BayBruin

Today was the day that I was going to get fitted on a bike and start testing some different models. The fitting went fine but it appears I have some kind of hiccup in my mechanics on my right side (knee comes out away from the bike on every stroke). The guy fit me as best as possible and recommended a specialist who does custom fittings with shims etc. to take care of these issues. Anyway, I tested a 58 CM 2006 Specialized Roubiax (sp?) Comp. It was WAY too squirrley for me...the shortened frame made me very uncomfortable....like I was almost riding a bike for the first time...any little shift was cause for the bike to twitch and swerve. Then I got on a Trek 5200. That was a very nice bike. It was smooth, light, fast and had the kind of responsiveness I am used to on my current bike. It really rode nice. I was really digging it but then I noticed no eyelets. I told the guy "no biggie I have my handlebar bag." He just looked at it and groaned..."first off, the cables are in the way, we'd have to do some custom work to get it to fit. Then, and more importantly, these bikes aren't made for that kind of load up front...it will throw off the balance of the bike and it won't handle like it should. You should get a backpack." I told him I loath back packs especially after I switched to my rack mounted, portable handlebar bag (it's a dream!). Then they said "Well...why don't you just use your current bike for commuting and this 5200 for longer rides like on the weekend." Kind of deflated I said, "Weekend ride??? I ride my bike 30+ miles every day....rain or shine....by the time the weekend comes I'm looking forward to a little rest out of the saddle."

It got me thinking.....do I even need a new bike? The answer to this question seemed so obvious in the past: 1) My wife was good with me spending money for a new bike. Actually last week I told her that it was time. She asked how much it was again and I said "I think it retails for around $1,900 (Specialized TriCross Comp 2007)." She replied, "OH, I thought you said your bike was going to be somewhere between $2,000-$3,000?!?!?" She was relieved a bit and I was shocked because she is tight about money and she was ok with an amount I hadn't even considered paying. 2) My circa 1991 Trek Antelope 830 has been good but I also have been replacing parts on it quite a bit lately, it's gearing is not quite MTB but it's a far cry from a roadie, and it seems like it's weight and older components would be adding more time to my commute.

But now I just don't know. Here are my rambling thoughts:
A) I want a road bike or a cyclocross for commuting purposes almost exclusively. As I mentioned long rides on the weekend aren't my bag right now but they may be sometime.
B) I want to have a faster commute bike so I can keep up or even push my friends who have roadies. I won't ever be a competitive cyclist but I would like to ride at a better clip than I do now.
C) I need a second bike regardless. When my current bike is in for repairs....I'm not able to commute by bike and I HATE that. A second bike is a must.
D) I thought about using my current bike for bad weather and winter commuting because it's tough, cheap, can take a beating and is already set up with fenders.
E) If I get a 5200 or some other 'racer' I won't be able to carry much at all on it and what if I want to take a long bike tour sometime in the future?
F) If I got the Trek 520 tourer I would be able to support racks, fenders, handlebar bags...you name it...but it's a steel frame (heavy) and reminds me of a tank much like my current bike. What 'performance' would I really gain over my current bike?
G) Is there such a thing as a faster, more efficient "commuter bike" that will have the right combination of speed, durability and capacity to load it up a bit?

I use my handlebar bag to carry: tire levers, multi-tool, spare tube, mini-first aid kit, wallet, phone, garage door opener, replacement lens for my glasses (clear in morning, dark for afternoons), 40g CO2 cannister and valve, asthma inhaler, patch kit. And then in the winter I carry a spare set of gloves (ride out in full finger....ride home with standard), bring home my jacket and tights in the bag as well. In the summer with mild, stable weather I can get away with less clothing items...but now I am kind of stuck carrying different levels of clothes in my bag.

