Road Cycling - My dilema in purchasing

This is a followup to the thread I made a few days ago about the pricing on a Specialized Allez Sport Int'l.

I've now been to all the local bike shops in town and have narrowed down my options to 2: the Allez and the '05 Trek 1000. Just so happens that the bike shop owner was either forgetful or in a better mood than when I came in from the first time and dropped the price of the Allez to $699 (from $799). The other shop priced the 1000 at $599. Problem is they don't have any 1000's from '05 yet and none left from '04 but there have been a couple major changes in the year anyway. Of course, I would not buy it without riding it.

I keep having trouble finding the exact model of the Allez Sport International online that I rode for a full components list. I know it was a Tiagra/105 mix with Ultegra brakes and had a carbon seat post. It was black and red if that helps at all.

I absolutely can not decide between the two, please help me out. I'm entry level and this will be the first road bike I own.

man oh man..

if i were you i'd really think about shopping used or or something and trying to get a quality steel frame.

i was just raving about how much more comfortable i am now that i don't have a cheap entry-level alum framed bike. the alum bike i had made me feel like i'd been riding a bull or something - my neck and shoulders would feel so beat up after longer rides (like 35 to 50 miles).

real quick tell me what size you are in cm and i'll try to show you some deals on ebay that i think are a smarter use of $700. there are other used options, but not many new steel options for that price.

alternately if you could swing a bike with carbon stays many other folks have claimed they yield a more comfortable ride.

folks on this board always mention how you see tons of Trek 1000's on eBay for a _reason and that reason is the cheap alum frame is just not very comfortable once you get your miles up (and everybody - even folks just starting out - get their miles up before too long).

I read your other thread while I was waiting for replies to this and you said "i'm just saying that while it's harder to shop for affordable steel framed bikes these days i think it's well worth it for anybody who's riding distance and isn't a teenager who doesn't suffer too many aches and pains."

Well just so happens I am a teenager, 18 to be exact.

I ride a 58 though, I'm still open to your suggestions.

I just got an allez elite (similar to yours, somewhat different components). i was in a similar sitch to you (looking at the trek 1500, also). the trek felt back-heavy compared to the allez. also, the carbon seat post and the bar phat on the handlebars of the allez does a decent job of dampening high frequency vibrations ("buzz"). maybe it's from riding aluminum MTBs, but i actually like aluminum. it allows me to really feel the road.

Gunnar (may go for more like $1000 though)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=58092&item=3695779982&rd=1

Bianchi Veloce
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=7298&item=3695481296&rd=1

Specialized w/ a steel frame and likely a good price as well (104 years old!!)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=58092&item=3695131117&rd=1

2003 Bianchi Veloce <- the same seller is selling lots of these and i've seen them go for under $900, which is a very good price for a much better bike than the two you're looking at.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=7298&item=3696479349&rd=1

Just checking the bids now, they're all a bit too rich for my blood. Like I said before, I also wouldn't want to buy one without riding it which limits me to my LBS and those two options are pretty much it within my price ceiling ($750).

Here's the two mentalities I'm kind of torn between, feel free to refute either of them if I'm mistaken:

1. I am entry level and I don't need top of the line components. The Allez is a better bike but the difference may not be something I need. Get the '05 1000.

2. It's only a hundred dollars more for the Allez and it's a better bike. Get the Allez.

I agree with Boze, to try to find a steel frame. Are you planning on riding this to and around campus? Most schools have a problem with theft, but I haven't been to UF in 15 yrs, so dunno. If you have a crime problem and are using this as a commuter as well, buy a really cheap bike also, like $30-50 range.

On a side note, I just watched the movie Harold and Kumar go to White Castle. I liked it more than most people, I think, cuz it reminded me of walking across the UF campus with my brother and his friends heading to the WC at 2am :D Ah, good times.

God no I wouldn't ride either around daily. I have an older mountain bike that I like to take around campus. I like to jump curbs, go down stairs and through the dirt to avoid people anyway. Which ever one I bought would be locked wheel to frame inside my locked room unless I was going to go riding a longer distance (ie. not just around campus).

haha... "locked wheel to frame inside my locked room"

I laugh, but it's sad really. I know people who've had their bikes stolen from inside their locked apt/dorm room. Good thinking. Plus, you don't want a drunk roomie or friend thinking your roadbike would be fun to ride down the stairs.

Good luck and have fun.






PS: Buy steel.

Maybe I'll even take the front tire off, lock it and the back tire to frame, and put the long piece that keeps the wheel on the frame hidden in my locked car a mile away.

Maybe I'll even take the front tire off, lock it and the back tire to frame, and put the long piece that keeps the wheel on the frame hidden in my locked car a mile away.
:D

skewer.




steel mmmmm steel

this is the one that's gonna end under your budget:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=58092&item=3695131117&rd=1

if you insist on only shopping from what you can test ride first then you'll have to shop used on your own in FL or just get stuck with one of those alum bikes you mentioned and make the best of it.

i still think it's way worth it to apply yourself and find a quality steel frame in your size.

if you're a 58cm then bikes like the link above will fit fine with maybe a swapped stem to fine tune the length.

it's just a bad situation and i know it's daunting to try to find a used deal, but it's my conviction that neither the bikes you're shopping for or any of the other new bikes w/ alum frames in that range are the best value for ~$700

best of luck.