quentin

Hey guys, I have owned a Wal-mart roadbike now for 5 months, paid $300 for it, I don't know even if it is decent or not considering I have never even sat on a decent roadbike. I love roadbiking, and I am looking to buy a Canadian brand road bike within 6 months. I have been looking at the Rocky Mountain Solo 10 since it is cheap, but would it be a good platform to build on? It is only aluminum frame, but that doesn't bother me, I am not looking to win any Tour de France races....yet lol. There is also a SLIGHT but possible chance that I could afford a Cervelo Soloist Team bike, which has gotten rave reviews, but I wonder if I should put out that kind of money being a beginner? I could always upgrade down the road. Also wondering, since I am going to be living on the west coast of Canada and riding in the wet lots, and I will be living around a lot of dirt roads, should I MAYBE get a cyclocross? The only worry I have about getting a cyclocross over a road bike is, will I be able to cruise long distances on it, as I would a road bike? Any help is appreciated, thanks!

Adgooroo

I can't imagine anyone regretting buying a Cervelo Soloist Team frame, as long at it fits. I CAN imagine someone regretting NOT buying one.

lvleph

Very good frames are made from Aluminum.

Jinker

Other alternatives if you're looking for Canuck brand road bikes: Marinoni, Miele, Devinci

Almost all non-custom frames are made offshore (think Taiwan), but you may have some maple leaf stickers on the bike somewhere and a Canadian paint job.

My brother had a Rocky Mtn Blizzard frame which he broke after something like 8 years. They replaced the frame. He was mighty pleased.

If I'm not mistaken the Solo10 should be coming with a Tiagra/105 mixed drive train with 9 speeds in the back. That is certainly good enough for a beginner, and should last you quite a while.

The one extra cog in the back and small weight advantage of moving up to, say, Ultegra or even Dura Ace levels will not have any meaningful impact on your riding.

kirkcubs

If you love riding a Wal Mart bike then you're gonna FREAK when you ride a "good" bike. These are the kind of newbie posts I love to read.
Welcome to the cult- er, club.

Hopetoditchcar

Are those canadian bikes made in canada or taiwan?

Jinker

If I'm not mistaken, all of Rocky's CF frames are made offshore. I think they may still make their steel/aluminum frames in BC. Bikes assembled in BC.

(What's funny/strange about this is that the Nashbar 853 Mountain frame seems to be identical to the Blizzard... Maybe they're buying Blizzard overstock? Usually stuff like this suggests that Nashbar would be buying stock from a third party frame supplier that Rocky used to manufacture their frames. Maybe it's just built to the exact same spec? Who knows.)

Miele's site claims their bikes are manufactured in Canada. Their frames may be manufactured elsewhere and the bikes assembled here, or the whole thing could be Canadian made.

All this being said, the expensive parts of the bike (the groupset) will be made in Japan (or Italy if Campy, Taiwan if SRAM?) anyway.

quentin

Your advice is very much appreciated guys, it really helped me clear my mind up a bit. I have decided to hold off on going for the Cervelo Soloist simply because I appreciate them so much that I would not want it to get stolen or vandalized by punks, especially at that price. I think I will go with the rocky mountain solo 10, seeing as it is relatively cheap, and a decent platform to build on, plus I am not going to be racing for pinks anytime soon lol. Thanks again guys, I am off to check out Miele who I haven't heard of, can't wait to find more questions to ask you guys. By the way, my walmart bike only weighs 26lbs! amazing eh?!