jamestri

I'm a first year triathlete looking to move up from my Walmart road bike after an accident and on a for sale website I found a 04/05 Specialized Allez Sport equipped with Aerobars for $300 versus a Cyfac Nerv, year model not provided but it's for sale for $350 so I can't imagine it being manufactured within the last 3-4 years, looks like it's in good shape with what looks like a Specialized stem, "Dedac METAL seat post?", and SRAM crankset so I don't know if all parts are stock. Both in gorgeous condition but I don't ton about bikes as I am new to cycling. I heard good things about cyfac but specialized is well known also so I don't know which to pull the trigger on?

jamestri

thin_concrete

Which one fits you?

jamestri

I'm between 5'8" and 5'9", never really had an exact measurement, the Specialized is a 56cm frame while the Cyfac is a 54cm.

thin_concrete

I'm 5'8" and ride a 53. Based on that alone, I'd lean towards the smaller Cyfac. Have you checked out bikesdirect.com or nashbar.com? Both have decent no-name brand bikes at reasonable prices. It may be an option for you.

is $350 your max budget?

jamestri

Oh I got the bike sizes mixed up, it's the other way around. I was going to pull the trigger on the Specialized bike because it had more accessories plus it had an added aerobar at a $300 price tag. But I did some research on Cyfac and it seems like they're a pretty treasured brand so I thought maybe I could spend $50 for it. But yeah I'm a beginner so I don't think I'll dish out anymore than $350 just yet for a good road bike. So would you still suggest I get the Cyfac? It seems like little is known about this brand but they have a good reputation like Specialized which is pretty well known?

I also don't know if $300 is worth it for a 04/05 specialized allez sport, I tried bicycle bluebook but the year model didn't show up, and same for Cyfac as the year model is not provided and so little is known it seems in the bicycle world but both are in excellent condition

thin_concrete

I suggest you get the smaller bike as fit is critical, whichever bike that is. I was on a bike that was too big and I experienced a lot of upper back pain. Now that I'm on a size appropriate 53, I enjoy my rides much more.

Maelochs

Definitely get the smaller bike. You cannot make a big bike smaller but you can make a small bike bigger. All this of course assumes that when you get there, the bikes are actually in good shape, all the spinning parts spin silently and freely, and the non-moving parts don't move, nothing is bent or dented or broken.

Having done a tiny bit of googling it seems the Cyfac is the kind of bike that only an experienced cyclists would appreciate----the very tiny differences are the sort that I for instance, might not notice because I would be more concerned with trying to breath and keeping my legs moving. Cyfac frames--at least the high-end ones---seem to be designed for experienced aficionados with a deep appreciation of the kind of subtleties you wouldn't notice if you didn't already ride 10K miles per year and had for years.

Buy both and sell the Cyfac for $450 ... Someone will buy it for $400 and the the Trek and the the first tuneup will be free.

elboGreaze

Get the Specialized, if you decide that it fits ok . Better name recognition in the case of re-sale down the road . It does have some funky set up at the steerer / stem that you will have to work through . Good luck !

garciawork

The Specialized. I am a little taller than you and would hate life on a 56. I had a couple 54cm Specialized bikes, and would have preferred 52cm I found out. The 54's worked though.