Timberline

I'm sure you all are sick of these threads, and I've read enough threads on here to know most road cyclists have a disdain for BikesDirect, but for a new guy to the sport/hobby, you can't beat the deals. So, please, if you just want to bash BD and their bikes, don't comment. I would appreciate it. I'm not looking for someone to blow smoke up my $#% either, just for good advice and knowledge on these bikes...just honest, relatively unbiased opinions.

I have already went through the fit process, so I know appx. what bike size I'll need and how to adjust it to fit just right. I'm 5'9, 195lbs right now. I'm good with a wrench so that's not an issue either, plus youtube videos are great for learning what you don't know how to do! Here's the 3 bikes I'm considering in order of what I feel is the best bike for me at this time:

Windsor Falkirk - https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...rk_xi_apex.htm

GT GTR Series 2 - https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/gt/gtr_series2.htm

Motobecane Fantom Cross Pro - https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/..._pro_rival.htm

Yes, the last bike listed is a cyclocross bike, and the main reason I'm considering that as my first road bike, is winter is coming here in Colorado. I'd like to be able to ride thru most the winter, if possible. Also, where I will ride 80% of the time is concrete trail with light dirt singletrack trails that fork off the main trail here and there for the entire trail length (which is appx. 34 miles total one way). It would be fun to be able to jaunt off on one of those dirt trails occasionally, just as a change of pace, but I will mainly be on the concrete. I'd also be more confident on that last bike listed, if the weather turned foul (i.e., rain, snow, etc.).

I love the full SRAM apex gruppo of the Falkirk...seems like a solid first bike too. The GT seems to get rave reviews from people that have that bike, and I just think it's a looker myself. Again, I'm unsure of both bikes, though, for training purposes, with fall and winter approaching. So, please, fire away with your opinions. Thanks for reading...

Breitling

Any of those should be fine. I wouldn't go for the cyclocross bike b/c you want to get into road riding right? You can change out the tires on either road bike and be just fine. Also, check out nashbar, performance bike, and jensonusa if you're not picky on brands. All of them are closing out their 2012 bikes and have some prices that beat bikesdirect right now.

In the end, just get a bike that fits well and ride it a lot until you need another one. Shimano vs SRAM is purely a preference thing.

Timberline

So, a simple tire change is all that's needed on a road bike to run thru rain and light snow? I know those road bikes come with 700x23c, so what type of tire/size would you recommend? Oh, and yes, I really would like to get into road riding, but at the same time, I'd like to ride thru most of the winter if possible.

manutd

Comment withheld

Elduderino2412

i imagine there are tons of used bikes on CL in colorado. I would buy my first bike used, then upgrade. You will know what you want more after your first bike. Also you usually will almost break even on buying and selling a used bike. You do get a alot of bang for the buck on new bikes w/bikesdirect though.

a1penguin

I agree with Elduderino. Buy a CL bike that you think will be a good winter bike. In the spring, you can reconsider. There are some BD bikes that are fairly popular here on the forums. The Motobecane brand seems pretty popular. The advantage of a CX bike is that it will take wider tires and the V brakes are good in snow. Disc brakes might be even better. The first two bikes are real road bikes with 23mm tires. It's not clear just how wide a tire you can put on them. I don't think 23 or 25 tires will be a very comfortable ride on light dirt for long stretches. 28 or 32 would probably be better. Perhaps someone who lives in a location where there are real winters with that white stuff will have better advice. Perhaps you could ask in the Winter riding forum, but it's pretty quiet there now that it is summer.

SCochiller

It's the engine that counts. All that really matters in the bike is fit and reliability.