Originally Posted by
jbert240
I'm currently retired (65) and looking for a comfortable road bike and would like to get some recommendations as far as frame material and group set. I'm not new to cycling and have owned several bikes, but the last bike I bought was in 1995 which is a Bridgestone XO3 which I still ride. The sheer number of options today is really overwhelming, but I know I want a road bike. I live on the southern coast of Delaware which is virtually flat, and the only obstacle is the occasional stiff winds off the ocean. My ride is usually 20-25 miles every other day weather permitting and end up only using about 4 of my 21 gears. The LBS and some buddies are advising me to get a carbon frame and no lower than the Shimano 105 group set (22 speed) which seems like over kill to me. I rode a Giant Contend 1 yesterday which has aluminum frame and Shimano Sora group set which seems really comfortable and shifted quite well. I will test drive some more bikes this week, but all of this makes me wonder if anybody ever regretted getting to good of a bike that they really didn't need.
You obviously have the $ to get whatever bike you want. Shimano 105 at a minimum IMO carbon fiber has pros and cons. My better bikes are aluminum framed with carbon fiber parts such as handlebars and forks. I have a torque wrench especially when servicing the carbon fiber. I end up modifying almost every bike I’ve had over the years so buying the higher end bike would have been better in the first place. Buy that Bad A bike with no regrets.