-Bike/ID/4058/name/Road-Bikes) still has my eye. Such a beautiful bike. Not a huge fan of the stock wheelset, though. Think a good LBS would swap out the Racing 7s with 3's or 5's for a fee?

Get 2 of the 300-400$ bare no name carbon frames off ebay. Keep one as a spare. Buy a Campagnolo gruppo and some Khamsin wheels and you are in for a good look and a good time. You could do this for maybe $1600 if you shop around.

What would be your "ultimate" budget race bike build? Preferably not a CAAD (too common). It seems as if most alu frames are either pretty expensive (spooky, s1) or cheap and come w/ crappy components...

for you? this: 08 Fuji Newest 1.0 w/ Fi'zi:k Arione and Mavic Ksyrium Elite's

I honestly dont know what that is, but since you apparently already own it, it's the ultimate budget race bike build for you:thumb:

Neuvation F100 with Sram Rival.

http://www.neuvationcycling.com/product150.html

What would be your "ultimate" budget race bike build? Preferably not a CAAD (too common). It seems as if most alu frames are either pretty expensive (spooky, s1) or cheap and come w/ crappy components...

wait, huh?
"...'ultimate' budget?"

Budget looks like the 2006 Specialized Allez Sport that I upgraded with a set of decent Rolf wheels and used DuraAce 9speed. It is waiting patiently for my next race, and I have yet to lose a race because my bike sucked... I lose because I am weak. Last Sunday a friend and I did some laps of the crit course and then a trip up a 22% grade... the bike was more than good enough for that. The DA doesn't miss shifts, total weight is 18.xx, and if it dies I won't cry... that's a budget racer.

I'd say "budget" is an older steel frame/alumimum frame/carbon frame with a well-adjusted 105 group and hand-built wheels... very good steel bikes can be had for a song these days, and they have a lot of advantages.

here are some examples-
Specialized Sworks E5 framesets can be had for around 400usd - that bike is world championship class...
Caad 7,8,9s may be common, but they are cheap and they are a fantastic bike... that's why they are popular
Older Lemonds can be found at very low prices, and they have good geometry,
Merckx & Ciocc made good racing frames -
Anything with decent geometry will be fine - keep it in working order and don't think about it again.

If you want be a budget racer I think you should be looking for used bikes from 1500 and down. Add good bibs+shoes, and a training plan - there... done.
Spend the extra money on tires/food/race entries/new bibs in case you wreck and shred yours... You can easily spend more than the price of your bike on the lifestyle and misc parts of being a racer over the course of a year.


If you want "ultimate" than look at ultegra/da/red/chorus on a new bike.

I'm not trying to be a total downer - I love new gear as much as the next guy - but if you are turning down excellent bikes like the Giant, and calling a new Cervelo "budget", there is little that won't be within your reach.

To answer the question you actually asked -

here are some new, race-worthy bikes that I happen to quite like in the 2-3K range
-The Giant has fantastic geometry, a group that will shift and work for the next 10 years, and lots of other people seem to ride carbon-alum bikes without them combusting
-The Podio is a great bike - psimet races one and has great things to say about it.
-Mickey (Spooky) makes an excellent bike by all accounts (heck, I want one myself)
-Raleigh makes some fantastic bikes in your price range - You should be able to get the Competition or the Prestige for the money you are talking - both BB30, excellent carbon frames. (Full disclosure, my team is sponsored by Raleigh - but I've been hot on their bikes much longer than I've been on the team)
-I was impressed by a Jamis Xenith I rode last year - definitely in your price range.
-Kestrel is somehow looked down on because BD sells them... strange in my mind, but they make a great race bike in the Evoke... fast and aggressive was the way it felt when I tried one. You can score a very good deal on them if you look around on the interwebs.

in short - if you are worried about crashing it, don't buy something you can't stand to lose.

for you? This: 08 fuji newest 1.0 w/ fi'zi:k arione and mavic ksyrium elite's

i honestly dont know what that is, but since you apparently already own it, it's the ultimate budget race bike build for you:thumb:

^
+1

Forreal. You don't need a better bike...

Also, caad9 is king.

Also, also, the BD le champ frames are old fuji frames. They're light and pretty good.

I'd say you're not looking for budget bikes at all. 2-3k is a lot of coin.

2-3K puts you in the price for a TCR advanced with ultegra. A fantastic bike.

I wouldn't really call it budget either, but If I was budgeting under that for anew bike, I'd try to bump up the funds.

In your price range, try shopping used.

You can get a TCR Advanced used, if you shop around, with DA or Red... often in the 15lb range, ready to rock.

Colorado Cyclist (http://www.coloradocyclist.com/product/kit/DXXAAYX2) has some good deals on nice bikes.

