dgunthert

New member here. Used the search function but various combinations of the above didn't produce anything relevant.

I'm basically a triathlete and the only bike in the stable is a P3. Last week, though, a friend of mine convinced me to take my 42-year old carcass out to the local Thursday night crits on a loaner. Cue questions to her about what to expect, getting a bib number with a different color than everyone else, wondering if I'd get dropped in the field of 55, etc. I raced the 30-minute 4/5 race.

Her advice was to take it easy and just ride safe. I'm not really capable of taking such advice, so I was pretty quickly mixing it up in the middle of the pack, feeling relatively comfortable doing so. I didn't crash, didn't cause any crashes, didn't get yelled at, and finished closer to the front than the back. I could have rode harder than I did, actually, so I guess I "took it easy" to a certain extent.

I'm ready to go back for more. Thursdays are my VO2 max/Anaerobic capacity workouts anyway, so the crits would fit perfectly. That brings me to the point: I need another bike. I'll definitely look for used for better value. Is $1000-1200 a reasonable budget? Too little? More than necessary? Climbing isn't really an issue, but acceleration obviously is. Any particular brands/models that would be exceptionally good values given the intended use? Anything else I should keep in mind?

caloso

Before the CAAD 9 fanatics get here, I'll recommend another Cervelo: the S1. Awesome crit bike, but a complete build is going to be out of your price range.

ridethecliche

So basically, I'm going to recommend a bike that you can't have because it's out of your price range because I'm soooo helpful.


Cough. Caad9. Cough.

mattm

Crit bike? Pretty much any of them. (that shifts well, and you don't mind replacing if it comes to that)

caloso

Well, I wasn't sure if he meant a complete bike or frameset.

dgunthert

Complete. And since it was assumed that the CAAD 9's would be recommended quickly and apparently often, why?

carpediemracing 

What wheels on the P3? You probably have a couple pairs (race and training?). Whatever drivetrain works with those wheels.

Remember fit. You have exceptionally long torso or legs for your height? If not then you can start perusing shops, online place, etc. I'd look for machines with "race fit" head tube lengths (as long as they fit you properly) so you can get the bars low enough. As a tri guy with an aero bike you probably can handle a reasonably aggressive road position right away.

Longer/lower stems make the front end more stable at speed. Try and get a fit so you can use a 110-130 mm stem. I think a 120-130 mm stem is ideal for most riders. Taller riders probably work better with 130 mm stems.

Have a good, solid cockpit (bars, stem, shifters, fork, reasonably stiff front triangle on frame), right saddle (for you), and you'll be fine. You can probably get a used bike from someone, and if you do that, you may be able to get it sans wheels and maybe sans some other stuff that you don't need.

I'm riding the best bike I've had pretty much ever. It's not light, it's not sexy tight, but it works really well. It fits, it weighs 1450 grams (frame only), has a 450 gram fork, weighs 17.5 lbs with very light race wheels on it, and it totally rocks.

73 head tube angle (standard). A super long wheelbase (1010 mm? It's so long I had to move my front roller forward 3 notches compared to my track bike - 3 notches is about 3 inches, maybe 7-8 cm).

Stiff front end so it turns really well, I can put that front wheel anywhere I want.

For components? Get stuff that works the same as the higher end stuff (like 105, since the shifters work the same way as DA, but not Tiagra). Don't worry about level, you can upgrade later or when you decide you think there's a difference. 105, sure, whatever. If you have Shimano stuff, you may think about SRAM.

cdr

BigSean

It fits your requirements all the way around, and can be had new starting in your price range.

caloso

It's by far the most popular answer to the oft-posted question "Which bike should I get?"

Racer Ex 

A few hundred more than your target but excellent values.

https://www.competitivecyclist.com/za...RODUCT.ID=6676

https://www.competitivecyclist.com/za...RODUCT.ID=6950

Knock offs that would be good enough:

https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...rtalpro_09.htm

https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...rvus_al_xi.htm

https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...e/sprint_x.htm

hammy56

youre doing it wrong

Creakyknees

so... what's wrong with that bike? what kind is it? did you like it?

I'm not nearly so picky about bikes as most folks here... if it fits you, fits your price and you feel good on it, ride the hell out of it. It really does not make that much difference.

dgunthert

Heh...Nothing wrong with it. I loved it. But I'm not gonna drop the cash on my own Madone 5.1.

Blackdays

The CAAD9 is considered one of the best aluminum frames that money can buy.

I'm not exaggerating when I say that a third of the bikes at our local crits are CAAD9's.

In your situation, I'm curious as to what wheels you on your P3. Say you have Zipp 404's. Those wheels with a CAAD9 frame and decent components will yield you an amazing bike.

Out-The-Back

There was a lot of good recommendations in this thread. I ended up going with a Cinelli Xperience. GVH has a few of them among other frames for a pretty good price. The frame looks beefy and I'm hoping it's stiff as hell but I have yet to complete the build as I'm still waiting on a few parts. The welds are a little sloppy but everything looks strong. I just ordered a complete 2011 Shimano 105 group for my wife's bike off flea bay for $629 shipped. An FSA OS-190 stem will be cheap and stiff along with a matching set of compact bars. I personally went with a full Pro Vibe 7s cockpit. Hope to take it on it's maiden voyage by next week and see how stiff she is.

Good luck and have fun racing.

waterrockets 

So, was this race the Driveway in Austin?

bitterken

Umm, so I would recommend not getting a bike that is specific to crit racing. Just get a good solid road bike in your price range that fits and works well. Seriously, don't put too much though into this. It's not going to be your last bike.

tallmantim

Yeah - +1 here.

Moving up in crits (or any racing) if you get involved heavily is more about the engine than the bike, but that apparently starts to change a little when you get to higher grades and the field is more even - more expensive kit will make a small difference.

I rode my clunker 14 YO bike in a crit on the weekend and it was good enough for it - my carbon bike would have been more comfortable and perhaps a little faster, but not enough that it would have made a difference to the results.

enjoi07

bad ass looking.

jackster57

Wait for the CAAD10 to come out in october. Almost a half pound lighter then the CAAD9, and will come with simalar component specs. Also, CAAD9's are getting hard to find new this time of year. The CAAD10 5 would probably be the best option for a complete bike in your pricerange, in my opinion of course.

fordfasterr

I have a CAAD9 1 for sale =)



Let me know if you are interested. Size 56.

aham23

since buying my frameset i have been on the lookout for them at the last couple races. i really didnt see too many. i found that interesting and it made me almost question the wisdom of BF and the CAAD9 legend. almost. ater.

hammy56

why are you selling it?

jwible

What does a Salsa Podio with Rival run these days?

dgunthert

I do have 404's on the P3, actually.

Yep. Sure was.

Nice, but too big for me.

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone. There's a lot of good info in that other thread, too. Just didn't use the right search terms for it to come up.