Looking to buy my first bike
04-09-11, 10:29 AM
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Looking to buy my first bike
Hello all!
I am looking to buy my first road bike. I have just turned 20, about 6'1 and am in decent shape. I am looking for a bike which I can use to get to work everyday in the summer, but that I can also use to go road biking with my friends and possibly join a club with. I am looking to buy something very introductory probably around ~$1100-1200 including all the accessories that I need to get started.
So here are my questions that hopefully can get answered without an ensuing flame war:
1. The city I live in, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, has many potholes and rough road conditions. One of the owners of an LBS recommended I buy a cyclo-cross bike for tougher tires and a more sturdy ride. Another LBS owner said that if I do get into a bike like that, I would get whipped on club rides even if I put road biking tires onto the cyclo-cross frame. He said that essentially the symmetry is different on them and that they feel like driving a dump-truck in comparison to a true road-bike. Can anyone comment on this constructively?
2. If I can find an older bike ~2002 with DuraAce components on it vs a newer bike 2008 with Ultegra components, and both have similar km's. What would the difference be in quality?
3. Am i better off getting a brand new bike with Tiagra components or a bike that has around 1000-2000km's with a better groupo for the same price that is used?
4. How essential is it to buy biking shorts? Do they really make a huge difference in overall comfort?
Thanks for any help you guys can provide. I know these questions have been probably asked 1000 times.
I am looking to buy my first road bike. I have just turned 20, about 6'1 and am in decent shape. I am looking for a bike which I can use to get to work everyday in the summer, but that I can also use to go road biking with my friends and possibly join a club with. I am looking to buy something very introductory probably around ~$1100-1200 including all the accessories that I need to get started.
So here are my questions that hopefully can get answered without an ensuing flame war:
1. The city I live in, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, has many potholes and rough road conditions. One of the owners of an LBS recommended I buy a cyclo-cross bike for tougher tires and a more sturdy ride. Another LBS owner said that if I do get into a bike like that, I would get whipped on club rides even if I put road biking tires onto the cyclo-cross frame. He said that essentially the symmetry is different on them and that they feel like driving a dump-truck in comparison to a true road-bike. Can anyone comment on this constructively?
2. If I can find an older bike ~2002 with DuraAce components on it vs a newer bike 2008 with Ultegra components, and both have similar km's. What would the difference be in quality?
3. Am i better off getting a brand new bike with Tiagra components or a bike that has around 1000-2000km's with a better groupo for the same price that is used?
4. How essential is it to buy biking shorts? Do they really make a huge difference in overall comfort?
Thanks for any help you guys can provide. I know these questions have been probably asked 1000 times.
04-09-11, 10:41 AM
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Ill let the other guys who have owned more bikes comment on the actual bike issue but what I can tell you is to buy shorts. Look up saddle sores and think how it would feel having that on your ass. I have an ingrown hair or something like that from shaving right now on my upper thigh, it hurts when my keys rub against it in my work slacks...really wouldn't want that on my butt. Buy shorts with a chamois.
04-09-11, 11:54 AM
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Hello all!
I am looking to buy my first road bike. I have just turned 20, about 6'1 and am in decent shape. I am looking for a bike which I can use to get to work everyday in the summer, but that I can also use to go road biking with my friends and possibly join a club with. I am looking to buy something very introductory probably around ~$1100-1200 including all the accessories that I need to get started.
So here are my questions that hopefully can get answered without an ensuing flame war:
1. The city I live in, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, has many potholes and rough road conditions. One of the owners of an LBS recommended I buy a cyclo-cross bike for tougher tires and a more sturdy ride. Another LBS owner said that if I do get into a bike like that, I would get whipped on club rides even if I put road biking tires onto the cyclo-cross frame. He said that essentially the symmetry is different on them and that they feel like driving a dump-truck in comparison to a true road-bike. Can anyone comment on this constructively?
2. If I can find an older bike ~2002 with DuraAce components on it vs a newer bike 2008 with Ultegra components, and both have similar km's. What would the difference be in quality?
3. Am i better off getting a brand new bike with Tiagra components or a bike that has around 1000-2000km's with a better groupo for the same price that is used?
4. How essential is it to buy biking shorts? Do they really make a huge difference in overall comfort?
Thanks for any help you guys can provide. I know these questions have been probably asked 1000 times.
I am looking to buy my first road bike. I have just turned 20, about 6'1 and am in decent shape. I am looking for a bike which I can use to get to work everyday in the summer, but that I can also use to go road biking with my friends and possibly join a club with. I am looking to buy something very introductory probably around ~$1100-1200 including all the accessories that I need to get started.
So here are my questions that hopefully can get answered without an ensuing flame war:
1. The city I live in, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, has many potholes and rough road conditions. One of the owners of an LBS recommended I buy a cyclo-cross bike for tougher tires and a more sturdy ride. Another LBS owner said that if I do get into a bike like that, I would get whipped on club rides even if I put road biking tires onto the cyclo-cross frame. He said that essentially the symmetry is different on them and that they feel like driving a dump-truck in comparison to a true road-bike. Can anyone comment on this constructively?
2. If I can find an older bike ~2002 with DuraAce components on it vs a newer bike 2008 with Ultegra components, and both have similar km's. What would the difference be in quality?
3. Am i better off getting a brand new bike with Tiagra components or a bike that has around 1000-2000km's with a better groupo for the same price that is used?
4. How essential is it to buy biking shorts? Do they really make a huge difference in overall comfort?
Thanks for any help you guys can provide. I know these questions have been probably asked 1000 times.
2&3. Try to get the best frame for your budget. Components can be upgraded as you move along. At your level the difference between lets say Ultegra and Dura-Ace is unnoticeable.
4. Get the shorts.
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