ravenmore

Alrighty - I've decided that I want either a CX bike or MTB, partially inspired by my commute which involves having to go off road in some areas on some pretty rough single track. My single speed with fat tires handles the terrain ok but its geared for road, and I could use the lower gears to spin through the rough stuff a bit better.

So the question is, which of my two current road bikes do I get rid of to make room for the new bike. I really need to sell one to make room both budget wise and space wise.

2006'ish Giant TCR



or 2005-6'ish S-Works Aluminum:





Ever since I was like 8 I've liked to tinker with my bikes so neither bike is close to stock, lol.

ColinL

now I want to see the poll for MTB vs CX.

ravenmore

Well we're in the 41, so I think we know how that'd go.

merlinextraligh

Ditch the Specialized.

Buy a C/X bike, put 38mm tires on it, and a 34 front ring with an 11/28 cassette. You can ride most mountian bike trails with that.

ravenmore

Thanks for the suggestion - actually looking at this bike in brushed silver: https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...ane/outlaw.htm

Other suggestions/input welcome.

svtmike

Don't get the Outlaw for rough single track. It'll rattle your eyeballs out of their sockets. There's just no give to the bike and it's really fatiguing to ride. You're also locked into hard-to-find 130mm disc spacing in the back. The wheels it comes with are narrow -- I had to custom build a set to take my 38mm winter tires. They just blew off of the stock wheels.

I ditched mine for a Planet X Kaffenback frame and fork -- rides much better and weighs the same. It's also spaced at 132.5mm in back so you can run either 130mm or 135mm disc wheels, and can be set up for disc or canti brakes.

As for which of your other bikes to get ride of -- neither.

ColinL

well, once you've set your pricing sights that low, I don't think there is a lot of room for debate unless you start talking about used bikes.

I'm not saying that Motobecane is a bad bike. I'm saying I don't have other ideas for a new bike in that price range.

ravenmore

Well, I was looking at this because I want to cover most of the cost of the new bike with the sale of the old bike, and honestly I don't think I'm going to get all that much from either road bike. I've got a ton of other expenses and the bike budget has to be as self sufficient as possible.

rjones28 

What he said.

merlinextraligh

I've got a Motebecanne Phantom Pro. Similar bike, except it's ultegra, and cantilever brakes. I race C/X with it, and ride single track mountain bike trails with it on occassion.

It is a stiff, relatively heavy frame. I wouldn't pick it as the tool to ride single track. But as a pretty good all around bike at a nice price point it's worked well for me. And it's adequate to cover the single track part of your commute.

ravenmore

Thanks - yeah, I'm not going to go for miles and miles of rough stuff. I might go explore a little bit on some of the trails in between neighborhoods. Just found this one on BD - the chrome version looks awesome: https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...fantom_cxx.htm

ColinL

if you don't ride in the rain or heavy mud, get that second bike with cantis. it has way better drivetrain and I never had a canti squeaking and dragging like crazy while riding in perfectly dry conditions. which happens all too frequently with discs...

svtmike

That looks like a better choice.

abstractform20

buy my cyclocross bike. whether or not you ride a 54 is unimportant.

ravenmore

Man - looks like no love for the S-Works. That's my WW bike. It's sub 15 pounds with different tires/tubes

Muffin Man

I like the specialized a lot more than the giant.

svtmike

I think the only vote that matters is ravenmore's.

ColinL

I would get a MTB if you're going to do some singletrack. For this commute and things like it, CX bike all the way.

And I know there aren't many better aluminum bikes than that S-works E5, but the TCR is definitely better.

IthaDan 

Your absolute lack of component brand loyalty is an inspiration to us all.

If it's truly as much of a coin-flip between the two as you're making it out to be, I'd sell the one that's worth more and use the money to get a nice CX. If you're not careful, you might like the CX so much you'll sell the other road bike and then just have an MTB and a CX. Heads up: the braking of a properly setup cross bike is intoxicating.

E: is that a Ringlé post on the S-works? if you wind up selling that bike, sell me that post first.

ravenmore

It's a KCNC post on the S-Works. And it's been tuned to just a bit over 100 grams - but the thing is stiff as hell.

ravenmore

Honestly - the Giant is a more all arounder. It doesn't do some things as well as the S-Works but if you were to average ratings for all frame qualities the Giant would come out far ahead. It's vastly more comfortable and stable. It's VERY easy to trust in sketchy situations. It can be nimble enough when it needs to be. It's the most balanced riding bike I've ridden.

The first time I raced the S-works was in a crit. I rapidly realized I needed to go to the back to get a handle on how the thing cornered. It's like it was psychic. If you thought about turning right it was already half way through the turn. When you put your foot down, it goes like an effing bat out of hell. You have to stay on it but if you do you will be rewarded. First time I rode it was on a 80 mile chip seal back road ride. The ride was very lively but not harsh. I was impressed with it from then on.

ravenmore

sigh - better angle of the S-Works...

ColinL

sounds like you're emotionally and spiritually bought in to the specialized. keep it.

life is way too short to pick the bike that's better 'on paper'. if you have reasons to prefer the specialized, I'd be a fool to argue with you.

abstractform20

tape looks like alu foil

eippo1

All that work on the Sworks and you consider selling it?! I love my Sworks and sold my Tarmac because I loved it so much...well sort of. Truth is that the the bikes were way too similar for me to justify having both and so I replaced the tarmac with more of an all around bike (that had a much shorter head tube as well).