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Recommend a good first road bike

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Recommend a good first road bike

Old 05-18-14, 01:00 AM
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Recommend a good first road bike

Currently I have a Trek hybrid, I've been increasing my daily route up to 20 miles now. I find the longer I ride, the more I am looking for more hand positions. Most of the time I am holding the end of the handlebars or two hands together near the stem, the normal position on flat bar aches my wrists after awhile. Thinking about giving a road a bike a try. What are some good first road bikes you guys would recommend? I searched a little and really like the CAAD10 105, based on feedback, price etc. Would like to stay at about $1K-$2K range. Any opinions would be appreciated, thanks!
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Old 05-18-14, 02:22 AM
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I just watched this; This guy is spot on. ▶ Bicycle Truth: Weight Scam - True cost of riding - YouTube
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Old 05-18-14, 06:03 AM
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The most important thing is bike fit. Find a good shop to get properly fitted. A improperly fitted bike is like wearing the wrong size shoes. Any bike in that price range is going to be of descent quality.
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Old 05-18-14, 06:43 AM
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Your price range is a mile wide. What calls to you? Do you want flashy and loud with a lot of racey logos or something more subdued in the hipster urban motif, maybe a steel frame semi-retro theme? Do you want a mainstream brand (Trek, Specialized, Cannondale etc.) or something a little more off the beaten path from a smaller line? You commute 20 miles; do you need a lot of frame mounts for racks and bags and stuff? What other riding do you do? -- do you intend to do any centuries? Cyclocross? Charity Rides? Club Rides?

As @clausen says, most bikes (properly fitted) in your price range are going to be great. But we live in a biking world where there's layers upon layers of specialization, and finding the bike that takes your breath away is part of the fun.
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Old 05-18-14, 07:11 AM
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[QUOTE=yote223;16768230]I just watched this; This guy is spot on. ▶ Bicycle Truth: Weight Scam - True cost of riding - YouTube[/QUOT

Is there some sort of prize for being able to listen to that guy drone on for 37 minutes? I got through about 3 and it was painful.
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Old 05-18-14, 08:31 AM
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Originally Posted by clausen
The most important thing is bike fit. Find a good shop to get properly fitted. A improperly fitted bike is like wearing the wrong size shoes. Any bike in that price range is going to be of descent quality.
+1. I would shop various bike shops and buy from the one that seemed the most competent in fitting me to the bike-correct size and setup-and service after the purchase. Run from the store with the pimple faced kid that has you standing over the top tube and saying "Dude this is a great fit for you". Shop the store and then the bike for your first purchase. Later when you know what you are doing you can shop online/ebay/CL. No one on a forum can tell you what to buy.
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Old 05-18-14, 08:46 AM
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A Cad 10 105 is a lot of bike for the money it is a good choose.
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Old 05-18-14, 09:23 AM
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You should first determine if you'd prefer a road racing bike with more aggressive and competitive type of geometry, as compared to a more endurance or performance-oriented type of geometry, in a road bike.

Since you're just entering into the road bike arena, I would highly suggest that you compare by test riding a true racing road bike, like the Trek Madone, with that of an endurance road bike, like the Trek Domane.

If you're anything like me, you'd prefer an endurance road bike. So consider this one:

The Giant Defy 1 @ $1380

* Compare the CAAD 10 105 with the Synapse 5 105

Last edited by WestPablo; 05-18-14 at 09:29 AM.
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Old 05-18-14, 03:06 PM
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Old 05-18-14, 04:01 PM
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Bar ends on your Trek. This is on my 7.5. Helps to relieve a lot of stress on your hands.

Last edited by 2702; 05-18-14 at 04:05 PM.
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Old 05-18-14, 04:06 PM
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Originally Posted by 2702
Bar ends on your Trek. This is on my 7.5
Or... This.

It will be $1000-2000 cheaper than that new bike and give you additional hand position for commuting.
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Old 05-18-14, 04:19 PM
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Originally Posted by Zoxe
Your price range is a mile wide. What calls to you? Do you want flashy and loud with a lot of racey logos or something more subdued in the hipster urban motif, maybe a steel frame semi-retro theme? Do you want a mainstream brand (Trek, Specialized, Cannondale etc.) or something a little more off the beaten path from a smaller line? You commute 20 miles; do you need a lot of frame mounts for racks and bags and stuff? What other riding do you do? -- do you intend to do any centuries? Cyclocross? Charity Rides? Club Rides?

As @clausen says, most bikes (properly fitted) in your price range are going to be great. But we live in a biking world where there's layers upon layers of specialization, and finding the bike that takes your breath away is part of the fun.
I would like to stay under $1500. Regarding aesthetics I like something a little more low key, like the CAAD10 5 105 in black or the CAAD10 black inc (not the price lol). I just got back into riding last year so solo at the moment.. for exercise but mainly because I just enjoy it too Nothing will be added to the frame. I understand the fit issue, I bought my hybrid from local LBS and will prob go back there. They have all the mainstream brands you mentioned so I guess I will stick with those three. They have free lifetime service so thats a plus.

I wanted to get a feel of what models I should be looking at for a first road bike and how much I should spend. I want something for long term, prob will not upgrade much. So from what I've read, I should be going for 105s? Any opinions on SRAM vs Shimano shifters?
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Old 05-18-14, 04:21 PM
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Originally Posted by WestPablo
You should first determine if you'd prefer a road racing bike with more aggressive and competitive type of geometry, as compared to a more endurance or performance-oriented type of geometry, in a road bike.

