monsterpile

I have a friend that has been commuting for a few years on his Giant mountain bike. He is ready to step up to something faster. I found out that he really wanted a road bike, but thought they were out of his price range so he was settling for a hybrid. I told him about Bikes Direct and he is interested in ordering a bike from there if we don't find something on CL in a couple weeks. His budget is $400 preferred, but is willing to go up to $500 and his values speed, comfort and wants to mount a rack and trunk bag on the bike. There are so many bikes its hard to suggest just one out of all of them. I told him I would probably get the Motobecane Fantom cross, but IDK if thats the way to go or not. I could use some feedback of what some of the best values out of all these BD bikes. If you have some other idea of a road bike $500 or less I am all ears. Thanks.

https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/..._cross_cx2.htm

This one is in the touring lineup and its easy to miss.

https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/mercier/galaxy.htm

All road bike offerings

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

puppypilgrim

Windsor Timeline.

nashcommguy

[QUOTE=monsterpile;12418244]I have a friend that has been commuting for a few years on his Giant mountain bike. He is ready to step up to something faster. I found out that he really wanted a road bike, but thought they were out of his price range so he was settling for a hybrid. I told him about Bikes Direct and he is interested in ordering a bike from there if we don't find something on CL in a couple weeks. His budget is $400 preferred, but is willing to go up to $500 and his values speed, comfort and wants to mount a rack and trunk bag on the bike. There are so many bikes its hard to suggest just one out of all of them. I told him I would probably get the Motobecane Fantom cross, but IDK if thats the way to go or not. I could use some feedback of what some of the best values out of all these BD bikes. If you have some other idea of a road bike $500 or less I am all ears. Thanks.

https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/..._cross_cx2.htm
[QUOTE]

Purchased this bike in yellow in May of 2008. 15,000 commuter/utilitarian miles w/one rebuild/repack and weekly drivetrain cleaning/lubes. After one month and 2 flats I swapped out the stock tires for a set of Schwalbe Marathon Plus. One flat and one slow leak since. It's been well over a year since the slow leak.

Delta Universal Mega Rack, Axiom expandable touring bags, Topeak trunkbag, Topeak Road morph w/gauge frame pump, Niterider Trailrat 2.0 headlight , Sette Glo blinking HL, 2 Sette 3 mode TLs.

Great bike for the money and plenty of speed. I avg. 15-17 mph on my rolling 40 mpd rt commute. It's a hoss. Tell him to make sure he gets some full coverage fenders, too as it'll save him hours of cleaning grit off his drivetrain.

dynodonn 

I like the versatility of this bike with it's multi brake set up positions, upright for working urban traffic, and drops for those days with nasty headwinds, too bad that it doesn't have lug provisions in the front fork for a front rack.

If this had been my first BD bike, I'd probably still be a BD customer.

monsterpile

[QUOTE=nashcommguy;12418627][QUOTE=monsterpile;12418244]I have a friend that has been commuting for a few years on his Giant mountain bike. He is ready to step up to something faster. I found out that he really wanted a road bike, but thought they were out of his price range so he was settling for a hybrid. I told him about Bikes Direct and he is interested in ordering a bike from there if we don't find something on CL in a couple weeks. His budget is $400 preferred, but is willing to go up to $500 and his values speed, comfort and wants to mount a rack and trunk bag on the bike. There are so many bikes its hard to suggest just one out of all of them. I told him I would probably get the Motobecane Fantom cross, but IDK if thats the way to go or not. I could use some feedback of what some of the best values out of all these BD bikes. If you have some other idea of a road bike $500 or less I am all ears. Thanks.

https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/..._cross_cx2.htm

Thanks for the feedback everyone. He wants gears.

Nash my friend is 6'2" what would you suggest for sizing based on owning your bike?

waynesworld

I like this one too. Isn't the Fantom cross about $200 above his max price?

monsterpile

Oops I said the wrong model but posted a right link. The one I suggested is the Fanthom CX for $499. I personally just love that gray color. =)

OrangeJoe

Here comes the completely out of left field post.

Newbie to bikes, but I researched this one and it looked like it has good reviews and above average components for the $499 price range, now at $299 from Performance Bike, Diamondback RS Insight. It also allready has the fenders and bike rack that a commuter needs.

Reviewers claim it's a fast road bike in disguise.

The 21" frame goes back and forth between 'LOW Inventory' and 'Sold Out'.

Sorry, no link, posting from my phone.

BigDaddyPete

I have the Fantom CX in blue. I'm 6'3" and bought the 61cm. It's got 3 years of commuting/utility riding on it and I love it. Swapped out the stock tires for some Gatorskins, fenders and a rear rack. I also replaced the saddle as I didn't like the one it came with. Good luck.

nashcommguy

[QUOTE=monsterpile;12419002][QUOTE=nashcommguy;12418627]I'm 5'11" and the TT reach is a little long for me on the 56cm, but my arm length is average. Probably should've gotten a 54. If he's a lankey 6'2" then I'd go to 58cm. I took some measurements that may help:

Standover height: 31"
Seatpost extension to from top of seattube to top of saddle: 8"
Middle of pedal to top of saddle a/t seattube angle: 37"
From front of seatpost to middle of hb clamp parallel to top tube: 25."(like I said, a little long. 23.5 would be perfect)
Floor to middle of saddle at plumb: 39.5"

Those are cockpit measurements of my own device. Try them out on another bike and see what adjustments he'd have to make from there and purchase accordingly.

