RubeRad

I'd be looking at balloon tires. For flotation.

Tattookaz

No she rode a cheap walmart bike.

Tattookaz

I think I've settled on the ROUBAIX SL4 SPORT SRAM DISC

lsberrios1 

Good choice on bike Go ride it first and give a few of them a try though so you know what is out there. I am surprised to see that that roubaix has an 11-32 cassette! YOu should be able to climb walls on that

Violet

This is the wrong place to ask, I'd try the long distance or touring forums.

I find riser bars with long bar ends to be nice for riding on the road - you can cut them down and have them set quite low. Bare in mind that many road cyclists simply follow what pro racers do without much thought.

lsberrios1 

And pro racers are wrong.



If you go that route, 300 miles in 4 days isn't really a long distance. 200 miles in one day is. I still recommend a comfortable ROAD bike.

Violet

Pro racers are under 80kg, ride in huge pelotons and are supported by team cars. These are not the same conditions the OP will be experiencing.

Listen I know you guys like to play dressup, and I understand, really I do, but let's be realistic.

Nachoman

lsberrios1 

Everyday is halloween to me.

I still dont see how a comfortable roadbike wouldn't fit his needs. 80 miles a day is not a lot. It takes some training but it is very doable.

Violet

I'm not disagreeing that it would. But so would the flat bar thing that he originally wanted. And so would a load of other bikes - which will never be endorsed here. That's why I think this is the wrong forum to ask the question - there's a very narrow perspective here. And that's all I have to say. I'll leave you all to argue over which seat posts are more aerodynamic and where you can pay money to get jerseys with advertisements on them.

lsberrios1 

I guess I can see what you are saying. The roadbike will take you there faster and with maybe a little bit less effort. Another bike may be slower but maybe a little more comfortable. To hell, he can do it on the Mtn. Bike. I still think the roubaix would still merrit a lot of consideration since it was built to be comfortable and fast for exactly doing very long distances.

Darth Steele

Just to make sure that I understand. You had doubts about riding your rockhopper for the 300 miler, so you went out and bought a road bike. That is fair enough... But you are giving your wife, who admittedly is a "lesser" rider a heavier "mountain biker" with 29" wheels. My friend, clearly you are trying to end your marriage.

GuitarBob

This sounds like it could be an amazing experience. If you think you both might use road bikes in the future and you can afford it, get a road bike for each of you. The risks of not doing so could be huge.

It's not about whether your wife can manage this ride on a mountain bike, it's how much fun you'll both have on the ride.

lsberrios1 

This should have been the end of this thread! Hillarious!

"A cyclists' way to a divorce". For me it was making her use the clipless pedals and 4 falls.

Tattookaz

we will also have a support vehicle with us the whole time for any repairs.
i am getting a new bike because she doesn't have a bike right now. i will put good tires on the rockhopper. the rockhopper only weighs about 30 pounds so its not heavy at all.
2 road bikes is $6000 so that's not an option plus she loves my bike.
this is a flat course and is supposed to be a "family fun ride" so i guess i could get a cheaper bike but wheres the fun in that. i also have been wanting to switch over to a road bike so i can do more miles.
all the info has been really helpful.

Homebrew01

You can get very good bikes for half that.

PhotoJoe 

Based on what? Reading a spec sheet? Pretty colors? If this is how you're picking a bike, you are doing yourself a HUGE injustice. You should go ride everything you can, and not around a parking lot, either. Put a few miles on each one that a shop will allow you to. If possible, include:

Specialized Roubaix
Cannondale Synapse
Trek Madone
Giant Defy
Felt Z

Even one model of a bike can ride very differently than another because of components, especially wheels.

I took a day and drove around L.A. riding everything I could. Had I bought that day, I would have ended up with a Giant Defy Composite 2. It rode far better than the 3. The Roubaix that I rode (cheapest level at the time, but times change) did NOTHING for me. It was my least favorite ride. However, the Tarmac spoke to me, too. Well, it really just mocked me, wanting to be ridding faster than I could deliver.

Now, I say all this as a total hypocrite. In the end, I bought a Lynskey R230 Titanium mail order without ever riding it. It was a gamble, but paid of really well. Had it been available to ride on the day I did all my test rides, it still would have won FOR ME by a long margin.

Good luck. Pick carefully, ride the wheels off of it and make sure you give us a full ride report with pix!!!!

Tattookaz

I like Specialized. I wouldn't even consider a different bike. I know the owner of my LBS so I will be able to get a discount and he primarily sells Specialized. The specs look really good and of course I will ride it first. I wish it came in pretty colors but only black. I would love yellow or orange.

Tattookaz

I ordered a 2014 crux evo rival elite!

caloso

Then at least put bar ends on the MTB handlebars so she'll at least have two hand positions.

Mayday328

Congrats on the bike Tattookaz. I believe I'm working with your group and sending some team gear your way for the ride.

Good luck!

Tattookaz

thank you.
I'm going with Bike Bald out of Naperville IL.

Mayday328

That's them! I'll be sending some Garmin-Sharp team gear to you guys next week, hopefully. Sounds like a pretty epic adventure.

Tattookaz

Thank you so much!
We really appreciate all the help we can get.

Darth Steele

@Mayday328 , I tried to PM you but there is a 50 post requirement.

Where can I purchase one of those bibs? I am located in NY