Since you're just entering into the road bike arena, I would highly suggest that you compare by test riding a true racing road bike, like the Trek Madone, with that of an endurance road bike, like the Trek Domane.

If you're anything like me, you'd prefer an endurance road bike. So consider this one:

The Giant Defy 1 @ $1380

* Compare the CAAD 10 105 with the Synapse 5 105
I will def take a look at all those models, thanks!
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Old 05-18-14, 05:05 PM
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you like the caad10 105.
it meets all your requirements and is a solid choice...
but surely not your last. N+1, you know.

buy it, ride it.
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Old 05-18-14, 07:46 PM
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I'm looking at the Giant Defy 1 myself. I was looking for a Hybrid but I think I've decided to get a dedicated road bike instead. I ride on pavement 99% of the time and I do have a Hybrid now that I can ride if I think I'm going to be going somewhere that a road bike wouldn't handle well.

I have a Trek now so I'm also looking at the Domane 2.0/2.3. They both have fender/rack mounts which is a plus [but not absolutely required - nice because it allows me to ride in the rain/after the rain without dirtying up clothing] but the Giant is cheaper and has the 105 drivetrain where as I would have to go with the 2.3 for the 105 which is a fair bit more money.

Whatever I get - I want it to be my road bike for the next 10+ years if possible so I don't mind dropping a bit on it now to get what I want rather than wanting to upgrade in a few years - although I probably still will want to.

Last edited by MikeDVB; 05-18-14 at 07:51 PM.
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Old 05-18-14, 08:19 PM
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If you go with 105, you might want to hold off for a bit until the 2015 models with 11 speed 5800 hit the shops.
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Old 05-18-14, 08:21 PM
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When do the '15 models come out? [Don't say '15, I mean Early '15, late '14, mid '14, etc]! I can't say I'd be unhappy with a 10 speed but I've little experience with a road bike to know whether the extra gear would really make any sort of difference for me.
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Old 05-18-14, 11:21 PM
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If your determined to buy a new bike and you have $1500, get the CAAD10
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Old 05-18-14, 11:28 PM
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Originally Posted by 2702
Bar ends on your Trek. This is on my 7.5. Helps to relieve a lot of stress on your hands.
I have the exact same Bontrager bar-end adapters on my 7.5 FX. Those bar-ends definitely help on a long ride.
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Old 05-18-14, 11:33 PM
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Originally Posted by rms13
If your determined to buy a new bike and you have $1500, get the CAAD10
Yeah, CAAD10 is what I'm looking at seriously now - trying to decide between the Shimano 105's or the SRAM Rival. I think I'd like the Rival better as I don't really like the idea of using the brake lever to shift.
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Old 05-18-14, 11:39 PM
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Here is an option in your price range, carbon and full 105. You will notice some bikes come with partial 105 groups with only 105 shifters FD/RD

This is pictured with an FSA crank but comes with a 105 crank.

Litespeed L3 105 Road Bike 2013 | Litespeed Bicycles | Brand | www.PricePoint.com
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Old 05-18-14, 11:46 PM
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Originally Posted by MikeDVB
Yeah, CAAD10 is what I'm looking at seriously now - trying to decide between the Shimano 105's or the SRAM Rival. I think I'd like the Rival better as I don't really like the idea of using the brake lever to shift.
Did you compare those two components by test-riding? I'm curious how the Rival fares against the 105 in terms of shifting.
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Old 05-19-14, 12:03 AM
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Originally Posted by daihard
Did you compare those two components by test-riding? I'm curious how the Rival fares against the 105 in terms of shifting.
This is all based upon the research I've done over the last few hours, feel free to do your own but here is what I've learned:
Really it just comes down to whether you like the 'double tap' shifting or using the brake lever and a separate lever for shifting up/down.

The Rival is lighter than the 105 and uses a 'zero loss' front shift. Rear shifting feels about the same other than simply the different style of actually doing the shifting.

The Rival is the lower end version of the Force but the real difference is weight - carbon fiber instead of alloy, etc but functionally they're the same.

I really like the SRAM Rival - I'd go for the Force but, to be honest, weight isn't a major issue for me [the best weight savings I will get will come off of me]. I can always go to Force from Rival if I want later on for the weight savings but the cost difference isn't worth it to me right now.

This isn't to say I couldn't get 105 and be happy - but I watched a few videos on YouTube on how to actually perform shifts with both systems and from my hazy memory of using an SRAM double-tap on a friend's bike and I think that's what I will like the most.

I am just really hoping I can find a CAAD10 4 Rival in a frame size that fits me without having to order one but if I have to order, I have to order. I also really hope it fits me well and I like it.
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Old 05-19-14, 06:59 PM
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Originally Posted by MikeDVB
When do the '15 models come out? [Don't say '15, I mean Early '15, late '14, mid '14, etc]! I can't say I'd be unhappy with a 10 speed but I've little experience with a road bike to know whether the extra gear would really make any sort of difference for me.

For or most brands, end of the summer/early fall. Mid to late 2014.
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Old 05-19-14, 07:23 PM
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Originally Posted by mprelaw
For or most brands, end of the summer/early fall. Mid to late 2014.
I ended up picking up a 2014 Cannondale Synapse Carbon 3 Ultegra ;-). 22 speeds and the shifting is absolutely beautiful. The shop I bought it from is really good (highly recommended by many friends that bike A LOT - one has 15 bikes haha) and they took care of me.

They sized and fitted me first and then I tried out about a dozen bikes from aluminum to carbon and from 105 to Ultegra.
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