Well, I received the blessing from the Mrs to look for a road bike to compliment my Kaitai.
I know hybrids are found to be wanting but I just won't say anything bad about that bike...

I digress... Looking online at all the local choices I have is so much FUN!
Right now, I've 3 models that interest me -though one is a real dark horse
Of those 3, one is really in my budget -well, what I consider my budget- the other 2 are a bit of a stretch. We have the Lemond Reno, the Cannondale Synapse and -tada- the Giant OCR3. [edit]Oh yeah, also maybe the Specialized Allez Triple

Amazing that I would consider a brand I hadn't even really heard of until this past year but right now, one LBS has '05, '06, and '07 models of the OCR3. I don't know if there were any significant changes between those 3 years but the little extra discount on the older ones is appealing. The only niggle I have is -and it's a common one amongst us old folks- I wish those front chainrings were a couple of teeth smaller across the board. How much difference can that really make?

All I have to do now is find the time to take one out for a test spin.

OCR3
It does not say on the spec as to whether it is a triple or a Double chainring. If it is a triple you should be OK. That will give you a 52/42/30 set of front rings and an 8 Speed Sora 12/26 rear cassette. Being a mountain biker that changed over to road last year- That gearing on the road will be OK. Mountain bikes are heavier and if I take the MTB on the road with 44/32/22 and 11/32- then I have one hill I struggle up. 15%er for a mile. MTB's are heavy and up that hill I use the 22/32 and speed is not that great in places. On the same hill on my Giant SCR 3.0-(The equivalent of your OCR3) I still struggle in 30/26 but it is faster. I actually changed my rear cassette to 11/28- 8 speed MTB and do not use the 28. I still struggle in the 26 but I have the 28 if I need it.

Only point I have recently found out is that the OM wheels on the 07 model can be bettered. Took me 8 months to realise their failings but My SCR will do me for quite a few years yet as I have already got new wheels.

our sole car is being repaired until next thursday. It's been sort of fun. Well within a 20 minute ride is everything we need. To not exceed my panniers carrying capacity, I might have to go on that 20 minute ride twice. Which is ok with me. Not been bad. I do think going out to things like movies might be affected negatively. Guess can wait until those movies come out on dvd. If we were to permamently live car free. It's been sort of fun. I don't feel cheated.

The OCR3's I've seen locally all seem to be triples.
I don't think I'd even consider a double at this point.
I have considered switching a ring or two up front when I buy it

opps. hyjacked the topic. Being car free is sort of fun. for awhile. Thought I was over at a/s.

I've ridden both the OCR2 and OCR3 and liked the 2 a good bit better. I've seen the 2006 models going for $700.

The "2" has much better wheels, much better rear derailleur (105 vs Sora), better front derailleur and shifters (Tiagra vs Sora), better rear cassette, better chain, comes with clipless pedals.

The OCR3 is a good, solid entry level bike. Worth the price. But the OCR2 is nicer front to back, top to bottom. If you can get a good deal on a 2006 OCR2, I think it is worth the price difference from the OCR3.

Continuing ...

In fact I liked the OCR2 so much that it was in my final two, along with a Trek Pilot 1.2, before I came to my senses and decided that I really didn't need or want a road bike!!

How can that be? Not needing or wanting a road bike seems wrong.

The realization struck home when I remembered that I don't ride on roads!!

Duh

It is possible to change out the front triple for a Shimano Deore level 26-36-48 triple commonly used on hybreds and some touring bikes. It will work with a standard front derailleur. It will require a new bottom bracket appropriately sized for the road frame. (ie probably 5mm less than the standard BB for this set on an MTB) The new version of this triple is actually built on the MTB 64/104 bolt spacing, not the old MTB spacing now used for the compact doubles.

I can see it now. Road bike to Kaitai: "You have great-looking geometry and finish."

Mrs. SaiKaiTai just might have opened the floodgate.


"Do you come here often? What's your sign?"

Hey, baby... nice saddle

Will agree that the OCR2 will have better components and it would be worth the extra.

