hwinfield

I have been riding a hybrid for the past couple of years, and have fallen in love with road biking. I am now in the process of looking for my first road bike.

My price range started out in the $1500 range, until I tested out a Specialized Roubaix Comp Compact and I fell in love with the speediness and comfort of that bike.

The Specialized costs about $2400 at LBS, which I’m willing to spend if I need to, however I’d like to spend less if I can find something that I love just as much.

I am planning to ride about 50 miles a week, primarily in nicer weather around the Portland, Oregon area.

I wanted to ask for any advice that you may have about bikes that are similar to the Roubaix (or that I might love as much or almost as much as the Roubaix), and I also wanted to ask if any of you have experience with Kona road bikes. Are they good bikes?

Because I’m somewhat new to road biking, I’m a bit concerned about hitting gravel segments of trails, so I’ve tested out a few Cyclocross bikes, however they feel a little slower than what I am looking for – maybe I’m testing the wrong ones. Should I keep looking at the option of a Cyclocross bike?

Thanks in advance for any advice that you can provide to lead in the right direction.

ptle

A cyclocross bike will be slower because the normally have bigger, knobby tires, lower gears, and slightly different geometry. If you throw on some slicks and change the gearing a cyclocross bike will be nearly as fast as a road bike.

If you're only riding 50 miles a week (which some people do in one ride) you don't really need that expensive of a bike. It sounds like you want a bike with relaxed geometry. See if the LBS has a Specialized Secteur. It's like the Roubaix, but cheaper. The geometry is nearly identical. The Secteur comp compact comes with the same 105 components, but is over $1000 cheaper (1650 msrp compared to 2700 msrp).

Also check out some other bikes and ask for bikes with "relaxed geometry" You may find something else you like.

hwinfield

ptle - Thanks! That's great advice. I saw the Secteur on the Specialized website, and wondered what the key differences are. $1k less sounds much better! I'll test one out this weekend and talk to my LBS about relaxed geom. bikes.

ptle

The Roubaix comp compact has a carbon frame and full carbon fork as opposed to the Secteur which is aluminum and has a carbon fork with aluminum steerer tube.

Carbon will probably be a little nicer, but you can still have a comfortable aluminum frame.

I got most of this information just looking at their website.

SkinnyLegs

I would first decide whether you want to keep riding those gravel trails on a regular basis. Because road bikes are not made for riding on gravel.

TVS_SS

I would look into the Trek 2.1/2.3 if a slightly relaxed positoin is what you are after

Cannondale CAAD 9 is a great bike, but more agressive in seating position.

hwinfield

I usually ride on roads or smooth, paved trails, but occasionally I encounter rougher trails - or some cobblestones or something to get to another segment of the smooth trail or road - somewhat rarely, but it happens. Would it be better for me to look at cross bikes, or could I look at a road bike with maybe beefier tires?

I guess my dilemma is that I love the speed and smoothness of the road bike.

rydaddy

I've raced on gravel roads with a road bike and it's actually quite fun. I'd stick with a road bike and look for something more in your price range.

ptle

If you're rarely going to be on something rough I wouldn't worry about getting a cross bike unless you like the idea of the extra versatility.

In the race the Paris Roubaix they ride on cobblestones for sections of the race. Actually Tom Boonen is known for riding in the Paris Roubaix and winning on his Specialized Roubaix. I've ridden on cobblestones... no more than a tenth of a mile. It's not that bad. I've also ridden my road bike in the grass/loose gravel trails meant for mountain bikes. It's doable and in my opinion wouldn't prevent me from getting a true road bike.

PhotoJoe 

I'm looking at buying a bike in the near future. Saving now, but looking at the same type bikes you are. Here's what I'll test ride before buying (in absolutely no specific order):

Cannondale Synapse
Trek Pilot
Specialized Roubaix
Specialized Secteur
Giant Defy
Felt Z Series

Good luck. Let us know what you decide!

hwinfield

I've contacted a LBS who has two versions of the Secteur in my size (the sport and comp) and I'll test them out this weekend. It sounds like the primary difference b/t the Secteur and the Roubaix is the aluminum vs. carbon frame - meaning it the Secteur be a little heavier, but still comfortable and pretty fast?

I'll also test out the Treks and Cannondale as recommended by TVS_SS.

Sounds like I'm okay in going with the road bike. I really appreciate the advice.

hwinfield

PhotoJoe - The shop in Portland that I've found that carries the Secteur also specializes in Felt bikes. I haven't heard of those, but I'll check them out this weekend. Will also look for the others that you've mentioned. I'll definitely let you know what I decide. Thanks!

ptle

I think a 56cm Secteur triple weighs 20.7 pounds. That's a good weight... the extra weight savings won't make that big of a deal.

PhotoJoe 

You are exactly right. According to the Spec website, they are exactly the same geometry, just different materials.

I've "heard" that you'll get more bang for your buck with Giant and Felt, but haven't proved/disproved that yet. You go look and let me know! Enjoy the process!

Uni-Vibe

Sweet spot on road bikes is the $2K - 3K range. Any less, you gotta compromise on something. Any more, you're just spending unless you're a truly serious racer. 98% won't know the difference. 2-3K will get you good carbon frame, good wheels, Ultegra or equivalent gruppo, which is all most of us need.