Lastly (lets end this War and Peace novel), do you guys have one commuter bike or do you actually switch up for variety, different riding conditions, etc.? Sorry for the long post but my mind is just racing....

ollo_ollo

Find a shop that sells Torelli & test ride the Gran Sasso. It has eyelets on the dropouts for fenders, filed & polished welds with a beautiful paint job. It's spec is Campagnolo Mirage & a bar bag will fit fine. Its a steel frame but not that heavy & has good performance. They sell for about $1500 here & I bought one on sale a few years ago for $1250 with an upgraded Centaur/Daytona mix of components. Just needed a Brooks saddle, some fenders & small bag to become a fast commuter/randonneur bike. If you don't like Torelli, then check out Surly. Don

ryanparrish

Please tell me this bike is going in the office anyway for you I would seriously consider a custom build up of a LHT or a Co-motion bike as well. While these bikes are tourers not racers I believe they will hold there own also its not about the bike then again why doesn't Lance ride a huffer. Plus tourers would be easy on the mind body and soul if you want to do some speeding arround with the roadies I would do a custom build up of a Surly LHT and buy a Bianchi Pista

wneumann

I'd guess that depends on the components to some limited extent. However, having said that, I have two bikes at the moment, one a new slick, light, Aluminum frame that weighs less than half of my old steel 1980s Sportour with the rack, pannier, and the 9 pound Kryptonite chain. So which bike has my personal best time for door to door commute time to work? Yep the Sportour.

I'd wager that the best boost in performance you'll get is to find a bike that you (and your load for the day) are most comfortable on.

ducati

Just some thoughts:
First of all, you're not looking for a touring bike. If you are considering touring in the future, but not *really* wanting to do it all the time/now, just buy a tourer when or IF you decide it's your bag. Problem solved.

Steel does not = super heavy. My Bianchi San Jose, certainly no special steel (just "Bianchi DB CrMo") weighed in at 22lbs for a 58cm bike. That's not bad. It has no derailleurs, but it does have brakes & levers. That's what $600 in change buys you now. My LeMond Poprad (cyclocross bike) weighed in at 20.4 lbs, double chainring 105 components. That's what $1200 buys you.

So steel really isn't that heavy. Certainly MUCH less than your heavy steel MTB.

Personally, I decided that steel is worth carrying around for it's smooth ride. I really got to hate my aluminum road bike's ride on my 14x2 commute.

Another random thought: lots of people recommend cyclocross bikes for their versatility. Being used to a MTB, you might absolutely love one. They're quick like a road bike (not giving up much speed), durable like a MTB, and typically have room for fairly large tires and fenders. I just picked up my San Jose as my new commuter, and it looks like I can fit 38's and fenders easily. I have 32s and fenders now. Often, cyclocross bikes have rack braze-ons for a rear rack (sometimes a front, too) which is FAR preferable to a handlebar mounted bag (I agree with your LBS here, although not their choice of tact or lack thereof).

There is a downside to a cross bike. They handle differently than a road bike. For me, not as fun. I really searched for a steel framed fixed gear road bike with room for at least 28c's and REAL full fenders in my area, and couldn't find one off the shelf for around $600 (which is my chosen price range for an expendable commuter). I do like the handling of a road bike better than a cross bike. But the Bianchi San Jose was the next best thing.

Can you keep up with road buddies on a cross bike? Sure. I haven't had any problems with speed on my Poprad. I did run 23c's during the summer for extra speed, which was fun.

So perhaps something for you to consider. I would, really, consider steel as well. You won't notice the extra few pounds, I promise, and the ride will compensate. The only time I'd ride alu now is if I took up racing. It is stiffer, for sure.

Some random thoughts, hope that helps.

wneumann

Especially if, like me, you're on the heftier side of life. My loaded steel bike might weigh more than twice what my lighter bike does, but when you add me and my load to the mix, it's less than a 10% weight difference.

You know, I read that all the time here, but I don't notice the difference all that much in my rides -- I guess the carbon fork and seatstay really do help after all.

flipped4bikes

If you looked at the Specialized Roubaix, did you also check out the Tricross? Definitely not squirrelly, full rack and fender mounts, 32c tires and can fit up to 38c, plus bombproof wheels. I use it for commuting and all around riding and I love it.

BayBruin

The guy at the shop was pretty much trying to talk me out of the TriCross...not because it is a bad bike he just didn't think it was necessary to get a cyclocross since I won't be riding off road at all. The Surly that some have recommended.... I have two issues with it: 1) I went to their site and there is this guy in black super short shorts, and a cut off tight black top with his whole trunk hanging out. On a hot looking chick, I would be drooling. On some weird dude it makes me wanna puke. I have never seen anything so queer. Now, I have nothing against gay people...have some friends that are....but when I'm looking for a tough, manly bike I don't really get too jazzed seeing some nancy boy crusing on it like he's a float in a controversial parade, if you know what I mean. 2) I looked at the components of the bike and they looked like lower end Shimano stuff. Both of those things don't have me rushing out to plop down money on this bike.

