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Am I being cheap if i...

Old 01-26-05, 04:51 PM
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Im in the market to purchase a road bike with my income tax to raise my endurance. I wasnt planning on spending anymore then 650$. I would like to join a few more races this year and actually do decent in them Anyhow I was thinking of purchasing one of the entry level bikes with sora sti shifters form any lbs. All road bikes here start at 600$ easy. Well I found 2 (different brands) on ebay with the same drive train/shifters for half price but they are steel frames and forks. My rational was that i live next to a mountain with nice trails, I dont know how often I would be on the road bike, and if i ever got serious about road biking I would need to update my 600$ bike anyhow the same as if it were a 300$ bike. Plus gives me 300$ to spend on a few things i need to replace on my mtn bike. So am I just being cheap and I should purchase my first road bike for the lbs? What do you think?

These are the two bikes at the lbs
https://www.scottusa.com/product.php?UID=6243
https://www.khsbicycles.com/04flite300.html
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Old 01-26-05, 04:57 PM
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This depends on you. How likely is it you would become serious about it? This is personal. I know for me, it would only ever be a training tool and never an actual 'sport' to me. I would spend as little as possible for that aspect of riding. But thats just me. (I would save my coin for any mtb upgrades )
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Old 01-26-05, 05:06 PM
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I say get the $300 bike. If you love riding pavement, then you'll know more and can get the right bike for you. And you'll have a decent back-up bike/commuter.

IMO, there are very few frames on bikes retail for <$700 that are worth upgrading, so if you do go the more expensive route, make sure you get a good frame with low-end components.
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Old 01-26-05, 08:29 PM
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Thanks for the help guys.
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Old 01-26-05, 08:35 PM
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Agreed with Mael, I got my road bike, a bianchi brava, for around $700 and I thought it was going to be this great new sport. After awhile of riding and finding that most roadies were either real nice but way out of my league to ride with or very snobbish and didn't like newcomers. I got a mountain bike and it slowly become my favorite past-time. Now the road bike sits on the trainer ready to ride indoors incase of inclement weather. Its a GREAT training tool, like mael said. If you aren't too serious about road cycling then I would just try to get the best bike for the best money, whether thats on ebay or at the LBS. Good luck, it will be useful, even if you use it as a training tool.
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Old 01-26-05, 08:52 PM
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yea, but personally, i would at least go to the LBS first and to make sure yuo know what size you are and such. a road bike geometry and mtn bike geometry are COMPLETELY diffeerent, so if it fits you on a mtn bike, the size MIGHT not fit for a road bike.
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Old 01-27-05, 03:51 AM
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A road bike and a singlespeed will help your MTBing by leaps and bounds. You need both road and MTB to become a great rider. I would spend the $600. But even with that bike the frame isn't going to be great for upgrading. You can get a good bike for that price and it will last pleanty long enough to figure out if you want to keep riding road. I love road. It is a completely different kind of pain, and the reward after a long climb is awsome.
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Old 01-27-05, 04:50 AM
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Entry level road bikes oftem make better training tools than higher-up models. They usually have threads and clearance for fenders so you can ride on wet roads in winter. Most hardcore roadies have a training bike as well as a fancy race bike.
Fuji seem to make some excellent value entry-level ones.
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Old 01-27-05, 08:47 AM
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Thanks for your responses guys. Ill post a pic of which ever i decide to purchase even though its a road bike
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Old 01-27-05, 10:06 AM
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Look for a fuji roubaix. You should be able to pick up a 2004 model for $600. They use ultegra and 105 parts. Carbon seat stays and fork. Fuji has a few 2004 models left, so lbs should be able to get one.

check it out here:

https://www.fujibikes.com/road/bike.a...yID=8&yr=2004#
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