Remember I said the OCR is our our SCR- It looks as though they have changed the Frame in the US from last years model and the 07 is a different frame. So your OCR is no longer an old model.

SKT
I was going to PM you with this but reckoned it might be of interest to others so posted my thought instead.

I got a road bike last year and it was the Giant SCR3.0 The same as the 07 OCR3 in the US. They have changed the US model to the european one but kept the old name.

Like you, I ride an MTB so it was my first foray into road bikes. I can tell you that this road riding is easier. No sudden slippery offroad climbs that sap your energy etc. SO overall- road riding is easier.

Onto the bike. The SCR3.0 is a low end bike. Same frame as the higher models but lower end components. Anciliaries like bars and stems etc the same but different drive chains and WHEELS. I reckoned that if the frame is good- as parts wear out then I could upgrade to better spec- the same as I have done on all my bikes so far. 8 speed has the same range as 10 speed on gear ratios and after MTB, the gears are closer in any case so no great disadvantage in only having 8 speed. Sora changers are not top grade but when the wear out I vcan go 9 or 10 speed as by the time the changers have worn out I will be up for a new cassette and drive chain parts in any case. So basically the bike is Good- upgradable and the ideal bike for a newcomer to road biking.

Those wheels. The stock wheels are fine for a beginner. They lasted me 6 months before I realised that they could be bettered. Had a bit of spare cash so talked to my LBS. They were prepared to give me a deal on Mavic Krysiums and they are a top rate wheel. Still a bit pricey so talked to the wheel builder. He said the Krysiums would not give me what I want, other than a light weight wheel set that would work better, as they are still a harsh ride. On our local roads with bad surfaces- he has had several of his customer just keeping them for the important rides as they do get tiring after a 30 mile ride. He built me a set that have a bit more give in them due to the Spoking. They cost a lot less and are on a par with the Mavic Aksiums on cost which are the cheap Mavic wheel. Got them and I have a different bike. It is like putting a 2.0 L engine into a 1.5 car. Big performance difference and nowhere near as tiring.

The stock wheels are OK on the 3. They are not anything like a performance wheel and they do flex a bit on cornering and have a lot of drag. Ok to start with but think in terms of replacing them to something that works. I went for a good wheel that will last- not lightweight performance wheels- but these new wheels will last the life of the bike, are strong and were not that expensive.

If you do go for a road bike-Think a bit. I have been on MTB's since 1990 and I have finally got used to the riding position. Still do not get into the drops often And in hindsight- I perhaps should have looked at the Hybrid bikes. The Giant FCR is the same as the OCR/SCR but with straight bars. Perhaps it would have been less of a strain to change riding styles- but I can assure you that so far I have been delighted with my Giant road bike and in fact- Can see that in a few years it will be more used than the MTB's.

Enjoy the shopping

My bike has a triple (52/39/30) and I haven't had any problems with it. There have only been a couple times I wished it had a couple lower gears. I think the biggest problem was the lack of training by the rider and not the lack of a lower gear

I'm a bike shop junkie - never drive by one without stopping and window shopping. I have to keep reminding myself that I don't NEED a new or different bike, but one of these days I'll probably walk out with one anyway! I know, what does need have to do with it?
Hi, I'm Bob and I'm a 'bikeaholic'!

For 8 speed, you can still get a cassette with a large cog of 32 or 34 teeth. You might have to change out the rear derailleur to get the longest arm. You small cog on the cassette would either be a 13 or 14. I have a 14-32 7 speed with 28/38/48 front rings, and I top out around 25 mph. If I'm above that going downhill, I just coast and rest anyway.

I've actually been fortunate enough to ride all of the choices you've listed. (When I've accomplished and especially difficult task or reached a goal, I reward myself with a test drive of a new car or a test ride of a bike I've not yet ridden.) I don't really think you can go wrong with any of the four. Now if you really want to have some fun, check out e-bay to see what they got listed in something your size. I find that on non-riding days I can spend lots of time "window shopping".