What exactly is that ad supposed to be communicating anyway?

Jarery

Your discounting a bike because a marketing web page has a guy standing beside the bike, and you think the male model looks gay?

Good thing you didnt look at Surlys pages for https://www.surlybikes.com/pacer.html or https://www.surlybikes.com/instigator.html or https://www.surlybikes.com/1X1.html

jwc

Maybe "cross-over" means more than just the bike?

I checked the page out and yeah, it is pretty weird looking.

wneumann

Yeah. Good thing he wasn't wearing some sissy color like powder blue. That would have pushed it way over the edge, right?

ryanparrish

I was suggesting to you not to buy the complete bike, but have the LBS buy the compnents you need for this frame

https://www.surlybikes.com/longhaul.html

I think it will fit your budget the most and what you want out of the bike also this dude has cloths on the helmet is funny though hopefully that doesn't set you off

bbonnn

Yes, the marketing photo for the crosscheck is So Incredibly Powerful that it extends beyond the confines of a simple webpage, and interposes itself into the core of every heterosexual male who even looks upon it.

Why, your fellow cyclists in shiny spandex festooned with blinkies and reflective wraparound sunglasses might even laugh at you! The horror.

mechBgon

1) what kind of bike are you using now? (my crystal ball is off at the polishing shop again )

2) if the 5200 is a good bike for you, then slap on a seatpost-mounted rack and trunk bag to take the place of your handlebar bag, and you're rid of the handlebar-bag problem. How about that idea? And the handling will probably be better off for not having weight on the bars, too.

3) whatever you get, given the mileage that you ride and the daily use you give it, I'd suggest having a custom rear wheel built right from the get-go, unless the stock wheel is really sturdy stuff already. Maybe a 36-spoke Mavic CXP22 with DT 14-15ga. butted spokes and a 105 or Ultegra 10sp rear hub, hand-built by a good builder that you've bribed with his/her favorite beverage of choice Take it back to him/her after a week for a quick checkup, and after a month for a tension check. Velocity Deep V rims might be another candidate to look at, I hear they're quite strong.

4) if you want something off-the-rack that's light and stiff, you might look at Cannondale's touring bikes. My old '95 Cannondale Touring, in a 25-inch (!) frame size, comes out around 22 pounds with road wheels and 700x25 tires & tubes (not counting accessories like racks and lights). '07 Cannondale T2000, I see it has DT butted spokes, DT trekking rims, and a normal press-in headset. I'd probably ditch the Tektro brakes for Shimano BR-R550's, and definitely ditch the suspension seatpost, and maybe ask what it would cost to move up to the M580 Hollowtech II trekking crankset at purchase.

crtclb

Well played!

If that's all it takes to make the OP not consider a bike... well, I just don't know what to say to that.

BayBruin

Hey thanks for showing the Aikman jersey. Kind of nice to remember our QB who's now in the NFL HOF with numerous Super Bowl rings to boot.

khuon

Actually the one Co-Motion I've had my eye is the Espresso which is a pretty racey bike. I would get it with the Co-Pilot option of course.

khuon

The Tricross is actually a pretty good bike on-road. I've been looking at it myself as a commuter bike. It has mounts for racks, it has wide enough clearance for fenders and larger tyres. The one thing that sort of disappoints me with the 2007 models is that they eliminated the compact crankset from all but the very top-of-the-line model. If I were to get one now, I'd be looking at the Comp model and have the shop swap the triple for a compact double.

