starter road bike
 

I am posting this here because mostly I am a commuter, and even though I want to buy a road bike, I don't necessarily want to get deeply into road cycling. I want something faster than my upright commuter to do the STP on this year, and for occasional long weekend rides.

That said, I am watching several bikes on eBay and perusing Craigslist daily. I think I want a Surly Pacer or a Salsa Casseroll if one comes up in the right size. I've test ridden some Surlys and Salsas. I didn't like the Vaya, but loved the Casseroll. The sales person suggested it might have been the tire size on the Vaya, maybe, I don't know. The Casseroll was a little too small, and new it was more than I am willing to pay (trying to keep it below $1000), so I am trying to find a good bike used.

Which brings me to... this one looks pretty nice, but I don't know all that much about the components: http://www.ebay.com/itm/52-CM-SOMA-S...item1e76f6dcbc

Opinions? Also, any other bikes that maybe I should try to ride and keep a look out for used? Or good starter road bikes under $1000? That limit is very firm; I probably risk divorce if I try to spend over that on another bike in the next year...

I've got a Soma Smoothie and love it. It can easily handle fenders and 25's and will probably accommodate 28's with fenders too. It's got sloping geometry unlike the Pacer, and it may be slightly more aggressive than the Casseroll. SRAM rival componentry and Apex shifters should work nicely. They may take a little getting used to if you're used to Shimano (with two levers to shift instead of one), but most people have no problem with it. I have heard SRAM shifting described as "intuitive" and I have to agree. In your price range I must say you should check out the Moto Gren Premio. Many people, including myself, have had good luck and found great deals at bikes direct. This one offers wide gearing and decent components and comes in well under your limit. It's very likely similar to another bike already on the market in terms of geometry, but I can't figure out which one. It sounds like it's right up your alley in terms of what you are looking for.

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...remio_xiii.htm

Here's my Smoothie...

http://s7.postimage.org/f86lgs16j/IMG_2833.jpg

You're in luck.

The entry-level road bikes by Trek, Giant, and Jamis all include rack and fender mounts, and leave enough room in the budget to actually buy a rack and fenders, and some lights too.

Shipping is kinda high,but that's a fair price for that bike. Parts are nice. Would suggest ShipBikes.com to the guy to see if he can drop the shipping cost below $100.

Note that that bike has a 10spd drivetrain. 10spd chains/rings/cassettes don't last as long as 8 or 9spd. If you're going to be logging alot of miles and riding in bad weather,you might want to consider something else,or use another bike for bad weather.

IMHO - a Surly Pacer is a fine choice. however wouldn't call it a "starter bike", I think of it as the bike you wish you had gotten - if you didn't. Ride is nice for commuting, frame set will stand up to commuting, will accept 25 or 28 mm tires for reliability. Just take the time to get a good fit, for some the head tube is a little short.

I like my Jamis Satellite Comp a lot. It has eyelets for rack and fenders.

Max tire size 25c? Pass. In the PNW, I think you want something that can take fenders, just in case. You won't need fenders for a single STP, but that bike looks terribly limiting compared to others like the Pacer or Smoothie ES that can take 32c, or 28c with fenders, or the Cassseroll that will go even fatter.

If you really think you'd be happy with 25c tires and no fenders, keep watching Craigslist. I'm not in your market, but I keep seeing great deals on older steel bikes. I don't think any have the flexibility of the Soma, Salsa, and Surly frames, but they're also a lot less expensive.

Trek Crossrip looks like a really fun bike, and you might still be able to get a 2012 closeout within your budget.

Here's one that is a bit more "roadie" oriented, but a great value: http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za...ODUCT.ID=32174
And this one: http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za...ODUCT.ID=32386

This one looks fun. Rack mounts and a flat bar, but a "speedy" design. http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za...ODUCT.ID=19310

Maybe its me but if I had a "firm" budget of $1K I would not be bothering with Fleabay or Craigslist for that matter. I saw a bike today on the REI website that you can walk into any REI and ride home for $800. It has everything and then some. I just shake my head everytime the advice to get some used steel off Craigslist comes up. Could it be the very posters are at the same time trying to flog their own thrashed and trashed vintage iron? Why would I want to go back to 6sp freewheel, downtube shifters and 27" wheels for any price. Were I the o.p. I would see what is available for half the budget at Nashbar or get a Specialized Allez, preferably last years model at deep discount.

H

Who said anything about a 6 speed freewheel, downtube shifters, or 27" wheels? I have 2 frames more than 25 years old that are equipped with modern components making for top notch machines... both with 700c wheels and 10 speed integrated shifting.

The only reason someone might say that there are good deals to be had on those sites is for their own benefit? You can't think of any other motivation, huh? If I had a firm budget of $1,000 I definitely would be checking those sites so I could get the most bang for my buck, especially if I was considering steel as the OP obviously is.

If considering steel, the 2010,11 or12 Specialized Allez Steel Double (Triple if you can find one) has already done the hard work of making 70's/80's steel geometry and feel, work with modern wheel sizes and A-headsets and dual pivot sidepulls etc. I hear people have bought them new for $399 but they retail for ~$750. Nashbar and Fuji both make retro-style steel steeds with 21st Century braking and shifting hardware in the $399 t0 $599 price range.

H

bizarre post.

To the OP, I would suggest that there's little reason to purchase new for what you're looking for. $1k on the used market will buy a very nice bike, or a much lower quality bike new.

Really? $1K cant buy a better than decent new bike? Now that's bizarre. Don't be fooled by all the 5K bikes that are popping up. One can buy plenty of bike for $1K or even $700+. I flat out spanked a guy half my age on a 2K bike. I was riding a $150 bike that was ~$300 in 2002. It wasn't even a race bike it was a touring bike converted to flat bar commuter. He was riding a full tuck road racing unit. I am not a bike snob. I can't afford to be. YMMV, but not by much.

Edit: There is also this. Of my five bikes, one is new. I get lifetime tune ups from the LBS and recently when the frame cracked I got a NEW BIKE from the manufacturer. It is tremendously better than the old one because of the innovations in eight years. You don't get that when you buy someone's problem bike that they want to get rid of on Craigslist.

I just ebayed one of these framesets. If you fit the XS (all they have left) it looks like a great PNW road bike. All 105 but the brakes and crank too.

http://www.performancebike.com/bikes..._400001_400319

Mind sharing where you found that suspended bike rack and about how much they cost? I imagine that would make maintenance much easier.. I would've PMd you but don't have enough posts to PM yet.

5 bucks at home depot.

Thanks for the advice, everyone. The Soma is gone but now I have a short list of other bikes to check into as well. As someone mentioned, at least for the bikes that I *know* I like already, used seems like the way to go to stay within my budget. But there might be some new ones out there that will suit my needs.