I think BMC makes a nice aluminum frame

I would look at a Van Dessel Hellafaster

I think BMC makes a nice aluminum frame

I would look at a Van Dessel Hellafaster

I saw a guy riding a hellafaster, and he was sponsored by them.

He didn't have anything nice to say about the bike.

how... is this a budget bike, and how are you paying for this? it's unfathomable to me that someone would consider a TCR alliance a budget bike... but hey, i'm just a broke college student who could only afford a CAAD, go figure.

I'm a little surprised at this thread, and the replies.

I'd also put a budget race bike closer to 1000 dollars. I've put about 2000 dollars toward a race bike, wheels, and parts in the last 2 years, and if I had to do it again, I'd buy a caad9 with 105, and a powertap. Isn't that the standard reponse around here?

I've heard good things about the BMC Streetfire, and Ridley is coming out qith an aluminum version of the Noah, too.

Felt F series.

2-3 grand is my price range for my nice race bike granted i am a college student. My budget racer cost me about 600 bucks. and that's counting the set of rolf vigors hanging on the opposite wall

For $360 + $70 shipping I cant see how you could go wrong racing with one of these...you could really "race" and not just go out there and ride around worried that your new $4000 frame might get scratched or broken.

http://i625.photobucket.com/albums/tt340/ayi998/1-1-1.jpg

http://cgi.ebay.com/CARBON-FIBER-MONOCOQUE-ROAD-RACING-BIKE-ROAD-FRAME-FORK_W0QQitemZ250524258230QQcmdZViewItemQQptZRoad_Bikes?hash=item3a5468cfb6

I do not have any association with the seller or manufacturer of this product

I've heard good things about the BMC Streetfire, and Ridley is coming out qith an aluminum version of the Noah, too.

Saw the Ridley Phaeton at Interbike. It's very nice. Very. Jetstream fork, hydroformed aero tubing, top notch paint. Pick your groupo.

As attractive to the budget as that is, I don't want something that budget. I ride a lot and plan to also do some longer rides and I want something which will handle well and have a good ride quality.

try not to drown in the kool-aid

Probably in the $2-$3,000 range. I'd like to avoid carbon as it will be a training/race bike, and I would rather not be paranoid about crashing it...

Holy crap. The average spent on a bike in the USAC is the same... Don't you think it would be better spent on upgrading to a cheaper bike such as an S1 (possibly the rival version if necessary) which will most likely out-perform the other bikes and buy a coach?

What would be your "ultimate" budget race bike build? Preferably not a CAAD (too common). It seems as if most alu frames are either pretty expensive (spooky, s1) or cheap and come w/ crappy components...

so what.

i built up a setté ximo with rival, ritchey forks, and open pros for about $1200. i almost certainly could have gone cheaper, but there were a few areas where i needed to drop the flow (profit and some random parts). the neuvation looks pretty awesome. the bikes-direct frames should be fine. i'm confused about the comments regarding ride quality and handling. the ebay carbon frames should be fine, too.

and i want one of those ridleys for christmas (not the dog - it would eat my cat).

What would be your "ultimate" budget race bike build? Preferably not a CAAD (too common). It seems as if most alu frames are either pretty expensive (spooky, s1) or cheap and come w/ crappy components...

Hence so many people having the Caad 9. I can't see you finding a better new deal than the 2010 Caad 9 w/ Rival & the Force BB30 Crankset.

for $360 i cant see how you could go wrong racing with one of these...you could really "race" and not just go out there and ride around worried that your new $4000 frame might get scratched or broken.

htt ://i625.photobucket.com/albums/tt340/ayi998/1-1-1.jpg

h ttp://cgi.ebay.com/carbon-fi ber-monocoque-road-racing-bike-road-frame-fork_w0qqitemz250524258230qqcmdzviewitemqqptzroad_bikes?hash=item3a5468cfb6

i do not have any association with the seller or manufacturer of this product

$430.

Saw the Ridley Phaeton at Interbike. It's very nice. Very. Jetstream fork, hydroformed aero tubing, top notch paint. Pick your groupo.

You should request a demo frameset for an extended review. May I suggest a 56cm?:D

i built up a setté ximo with rival, ritchey forks, and open pros for about $1200

Combo's like this are really the kicker. The Ximo is a $99 frame, and it's every bit as 'fast' as anything else. Same with the Nashbar Alu-C and others. If you start with one of these, and then hit Ebay for the components, you can come in under $1k and have a good race bike that you can bend all to hell and not care at all. There's something to be said for that.

Combo's like this are really the kicker. The Ximo is a $99 frame, and it's every bit as 'fast' as anything else. Same with the Nashbar Alu-C and others. If you start with one of these, and then hit Ebay for the components, you can come in under $1k and have a good race bike that you can bend all to hell and not care at all. There's something to be said for that.

exactly. the only thing that makes this bike slower than the aluminum bianchis and carbon giants/scotts/treks my buddies ride is me. i'm fatter and more out-of-shaper than these guys by far. as botto and others have said, "it's a tool not a jewel."