BayBruin

Looking back on my original post about the Surly ad....it was kind of uncharacteristic of me....kind of like a knuckle dragging homophobe. Most likely I really pissed off some Surly owners as well. But I do stand by my "what the &@#$ was that?" response to the ad. It's on the company's official website not some kid's page. << https://www.surlybikes.com/bikes.html >> Maybe the message is "Image is Nothing...Thirst is Everything!" Oh wait...that's another ad. Call me a sensitive consumer.....but if I have a choice and there are other quality products...and one companies ads annoys I won't buy the product. May seem crazy...but I make it a point not to buy the product of some company that puts out lame, irritating or just plain annoying ads. It's like that Taxi episode (for those of you old enough to remember the series and not too old to have forgotten most of the content) when Tony Danza's character keeps buying apples from the vending machine even though every one he gets is rotten, Alex (Judd Hirsch) asks him why he continues to buy the apples. "Well, because if I can just eat them fast enough I will get to the fresh apples in the machine." Alex, "That's not going to work Tony, because the guy stocking the machine will think that you love rotten apples and he'll just keep filling it up with bad apples." I refuse to buy bad apples (AKA ads). That particular ad just bugs....mostly because I just don't understand the point. And to set the record straight I'm not some super image conscious guy. If you saw me on my current bike you would understand: Flourescent yellow Trek Antelope (circa 1991), Champion duo-dry shirts purchased from Target, handlebar side mirror, old clipless mountain bike shoes...... But if I'm buying a new bike...I'm buying into that company and I'd like to feel I understand where they are coming from and they have some inkling where I am coming from. From that ad it's clear to me that I have no idea who they are...and they have no idea who I am...and we can peacefully co-exist...me without their product and them without me as a customer. Now some of you who have gotten bent about my reaction to this company's ad seem to be implying that you are completely unaffected by a company's marketing....if you looked around in your life honestly I think you'd admit that you buy into the marketing of the companies you send money to...either consciously or sub-consiously. Whether the message is, "chicks will dig me on this bike," or "I'm a rebel who doesn't conform and thnks for himself." The latter is quite ironic but anyway. There are tons of scientific research in the field of marketing that support this conclusion. If there wasn't a link then Madison Avenue wouldn't exist and all we would get would be vanilla ads with "just the facts ma'am." And for the record...I'm not implying that Surly owners are freaks or anything of the like. I'm just saying that when first happening upon that website that ad did not entice me in the least to buy their product. A friend of mine was hanging out when I was on that page and he also was just saying, "what the heck is that?!?!"

Now I have either cleared things up or pissed off the same or more folks. Not my intent of course but I will say what's on my mind on here...for better or worse.

mechBgon

Right, well anyway, I had some ideas up in post #14 that don't involve buying a Surly, if that helps.

BayBruin

You always have good info MechBgon...You know my bike by now (Trek Antelope 830). The 5200 was nice....but I really need to ride a lot more before I say "this is the one." I plan on trying the TriCross Comp....Trek 520....Trek XO 1 and 2, and maybe the Portland. Bike frame material isn't that crucial to me...as someone on here said....how much extra weight a bike may carry....has the exact same effect as how much extra weight a rider has...and I still have a lot.

8200rpm

From one Bruin to another...

I think you're making way too much of a few pictures on a website. Surly owners typically have nothing but good things to say about their bikes and their experience with the company.

But if you're more comfortable buying a bike from a company with a website with less "WTF-factor", then so be it. Everyone has their reasons for choosing one product over another. Sometimes, these decisions aren't necessarily based on the merits of the actual products.

You may be surprised how much faster a steel road touring bike is compared to your mountain bike. I'm not sure what kind of wheels/tires your running on your Trek 830, but 700cc road wheels and tires typically don't loose momentum like heavier ATB wheels.

Bicycles are often designed to be very specialized things. Buy a bike for what you do most often. If you seriously want to keep up with your lycra clad roadies, buy a bike designed for it. You'll drive yourself crazy trying to find something that does everything. People have "quivers" for a reason.

BayBruin

I have road slicks on my bike (26 X 1.50) and they did wonders when I first switched over from nobbies. I just need to test drive some more bikes. I probably need to take a day off since it's hard with the kids on the weekends plus the shops are pretty crazy on the weekends. Thanks for the advice.

Blue Order

I just PM'd you.

xB_Nutt

So what does riding a skid mark brown Surly Karate Monkey say about me? Too funny!! The Surly website actually appealed to me and influenced my buying decsion in a positive way...I guess to each his own.

Now to your original question. I would reccomend the Soma Smoothie ES or Double Cross. (But they are located in San Francisco...so that might be a deal breaker) Kona Jake or Bianchi Volpe are also reasonably priced but lean more on the cyclo-cross side of the fence. Good luck deciding and I'd move quickly while you have the buy in from your wife...