There may be a little more seatpost left to play with, but I think it's pretty close to full extension. My recommendation is to go w/a 58cm if available.

Barrettscv 

The Windsor Tourest bike will be very comfortable and will fit a big guy well. It had super strong wheels and 27 speeds with Tiagra brifters: https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/tourist.htm

It's above the budget, but includes a rack and other features not available on the CX bikes.

himespau 

I think that one comes with pedals that you'd have to buy on some other ones.

waynesworld

Cool. Now I understand.

scroca

My son has a Windsor The Hour that I got him last August. With a cheap rack and panniers (using garbage bags for waterproofing) he commutes to school. Right now BD has a SALE = $279.95 for them.

Cheap, simple, low maintenance.

The only thing he's complained about is the bar tape is slippery when wet from sweat or rain. Pretty cheap solution for that.

Just noticed a later post by the OP said the guy wants gears. Since this is a FG, please disregard.

FlatSix911

Take a look at both of these commuter models:
Great value with no tax and free shipping

Shimano Tiagra/Sora, 18 Speed Cross 2011 Fantom CX $499
CrMo Cross Fork, Compact Crank, Aluminum Frame+Rear Rack mounts
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/..._cross_cx2.htm


Shimano Tiagra/Deore, 27 Speed 2011 Windsor Tourist $599
CrMo Fork + Free Rear Rack, Triple Road 30/42/52T, Touring Tires, 700 x 32c
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/tourist.htm

monsterpile

I think he is pretty firm at $500 which I think it partly his wife limiting him, but they are expecting their first child as well and they are pretty responsible with their money never using credit cards etc. If I thought I could get him to spend over $500 I would tell him to get this Jamis Aurora touring bike for $560 shipped. I was tempted to buy one for myself, but I held back because I couldn't justify it.

https://www.onlinebikeservice.com/ser...-Aurora/Detail

nashcommguy

Either of the posted bikes would be fine. I'm just not a fan of STI triple cranks and sloped TTs. If your friend does to go w/t Fantom make sure the bb gets removed and the threads treated w/some anti-seize material. It's a ***** to remove, otherwise. And when I did an overhaul I replaced all the bearings including the headset, wheel and bb. I disassembled the rear der and re-lubed it. The bb is a generic Shimano knock-off and one can remove the rubber rtainers to replace and re-pack the bearings, but you need to be careful as they'll rip.

Btw, forgot to mention before I replaced the chain when doing the overhaul last year.

waynesworld

I'm also tempted, but can't justify it either. Phenomenal price, if that is what one is looking for.

For your friend though, you might mention this: He'll most likely want to replace the tires on the BikesDirect bike, and maybe the pedals. The tires on the Aurora are probably fine as is. Not sure about the pedals. The tires alone will most likely cost about that price difference.

monsterpile

I wonder if maybe he would just prefer one of the budget STI road bikes for a lower cost. I would want to recommend one whtat would take soemthing wider that 28mm tires. For the pics that I can see it looks like the two linked belowwould for sure fit wider tires. More of them probably do, but without emailing I wouldn't be able to find out. He likes the Trek FX line but he really wants drop bars so maybe the Gravity Ave C would be something he would like. Its only $360, but of course for just a few bucks more he could get a carbon fork with one fo the other bikes. IDK hopefully something turns up on CL.

https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...y/avenue_c.htm

https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/dawes/lt1000.htm

NormanF

That's true. I never buy a bike stock. I always end up making changes to it to suit me.

You have to include those costs in a bike buying budget even if you are happy with a particular model.

sonatageek

He could go the Motobecane Mirage route for $299 and add the extra's he is after and be under $500 (maybe under $400) total. You don't get brifters, but with down tube shifters it would be closer to what you would have found on CL.

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

A friend bought a Fantom CS last year and it looked good and he likes it.

JonathanGennick 

Your friend might also look at:

https://jensonusa.com/store/product/B...o+Bike+10.aspx

They are blowing out for $675 right now.

Barrettscv 

I recently completed my build, using a returned Windsor Tourest resold by Bike Island. I rebuilt it so that it would last many years.



• 48, 36 & 22t triple with a 12-27 nine-speed cassette
• Salsa Woodchipper bars, Shimano bar end shifters
• 40 spoke Velocity Dyad 29er rims with high flange hubs
• 700x38 Schwalbe Marathon Cross tires

ThermionicScott 

The best value is in used bikes.

Schwinnrider

The Mirage looks like a heck of a good choice. The frame is made from 4130, so that's Surly-equivalent. It has all the bosses and eyelets one would need to set up a decent commuter. Plus it looks like there's room for fatter tires. Downtube shifters are going to take some getting used to, but converting to bar end shifters isn't going to cost a lot of money, if he wants to go that route.