Salsa Podio. I love mine to death.

Almost any LBS can get them catalog like. If you race out of a shop ask for some sort of discount, etc. Most will want to see one in person and be able to point at it at races for other perspective customers.

I know where you can get some killer wheels.... :innocent:

EDIT: See? This whole setup cost me well under $2k. Hell it was probably under $1.5k.
http://www.psimet.com/images/PodioCarbon.jpg

the soul group buy tempts. too bad i'm broke.

the soul group buy tempts. too bad i'm broke.

+eleventy-billion. i had forgotten about this. that frame is nice.

the soul group buy tempts. too bad i'm broke.

this

OP I can only suggest what I'm riding, a Ciocc COM 12.5 - Italian steel, 1700 grams worth of it in fact. Weighs 21.5 lbs with Open Pros, 32 spokes, Powertap Pro+, Centaur, and I love every gram of it.

Got 3rd on an uphill (5%) sprint in one race on this bike last season, against what I can only presume were (mostly) lighter bikes. In the end it came down to smarts mostly anyway.

Maybe not the "best" budget race bike but a "good" one at least.

All of the Aluminum frames mentioned here are wicked good. One thing to point out is that the Salsa's have wicked, wicked long headtubes. I am sponsoring a team in 2010 that is switching over from Salsas. Mind you, these guys are all Cat 1/2 or MTB pros, but all of them have complaints about their bars currently being to high. Remember, as you get fitter and faster, you are going to want to get lower and more stretched out. The other frames that have been mentioned here have better race geo... A newbie racer would probably love the Podio, but for folks putting in the miles to be competitive, they are just too tall, IMHO. All those ~$150 race frames are wicked strong and servicable, but are heavy enough to make a $100 or so more expensive mass production steel frame a better choice, IMO. For about the same weight, you get a classier bike.

I'd also just like to point out (very spammily!) that our full-rival bike with hand built wheels is $100 cheaper than the Cervelo S1, domestically made, lighter, stronger, and smoother riding(plus it uses a real seatpost!). Every single bike that leaves here is custom configured in terms of crank length, bar cassette, etc, with an infinte amount of further spec changes, and with a full Pro build as well...

Value does not always equal Value.

$430.

ok $360 + 70$ shipping

All of the Aluminum frames mentioned here are wicked good. One thing to point out is that the Salsa's have wicked, wicked long headtubes. I am sponsoring a team in 2010 that is switching over from Salsas. Mind you, these guys are all Cat 1/2 or MTB pros, but all of them have complaints about their bars currently being to high. Remember, as you get fitter and faster, you are going to want to get lower and more stretched out. The other frames that have been mentioned here have better race geo... A newbie racer would probably love the Podio, but for folks putting in the miles to be competitive, they are just too tall, IMHO. All those ~$150 race frames are wicked strong and servicable, but are heavy enough to make a $100 or so more expensive mass production steel frame a better choice, IMO. For about the same weight, you get a classier bike.

I'd also just like to point out (very spammily!) that our full-rival bike with hand built wheels is $100 cheaper than the Cervelo S1, domestically made, lighter, stronger, and smoother riding(plus it uses a real seatpost!). Every single bike that leaves here is custom configured in terms of crank length, bar cassette, etc, with an infinte amount of further spec changes, and with a full Pro build as well...

Value does not always equal Value.

Ha wicked good! Nobody says wicked out here. Brings me back to my days living outside of Boston.

I like how you manage to get some mild spam in, while at the same time remaining totally down to earth. Well done! If I didn't get my bikes for free, I'd be saving up the cash for a Skeletor right now.

ok $360 + 70$ shipping

= $430.

If I didn't get my bikes for free, I'd be saving up the cash for a Skeletor right now.

that's a vote of confidence if I ever heard one.

All of the Aluminum frames mentioned here are wicked good . One thing to point out is that the Salsa's have wicked, wicked long headtubes. I am sponsoring a team in 2010 that is switching over from Salsas. Mind you, these guys are all Cat 1/2 or MTB pros, but all of them have complaints about their bars currently being to high. Remember, as you get fitter and faster, you are going to want to get lower and more stretched out. The other frames that have been mentioned here have better race geo... A newbie racer would probably love the Podio, but for folks putting in the miles to be competitive, they are just too tall, IMHO. All those ~$150 race frames are wicked strong and servicable, but are heavy enough to make a $100 or so more expensive mass production steel frame a better choice, IMO. For about the same weight, you get a classier bike. .....


Dude, you are sooooooo New England. Great points on what you wrote, I just cracked up a little reading it.