Markbanshee

Many threads on this I know, but I am focusing on the tires...I am interested in the Fuji 1.0 Roubaix but on many posts people keep saying they like the bike but they are swapping out the tires. When it comes to road bikes I am a newbie so I am trying to figure out what is wrong with the tires (is it the tire, Vittoria Zaffiro, 700 x 23c?, the wheelset?, etc). While on this topic, I will say I am looking at the Trek 2.1, CAAD 9, Scott s20, Specialized Allez, Giant Defy 1 amongst others...they all seem to be similar in price and components. I am looking for longer rides, 40, 50, 60 miles, not racing and this will be my first road bike. I tried the Shimano 105 and the SRAM Rival and I feel comfortable with either and I will not go lower than those groups. Knowing all of that, I think I found the best price on the Fuji so if anyone has a very compelling argument against the Fuji over those others, please let me know.

bikeybikebike

You're spending $1400 on a bike and you're worried about $60 for new tires? Buy the Frame and components that you want. Forget the tires!

bikeybikebike

That said, people seem to have a ***** for CAAD9's.

mollusk

40 to 60 miles rides that aren't races can be quite varied. These could be fairly fast "B" club rides or they could be "stop and smell the flowers" social rides. Pretty much anything that is mechanically sound will function here for both. A 30 year old mid-level road bike would be more than sufficient in terms of functionality for either.

What the OP really needs to look at it bike fit more than details about the components. The bike geometry that fits you better far out weighs any tiny increment in performance that some components might give you.

Also the "I really like the look of that bike" factor cannot be overstated. If you think that it is "hot" then it is. If that makes you want to ride it more and go faster, then you will.

Markbanshee

Thanks for the quick replies. I am not "worried" about the $60 tires, just wondering what the big deal is I guess (I told you I am a newbie). Also, if there is some combo, that includes similar components and already comes with good tires then I might lean that way, because as I have found, all of the bikes I mentioned are in a similar price range. The Fuji just comes in as the lowest and I like the look for sure, as mollusk wrote, I think it looks pretty cool so I would want to ride it. As for the shape and geometry, I know I did not like the CAAD 9, too hunched over. I am not doing stop and smell the flowers rides, but I am not in a race. I feel like I am set on the Fuji, throwing it out there for people to talk me out of it if it is really a poor choice for some reason. I also think I may wait another week because I am hoping/guessing that prices will go down because I know that some makes (including Trek) are releasing their 2011's this week.