While I agree that the OCR-2 is a much better bike overall, it seems all the LBS around here carry the 1 or the 3. I don't know why. But "better" is a relative term, right? A year on, now, I'm still perfectly happy riding my Kaitai (technically a hybrid, as opposed to a MTB) on the road and my old roadie -a steel framed with no aluminum (or aluminium) nothin'. It had steel rims, even!- Gitane gave me many, many miles of pleasure. I'm not -and probably won't ever be- an accomplished enough rider to really appreciate the performance of a high-end bike... let's face it, I feel like a bit of Fred for even considering a Giant (a TdF machine, fer cryin' out loud) let alone a Lemond. Honestly, the OCR-3 is surely still a major step up from my Gitane. I'm sure I'd be very happy with it, indeed, and, as with my Gitane, I'm quite willing to upgrade it as I go along. Certainly -on paper- the geometry of the Giant sounds very pleasing.

I don't know about the different years, but both my wife and I ride 2005 Giants. I'm on a TCR Comp 2, she's on a OCR Limited (I think that was kinda in-between the 2 & 3). Regardless, the OCR is a triple and a mighty fine one at that. The frames are the same on all the models, just a component difference. So yes, the 2 is nicer, but you'll love the 3 as well. And you can always do some upgrades as you feel it is necessary.

In most cases buying a bike that has better components (say the OCR 2 over the 3) will be cheaper than upgrading to the higher components later. That being said, there are things called budgets in life and really, I would find it amazing if you could tell a significant difference between the 2 & 3 if this is your first relatively light weight road bike. Maybe after riding the 3 for many months or so would you be able to tell the difference in wheel weight, shifters, brakes, etc. that the 2 has (IMO). Damn - you're going to feel like flying once you through your leg over any of the bikes you mention - such a difference from what you are accustomed to.

And when you make the plunge - pictures are required!

That's too bad about them not carrying the OCR2. Especially when they have 2005 and 2006 models around. The price difference between a 2006 OCR3 vs OCR2 would probably be around $175-$200 and that is money well spent. I spoke to a guy who did a 1000 mile ride on an OCR2 and he said the wheels were perfect. No problems at all and when he finished they were still true.

The LeMond Reno is a very nice bike. I've seen 2006 models, with the triple crank, going for $750. That's a lot of bike for $750, I had a chance to ride one of these along with a Trek Pilot 1.2 at a Trek store. Many of the components are the same. The quality is essentially the same. They both employ a compact geometry frame. It was interesting how they felt different. On the LeMond I had a more forward leaning riding position, which according to the sales person, is by design. It wasn't a lot different, but enough to feel it immediately and throughout my test ride.

The Reno comes in either a double or triple crank, so if you buy one, make sure to check the front crank.

Tom Bombadil said:
And this is what worries me about it. Is riding down low on those bars going to get old after a while for *my*54 year old frame? The Giant looks to afford a more upright posture. But that Lemond does look awfully nice and, yes, my LBS carries the triple.

Bobby - Yes, I agree that the OCR-3 will probably be a better bike than I am a rider and will probably be more than adequate for as long as I ride. There *will* be pictures of... whatever?

Then by all means you should check out a Trek Pilot. The Giant is a little more upright than the LeMond and the Trek is a bit more than the Giant. List on the Pilot 1.0 is $770, I've seen 2006 models selling in the mid-$600s. And even this entry model has a carbon fork, carbon seatpost, and Tiagra derailleur.

The LeMond Reno riding position is more upright than many road bikes. So it is quite possible that you would be fine with it over the long run. But I'm in the same corner as you, how can you determine this off of short test rides and know for sure?

Don't confuse a low handlebar position and a stretched out handlebar position. Greg Lemond applied the stretched out position of European road race bikes into his bike designs. Many people, myself included find this long cockpit design more comfortable on longer rides than the more upright position of a short top tube design. My Bridgestone RB-1 also has a longish top tube so I am streched forward more than on some bikes, even though my handlebars are relatively high (about 1" below seat level).