Help me choose a road bike!
 

Hello,

I have mountain biked for a couple years now, and am very interested in getting a road bike. I am a little confused about what different types of road bikes are for, however, and need your help to determine what to buy. I am a 25yo male, in shape, and am looking for a bike that I will not wish to replace in a couple years, but is not too expensive. I'm thinking $1,200 or less. I want a bike that I can go on long tours with, but I could also use to just ride to the super market in town. I also want to go fast! But I don't have to go too fast - I am not planning on racing or competing in anything. I am an avid skier, and I know that when people ask me questions like this about skis I often tell them that what they really want is 4 different pairs of skis, however I can only buy 1 bike. Please help! Thank-you.

There's plenty of advice in the search engine here about a new road bike purchase. But I gotta say that its not going to be easy to ride a road bike to the supermarket and come back with groceries, even with a huge backpack. What, a half gallon of milk, half gallon of vanilla ice cream, cereal, and lettuce, wow!!

Use the mountain bike for that. The road bike is something special, very specific, goes fast, stealth fast. Special pedals, computer on the handlebars, nice set of wheels, even at $1,200 it could get stolen pretty quickly in front of a supermarket.

Read through the Road Cycling forum. Your question gets asked there all the time.

I wouldn't go to the road forums like RonH suggested. Most of the bikes talked about over there aren't utility bikes nor are the posters over there really interested in that aspect of cycling. The commuting forum and the touring forum would be a better bet for more useful information.

For a bike, I'd suggest looking at a Cannondale T2 touring bike or an LHT for the touring side of the equation. Both are built for long distance touring and are in your price range. The LHT is cheaper than the Cannondale but is also heavier and has a lower parts spec on it. Neither are going to be 'racing' bikes but if you want to tour, you'll be thankful that you have them.

If you want something 'sportier' that will work for touring but not optimally, a cross bike could be made to fit the bill. A little quicker handling but not as comfortable over long distances, these bikes make good every day bikes but not so good bikes for handling 50 lbs of gear. A Surly Crosscheck or Kona Jake would fit the bill nicely. There are many others but be sure they have some kind of rack mount when you look at them. Putting a rack on a bike without mounts is futzy:rolleyes:

Here are some I think you may find versatile enough to cover your requirements.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=368115

trek portland - http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes...land/portland/

cannondale cross xr7 - http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/08/c...del-8XR7C.html

Brodie Ronin '09 - http://www.brodiebikes.com/2009/bikes/ronin.php
Brodie Ronin '08 - http://www.brodiebikes.com/2008/2008_bikes/ronin.php

rocky mountain solo cxd - http://www.bikes.com/main+en+01_102+...tml?BIKE=606#2

kona sutra - http://www.konaworld.com/08_sutra_w.htm
Kona Sutra - http://www.konaworld.com/09_sutra_en.cfm
Kona Dew Drop - http://www.konaworld.com/09_dewdrop_en.cfm

Orbea Diem Drop Disc (2009) - http://www.orbea.com/en-gb/productos...icicletas.aspx (see road bikes > fitness > diem drop disc)

focus cross disc - http://www.focusbikesuk.com/focuscyc...cross_disc.php
focus mares disc 2009 - http://www.focusbikesuk.com/focuscyc...mares_disc.php

Devinci Caribou2 (2009) - http://www.devinci.com/11628_an.html

Raleigh USA Sojourn (2009) - http://www.raleighusa.com/bikes/road/sojourn/

Rei Novara buzz road bike (2009) - http://www.rei.com/product/779985

rotwild rs1cx - http://www.rotwild.de/en/ (street bikes section)

Fixie Inc. Pureblood - http://www.cycles-for-heroes.com/bik...oss/pure-blood
fixie inc. pureblood - http://www.cycles-for-heroes.com/200...pureblood.html

Salsa la Cruz - http://www.salsacycles.com/laCruzComp08.html
Salsa Fargo - http://www.salsacycles.com/fargoComp09.html

Opus Sentiero - http://opusbike.com/site_route.php?lang=en (see 2009 bikes > road > cyclocross)

Genesis Croix de Fer - http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/series/croix_de_fer

BikesDirect Motobecane Fantom Cross Outlaw - http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...ane/outlaw.htm

Baron bicycles - http://baronbicycles.com/spec.htm

First decide on your budget. Next, go to a few bike shops to see what you like and see what fits you. Then recalculate your budget.

The Surly Cross Check with a change of tires might work.

Hit some bike shops, try some bikes, maybe you'll get lucky and find a leftover on sale you like.

One thing is worth mentioning... you want to go on long tours. That means
a long wheelbase and keeping the bars close to the level of the saddle for comfort.

But you also want fast, which means a short wheelbase and low bars for aerodynamics. You can compromise! But my 2 cents is this.... get the right tool for the job. Which I think would be a Surly LHT Complete touring bike.
It's a good tourer and an excellent commuter, grocery getter.

Then looked for a used bike that is speedy. Lots of them around. You'd be surprised how nice a good 20 year old bike can be with a tune up, tires, and maybe a new set of wheels.

A nice tour bike with a bob trailer for 50 lbs of groceries.

I have a Surley long haul trucker and love it but its a true touring bike very strong and a little heavy but it will cary 50 pounds easy with the right racks and bags. If you want more of a weekend tourer Masi makes a bike called speciale randoneer its lighter and their bikes look awesome and it retails around $1100.00.

Got a link?

Tim