Best budget race bike?
11-07-09, 06:58 AM
#126
bf is my facebook.
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Greensboro, NC
Posts: 1,156
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
that Caad looks really nice for such a small frame. One of the things I hate about compact geo is that the smaller sizes look noticeably very small. But for a 50, the Caad still looks awesome. Judging by the geo chart I think a 48 is best for me, but I will probably try to test ride one (if I can find a dealer who stocks such small sizes).
11-07-09, 07:42 AM
#127
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Have you considered a Ti frame?
You could possibly get a Marin frame and build it up with 105 or Ultegra components and half decent wheels.
The other possibility is that for $2800 you could get a Motobecane (LOL, is this where I have to say I am a BD shill?) with full Dura Ace, Mavic Ksyrium Elite Wheelset etc - overall the bike looks to have good kit.
Pretty good bang for buck, and you wouldn't trash the frame with a fall.
You could possibly get a Marin frame and build it up with 105 or Ultegra components and half decent wheels.
The other possibility is that for $2800 you could get a Motobecane (LOL, is this where I have to say I am a BD shill?) with full Dura Ace, Mavic Ksyrium Elite Wheelset etc - overall the bike looks to have good kit.
Pretty good bang for buck, and you wouldn't trash the frame with a fall.
11-07-09, 11:45 AM
#128
Gluteus Enormus
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 2,245
Bikes: Yes
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Have you considered that you might not be done growing? You could be searching again soon and shouldn't take the big plunge now. Stick to budget aluminum because you'll never recoup the cost of a big bucks frame.
11-07-09, 02:21 PM
#129
Senior Member
Thread Starter
That said, I am already a few inches taller than my mom and not far off from my dad. My family is a bunch of friggin midgets.
11-09-09, 02:26 PM
#130
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Charlottesville, Virginia
Posts: 1,990
Bikes: Dawes Kalahari, Puch Prima Super Sport, Graham Weigh 853
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
With 2-3000$, you could easily stretch to a custom aluminium frame from 3d-racing, Joe dePalmarae or Ahrens. Those frames run to about $1300 or so. Add a decent fork, wheelset and group and you'll be around $2500+/- $500.
11-09-09, 07:45 PM
#131
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Iowa
Posts: 965
Bikes: 2012 Parlee Z5
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I just picked up a Podio a few weeks ago and the weather in Iowa has held up well enough to get quite a bit of riding in. I don't have one bad thing to say about this bike, I absolutely love it. I got the complete and the saddle sucks, but its been replaced by an Arione. I was in the same price range as you, and for me it came down to a Skeletor and the Podio. I got a discount on the Podio so I went with that. Mickey is right about the head tube though, but with the negative stem angle it fits me well.
11-09-09, 10:51 PM
#133
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Iowa
Posts: 965
Bikes: 2012 Parlee Z5
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I rode my friends CAAD9-5 (105 components) for a little bit but its a little to big for me so I can't really say anything about it. One of my friends rode both a CAAD-9 and my Podio and he seemed to like the Podio more. I don't think you can go wrong either way, I just liked the fact that the complete came with Rival and I got a discount.
11-09-09, 11:50 PM
#134
VeloSIRraptor
my shop carries the Salsa, and i like it a lot... as in - a LOT
That said, since you are young and I think you are looking for a long-term purchase - the head-tube issue is keeping me away from it. The bike is fantastic, it handles well, but a caad would allow me to get quite a bit lower (at least, as these things go), the 2010s have bb30, and they look classy.
Since you seem to be into racing and willing to do the work associated with it, I'd recommend getting a bike with a lower head tube, largely to keep your options open for positioning things down the road. That said, either one will be more bike than you need for the next... probably ever.
ride them both if you can - they both come with Rival if that is your thing, don't rush into this.
IMO - buy a set of heavy training wheels, extra bibs and race entries, keep the bike costs down for now.
That said, since you are young and I think you are looking for a long-term purchase - the head-tube issue is keeping me away from it. The bike is fantastic, it handles well, but a caad would allow me to get quite a bit lower (at least, as these things go), the 2010s have bb30, and they look classy.
Since you seem to be into racing and willing to do the work associated with it, I'd recommend getting a bike with a lower head tube, largely to keep your options open for positioning things down the road. That said, either one will be more bike than you need for the next... probably ever.
ride them both if you can - they both come with Rival if that is your thing, don't rush into this.
IMO - buy a set of heavy training wheels, extra bibs and race entries, keep the bike costs down for now.
11-10-09, 09:05 AM
#135
Burning Matches.
