Originally Posted by
wanderingstar0
This is the long way of saying that I'm looking for advice. Here is what I liked about what I tried:
1. Drop Bars - I found the hybrid seating position very uncomfortable, especially in the hands
2. Weight (somewhat) - I need to carry it up two flights of stairs. Both the road and cyclocross bike were nice in this regard.
3. Index shifters - This is where I'm having issues with used, since most are too old to feature this (that I've found so far)
4. Fenders and a rack - I'm going to want to add both of these for my commute. I'll be carrying a laptop and cloths every day.
Am I better off looking used and if so what should I be looking for? Any great deals on a road / cyclocross bikes I may be missing? Is it worth just saving up for a little longer and buying higher end? I know this is super vague but I'm really feeling overwhelmed by choice. Any advice would be appreciated.
Those are pretty much my requirements for a commuter as well. Only I live three flights up.
As you're finding out, most used bikes are either too old for integrated levers, or are too high end for your budget. If you're patient, something will come along. But if your market is like mine, it could be a year or two.
Meanwhile, until the past year or two, all the entry-level road bikes from the the big four--Giant, Trek, Specialized, and Cannondale, included eyelets for a rack and fenders. Trek dropped the chainstay bridge on the 1.X models, so there's nothing to anchor the front of the rear fender to any more. I haven't looked at the 13s and 14s of the other three.
As you've found, CX bikes are another notch up the pricing scale.
You seem to have a good grip on your choices, though. Wait for a second-hand bike to show up, pick up something new for about twice your original budget, or order something online that you haven't been able to test ride or check for sizing. Each one has its benefits, and each one has its drawbacks. Only you can decide how the plusses and minuses weigh out.