Relaxed frame is smoother more comfortable ride, stable feel; race geometry frame is more efficient but tougher position to get used to, a bit twitchier. Your call.

PhotoJoe 

I'm not trying to open a can of worms here, but is an aluminum frame with 105 gruppo not good for a first bike? Other than a little nicer ride from carbon (from what I've heard, not that I've ever ridden one), is a $1350 bike that much of a compromise?

jsmonet

what he's referring to is the tendency to keep bikes in the ~3k range for a lot longer than ones in the sub-1500 dollar range. under ~1500 you're buying what you can afford, and maxing that out against your will to spend on this. After you've put down some miles you begin to see where the "value" in your bike was actually "going a little cheaper", and you start to weigh things like better group and wheels against having just purchased something higher up to begin with. Your initial bike will have depreciated. if you're keeping it, love it, and love having your n+1 bike around then it's all good. if you're looking to sell it off then you should probably tack the depreciation onto the price of your 3k-ish ideal bike you're buying.

i'm a huge hypocrite because i just put a rival group on my allez, but it's my damn money!

OP: if at all possible, take a secteur and a roubaix--both with the same components if possible--on long test rides. for kicks, try to hop on a tarmac/allez. When your head stops spinning, realize there's nothing wrong with an aluminum frame </gets banned for that> as long as you get it with white bar tape.

FeartheReign

I'm sure this should get me in trouble with the crowd being my first post, but here goes anyway.

I was in your same boat. I wanted to enter the road bike world and was looking at $1500 max. I went to several of the LBS's and rode several bike that have been mentioned above. I talked about pricing and got the same things your hearing. I talked to a couple of guys at work who suggested I go look at Fuji bikes. That was it for me. I found the Team Pro for a VERY competitive price. If you don't know it the Fuji Team Pro is full carbon with Ultegra Grouppo (chain and cassette are 105). The weekend that I bought Performance was offering 20% store credit when you purchased. That put me out the door with helmet, gloves, 2 water bottle cages nad bottles, shoes, 2 tubes, a seat bag, patch kit, cheapo multi-tool and CO2 inflater. All that for significantly under $2K. I know it isn't the best bike on the road but it gets me started with a good lightweight, full carbon, bike, with excellent components, that should carry me for many many miles to come.

Good luck with your purchase.

By the way sorry to my local bike shop I really wanted to buy from him, but I can only support him at so much expense to myself. He did say that he would happily support me and my new bike regardless of brand.

hwinfield

Yesterday I tested out the Secteur and the Cannondale Synapse - both with 105s. I took them both on nice, long (over an hour each) rides and unfortunately, the Secteur is not for me. It just didn't feel right and I didn't like the ride. It didn't feel smooth or comfortable at all - maybe it's just me.

I liked the Synapse a lot, and it's definitely in the running, but I don't feel that I'm at the end of the process. One thing that I did notice with the Synapse is that it was much smoother than the Secteur, but I did feel that when I hit a pothole, traintrack, etc., it felt pretty jarring. Not sure if this is normal, if I'm imagining it, or if a carbon frame would "cure" this, but I don't remember having this happen with the Roubaix (or with the Bianchi cross bike that I rode last weekend, but that wasn't a road bike).

I'm going to follow your recommendations and test out a Fuji, Kona, Trek, Giant and Felt. And I'm going to ride the roubaix again on Saturday. My LBS has a Roubaix that is in the $1700 range - he said that it is last years model and with a different set of components - not sure exactly what, but I'm riding that one next weekend, so I'll find out the differences then.

What Uni-vibe is saying about spending vs. compromising is starting to make sense more to me. I am buying a bike this year, because last year I bought an entry-level hybrid and my happiness with that lasted about a month. I don't want to be in the same position next year of wanting to buy a new bike or having to spend $1k on upgraded components, so I'm really grateful for all of your advice. I'm trying to take my time on this one so I'm not back here in a year asking for advice on bike number three!

Mac2131

+1 for the Trek 2.3.... see if you can find a 2009 at closeout though cause the 2010's have a crappier group, plus the 09's colors are much better lol

simonaway427

Going back to cyclocross bikes, have you ridden the Specialized Tricross yet?

During my search, I rode both the Secteur and the Tricross and favored the latter. While the geometry isn't condusive to super fast like a Roubaix or Tarmac, with a proper fitting, it can be quite the quick bike, with a little more robustness for those trails and cobblestones you sometimes encounter. They also come with more asphalt friendly tires (specialized borough) than other CX bikes that have knobby treads.

hwinfield

I'll look for the 2009 Trek 2.3 at LBS. And I haven't riddent he Tricross, so I'll add it to the list. Thanks!

mtalinm

photojoe, this is pretty much the set of bikes I'm looking at. just took my commuter on a half-century and realized the error of my ways. i'm chubby though so I don't want to lean over like a regular road bike.

saw a trek pilot but didn't get a chance to ride it yet. looking for a specialized dealer with a secteur in stock - that looks like a pilot for $200 less. synapse seems pricier

ultraman6970

For that money i would do the BMC road racer offer in competitive cycles for 1600 something. Great bike, a lot of bling bling, and i bet noone has one around your area.

hwinfield

ultraman6970: I can't find a BMC dealer in Portland. I'll ask LBS this weekend and see if they know where those are sold. Thanks!