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 9,714
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4077 Post(s)
Liked 1,002 Times
in
676 Posts
I want to pre-face this with "I am a shill", but PedalForce provides great bang for the buck carbon frames. Plus the replacement policy is quite good from what I hear. I rode with someone who got replacement RS2 frame for 400-600 bucks after crashing and destroying the old one. The downside is you can't test ride one before you buy, unless you know someone who has one. I think they are even running a promo on ZX3 frame with Force group for 1200.
UD
UD
__________________
ElJamoquio didn't hate the world, per se; he was just constantly disappointed by humanity.
11-11-09, 07:10 AM
#137
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Pretty much Canada, NY
Posts: 498
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
11-15-09, 08:48 PM
#138
Guest
Posts: n/a
Mentioned: Post(s)
Tagged: Thread(s)
Quoted: Post(s)
6 pages of "budget" aluminum race frame talk and I haven't seen any mentions of the Van Dessel Hellafaster. Definitely worth a look.. https://www.vandesselsports.com/hellafaster.html
11-15-09, 11:55 PM
#139
VeloSIRraptor
6 pages of "budget" aluminum race frame talk and I haven't seen any mentions of the Van Dessel Hellafaster. Definitely worth a look.. https://www.vandesselsports.com/hellafaster.html
11-16-09, 02:24 AM
#140
nom nom nom
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 2,096
Bikes: Lemond Tete de Course, Slingshot DDX, Fuji Track Pro, Surly Steamroller
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Had a hellafaster, the best part about the bike was it's name. And it's nickname: Vin Diesel. But if you're looking for a 59 I might know somebody who has a really good deal on one...
11-16-09, 10:37 AM
#141
Raptor Custom Bicycles
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,433
Bikes: Raptor Bicycles... Fully custom carbon bikes... just the way you want them!
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I've owned two of these frames, one of which I've logged over 13,000 miles on. I weigh more than the average racer (175 pounds) and I'm a pretty decent sprinter. With that said, neither of my RS2 based bikes ever felt flexy (either climbing, sprinting or accelerating out of turns). Perhaps you mean another
PF frame model?
Perhaps I got a couple of better ones. I do know mine were significantly heavier than advertised.
__________________
2010 Raptor Series 7
Raptor Bicycles of Texas
Fully custom carbon bikes
940-442-3344
2010 Raptor Series 7
Raptor Bicycles of Texas
Fully custom carbon bikes
940-442-3344
Last edited by ZXiMan; 11-16-09 at 10:40 AM.
11-16-09, 10:55 AM
#142
Raptor Custom Bicycles
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,433
Bikes: Raptor Bicycles... Fully custom carbon bikes... just the way you want them!
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
What size frame is/was your RS2? I'm just curious because mine is a 52cm and I don't notice any flex at all.
__________________
2010 Raptor Series 7
Raptor Bicycles of Texas
Fully custom carbon bikes
940-442-3344
2010 Raptor Series 7
Raptor Bicycles of Texas
Fully custom carbon bikes
940-442-3344
11-17-09, 09:01 AM
#143
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Pretty much Canada, NY
Posts: 498
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Maybe I just got a bad batch. I have a 52cm as well. I am not a overly powerful rider, 5sec power all of 1200w with my weight being in the 150'ish lbs.
11-17-09, 10:06 AM
#144
Raptor Custom Bicycles
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,433
Bikes: Raptor Bicycles... Fully custom carbon bikes... just the way you want them!
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I know that the FKR8 fork I used to use had alot of deflection and I could feel some flex in the head tube/fork area (climbing and sprinting) before I swapped it out for an Easton EC90 SL fork.
For what it's worth, I'm 175 pounds and my 5sec power is 1460w the last time I used a PT back in Sept.
__________________
2010 Raptor Series 7
Raptor Bicycles of Texas
Fully custom carbon bikes
940-442-3344
2010 Raptor Series 7
Raptor Bicycles of Texas
Fully custom carbon bikes
940-442-3344
Last edited by ZXiMan; 11-17-09 at 10:10 AM.
11-17-09, 10:15 AM
#145
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Pretty much Canada, NY
Posts: 498
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I feel it in the head tube/fork, have actually had a lot of issues with headset's because of the flex.
11-17-09, 10:38 AM
#146
Race to train
Join Date: May 2005
Location: suffering on the back
Posts: 3,115
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Another nod for the Salsa podio. Our team(Clif bar) was on them this year and I loved it. We are switching bikes this season but I'd rather keep it.
11-23-09, 10:24 AM
#147
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: ABQ, NM
Posts: 1,152
Bikes: Neuvation F100, Surly Cross Check, Van Dessel Holeshot
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
11-23-09, 12:25 PM
#148
nom nom nom
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 2,096
Bikes: Lemond Tete de Course, Slingshot DDX, Fuji Track Pro, Surly Steamroller
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
11-23-09, 12:52 PM
#149
A Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 855
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
