choua01

my old vintage raleigh die on me now and it's hard to find parts for it. so i'm looking into a new road bike to to take me to work everyday. the road i ride to work has alot of cracks and pot holes.
Here's my problem, i don't know much about new road bike, So done some research around my self and come to conclude on this two a 2009 Giant TCR Advance Carbon Road bike with full ultegra and a 2009 Specialized Tarmac SL2 S-Works with Dura-Ace 7900.

both looks aggressive and it's mind bloging for me to decide, have any of you have any of this two and have any long term experinced with it yet. i know it's a 09' bike.

i don't know which one is lighter i assume their shouldn't be much different since their both carbon fiber.


09' Giant TCR ADVANCED


09' specialized Tarmac Sl2 S-Works

Quijibo187

In my opinion, you're looking at the wrong type of road bike.
something that can take a little bigger tire with a less aggressive geometry is what I'd be looking at.

as for the 2 bikes you've chosen, the more I see the TCR advanced, the more I like it. The more I see the Specialized, the less I like it.

choua01

thanks, for the reply, now why are they the wrong type, are they going to break down on me? Cause when i ride to work i ride fast, i mean as fast as i can, i'm trying to set new record everyday. now may i'm thinking a Specialized Roubaix might be a less aggressive between this two if your talking about aggrissive.

maybe i'll just go back to the vintage since they have bigger tires, or does anybody have any suggestions, any help will be appreciated thanks a bunch guys and gals.

exhibitx

he said it was the wrong type because you'd want to run bigger tires, neither of those frames have much tire clearance

you'd want to run bigger tires if the roads have a lot of cracks and pot holes, it's going to make for a much more comfortable ride with bigger tires

that's up to you though. but since you mentioned the pot holes and cracks, it's worth looking at.

sheddle

neither of them work very well as a commuter, but the TCR is so much better for the money than an SL2

Innes

Awful expensive commuter bike choice...

dleesnowgs4

yeah both of your choices are killer bikes but I am not sure I would want to be commuting on them, as they are both a bit racy.

Your posing a questions that could be worded kinda like this.....
I am thinking about buying a car to take to work everyday. What do you think is better? A Ferrari or a Lamborgini?

Both of thoes cars would be very fun, but I am not sure you want to be hitting to many pot holes with them nor with the bikes your looking at. Plus I am always worried about taking my carbon frames into work, but maybe that is just me.

I would look at something a bit less expensive and perhaps less pretty as a commuter bike. But its your $.......

I like to commute to my work once a month, and I just bought a Cervelo R3-SL, and it aint going to be visiting my workplace anytime soon.

womensecks

I'm sure this is a joke guys =.=

weavers

for commuing i'd get an old steelie form the 80s, fix it up a bit, add a rack, basket fenders, slap some slick 28 or 32c tires and lights and you will have a year round bike thats only 30-35lbs. the point of a commuter is that it can get stolen or crashed and its not a big deal. if you got money to burn then check out a surly crosscheck or anything from salsa. if you have rought roads or snow then go mtb with front disc brake.



keep the carbon fiber bike for group rides and weekend warrior type stuff

Tapeworm21

You'd be surprised. I've seen an S-Works Stumpjumper FSR/ full carbon ($7500 bike) walk out of the bike shop with slicks on it so they can commute on it. Some people have money... let 'em ride what they want to ride.

weavers

i want to avoid one of these

choua01

sorry i forgot to mention money is not an issue for me, i just figure since this bike are expensive they should hold well through all the pot holes and etc.

mustang1

ps: I also know two guys who riide S-Works machines to work, one's a 2009 Roubaix SL2, the other a 2008 (or possibly 2007) Stumpjumper (or whatever the S-Works equivalanet in MTB is called, and he commutes on knobbies about 20 miles one-way, but has since bought a motorbike coz 20 miles each way was "just too difficult").

brian416

25c tires fit easily on the SL2, 28s look like they would fit fine too. I've had my SL2 for about 2 months and have put 5000 miles on it in that time, it is the most amazing bike I've ever ridden, it is way stiffer in the crank than my Orbea was and yet rides better over bumpy roads.

If you can handle the aggressive position and keep your bike safe indoors where it won't get stolen, it is an awesome bike.

MONGO!

English is though, apparently.

sanaga

get the specialized...a lot nicer

choua01

specialized, it shall be. my work place is only 3 mile away from my home. making 6 per day that i'm gonna be putting into my Specialized Tarmac S-Works.

choua01

when your in a hurry to type something, proper english is the last thing. at lest for me.

ccrnnr9

I would say go out and ride some bikes and figure out which you like best. If I had to have a choice for a comfortable road bike for rough roads it would be the cannondale synapse carbon hands down. I haven't ridden a road bike that is a smoother ride. Also the relaxed geometry may be better for commuting purposes.
~Nick

DenisMenchov

MONGO!

Might want to slow down when choosing a bike.

Right now, you're about to buy the wrong bike for the job.

ch3n207

Get the Giant. Not only does it look better imo. But i have heard that the sl2 dampens the ride so much that you can't feel whats underneath you. Personal preference though.

VeganForPeace

O_o...They didn't even lock up the wheels...

choua01

if i have to ride this thing to work than I'm neither gonna have to get up more early to
work or i'll be late to work everyday. this does not look fast.