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Soliciting Opinions For Next Bike (or, why I'm a dope).

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Cyclocross and Gravelbiking (Recreational) This has to be the most physically intense sport ever invented. It's high speed bicycle racing on a short off road course or riding the off pavement rides on gravel like : "Unbound Gravel". We also have a dedicated Racing forum for the Cyclocross Hard Core Racers.

Soliciting Opinions For Next Bike (or, why I'm a dope).

Old 07-08-18, 07:31 AM
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Soliciting Opinions For Next Bike (or, why I'm a dope).

I've been looking around for a new ride since the spring. Saw a bike a while back thatwas perfect. Now that I'm ready to go actually buy, of course it's gone. My fault.

Anywho, it was a screaming deal on a Focus Mares AL 105. Full price on the bike is $1800, which is still within my pricerange (barely), so it's still on the list. Especially since theres a local shop here that deals with focus, with an apparently well known fitter that that includes an hour long consultation/fitting for each purchase.

I'm looking for a bike that will be on the road the majority of the time, plus cross racing in the fall and a smattering of gravel rides, and fair weather commuting. I'll have a separate commuter with fenders,etc.

What else should I be considering? I'd been previously restricting myself to 'deals', but am expanding pricerange a bit to get a bike I'll really want to hang onto a long time.
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Old 07-08-18, 09:38 AM
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Focus makes good bikes, I have one of their road bikes. But the best deal I've seen is a DB Haanjo Trail. Carbon with an Ultegra hydro group. It's $1400, a $600 discount, if you sign up for a corporate account.

https://www.diamondback.com/city-bik...njo-trail-6934
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Old 07-08-18, 10:37 AM
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Hrmm. Does a corporate discount involve getting hired by Diamondback??
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Old 07-08-18, 11:42 AM
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What size do you ride? There's someone selling a 52cm SuperX in almost perfect condition for $1600 here locally. That would be perfect for your needs.
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Old 07-08-18, 12:06 PM
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Originally Posted by Abe_Froman
Hrmm. Does a corporate discount involve getting hired by Diamondback??
No, you just need to get the code and sign up on their website. It also works with Raleigh because they're the same company.

The code I used is in this link. There's also a thread about it in the general section.

https://slickdeals.net/f/9796487-dia...bicycle-stores
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Old 07-08-18, 04:42 PM
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Originally Posted by shoota
What size do you ride? There's someone selling a 52cm SuperX in almost perfect condition for $1600 here locally. That would be perfect for your needs.
Too bad. It would be perfect, but I'm looking for a 56. 54 might work, but definitely not a 52.
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Old 07-09-18, 08:27 AM
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So, spent 5 hrs and 35miles riding around to bike shops yesterday. Test rode a TCX, CAADX, Specialized Crux. Had previously ridden a Focus Mares.

TCX has a goofy cable-hydraulic converter on the front of the bars for the brakes. I think that's a deal breaker for me. It's just too wierd, and makes mounting a computer much more awkward. Which is a shame...because it's a good value bike, and has loads of tire clearance.

CAADX doesn't have thru axles or hydraulic brakes. I think one or both of those might be a deal breaker for me.

Crux - had the best ride feel IMO. Felt just like a road bike, and had all the nice little modern frame features like flat mount brakes, internal routing, thru axles. It was also the most expensive.
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Old 07-09-18, 08:29 AM
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Originally Posted by Abe_Froman
So, spent 5 hrs and 35miles riding around to bike shops yesterday. Test rode a TCX, CAADX, Specialized Crux. Had previously ridden a Focus Mares.

TCX has a goofy cable-hydraulic converter on the front of the bars for the brakes. I think that's a deal breaker for me. It's just too wierd, and makes mounting a computer much more awkward. Which is a shame...because it's a good value bike, and has loads of tire clearance.

CAADX doesn't have thru axles or hydraulic brakes. I think one or both of those might be a deal breaker for me.

Crux - had the best ride feel IMO. Felt just like a road bike, and had all the nice little modern frame features like flat mount brakes, internal routing, thru axles. It was also the most expensive.
Well that's hardly a fair comparison.

Go test ride a SuperX.
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Old 07-09-18, 10:15 AM
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Originally Posted by shoota
Well that's hardly a fair comparison.

Go test ride a SuperX.
I think it's going to be a bit out of my price range. I saw one yesterday....it is a cool looking bike. They had a deal on it at ~$2500....but that's still stretching my budget a bit more than I would like.
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Old 07-09-18, 11:55 AM
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Originally Posted by Abe_Froman
I think it's going to be a bit out of my price range. I saw one yesterday....it is a cool looking bike. They had a deal on it at ~$2500....but that's still stretching my budget a bit more than I would like.
How much is the Crux and which model is it? Maybe I incorrectly assumed it was a full carbon/hydro model?
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Old 07-09-18, 12:06 PM
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Originally Posted by shoota
How much is the Crux and which model is it? Maybe I incorrectly assumed it was a full carbon/hydro model?
No...the Crux I'm looking at would be the E5 sport I believe; aluminium and 105. It's ~$2000, which I've set as my limit. I'm not sure I'm willing to spend real money to shave a couple pounds off.

I think I'm back to leaning towards the Focus Mares AL 105 honestly. I've got an appointment next week with a custom fitter/dealer. They're a Focus shop among other things. Free pro fitting after an hour long observation included with any bike purchase through them. The 105 Mares with hydro is $1800. After riding these other bikes though I'm a bit leary of the slack head tube angle on the Mares.

I'm totally overthinking this
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Old 07-09-18, 12:12 PM
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Originally Posted by Abe_Froman
No...the Crux I'm looking at would be the E5 sport I believe; aluminium and 105. It's ~$2000, which I've set as my limit. I'm not sure I'm willing to spend real money to shave a couple pounds off.

I think I'm back to leaning towards the Focus Mares AL 105 honestly. I've got an appointment next week with a custom fitter/dealer. They're a Focus shop among other things. Free pro fitting after an hour long observation included with any bike purchase through them. The 105 Mares with hydro is $1800. After riding these other bikes though I'm a bit leary of the slack head tube angle on the Mares.

I'm totally overthinking this
No worries, I'm exactly the same way. Too bad my local SuperX wasn't your size. Full carbon, hydro 105, road bike geo, $1600. Dang. It sold yesterday too.
My point is maybe waiting for a good deal to show up on eBay or something would be the way to go? Buying a new bike is just like buying a new car, the second you leave the store it's worth $500 less. That stings.
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Old 07-09-18, 12:16 PM
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Originally Posted by shoota
No worries, I'm exactly the same way. Too bad my local SuperX wasn't your size. Full carbon, hydro 105, road bike geo, $1600. Dang. It sold yesterday too.
My point is maybe waiting for a good deal to show up on eBay or something would be the way to go? Buying a new bike is just like buying a new car, the second you leave the store it's worth $500 less. That stings.
Hrm. Yea the used market might be something to consider. I've bought a handful of bikes off craigslist...but nothing remotely high end. Generally cheap MTB bikes to use as winter commuters, or vintage road bikes to work on in my garage.
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