Something like a Sequoia
 

Hi. I'm looking for an entry level roadbike similar to the 04 Specialized Sequoia but I *don't* want the sloping/slanting top bar. Can anyone tell this newbie which brand that might be?

Thanks
Johern

I'm not sure exactly what you are asking but maybe the Trek 1000?

http://www.trekbikes.com/bikes/2004/road/1000.jsp

Don't forget that a good bikeshop would usually be more than happy to change handlebars or other parts to suit you better for minimal cost difference. Good luck!

Check out the Lemond Nevada City...plus it has better components, and it's cheaper and lighter.

http://www.lemondbikes.com

The Lamond Nevada City is a real looker and fits the bill pretty well too. Thanks Lufty.

Thanks for your input Adrian. Yeah, I'm really not all that comfortable w/ the "ram's-head" type bars. I have an 04 Fuji w/ a flat bar... it's doesn't take long before my hands begin to ache. I'm 6 ft. 2" tall and my seat is higher than the tops of the handle bars so by leaning onto the handlebars with my 200+ pounds, it's a numbing experience. Maybe I should be looking to a Cromo frame instead of aluminum and perhaps a slightly wider tire as well.

Yes that's exactly what I'm talking about. I'll definitely keep it in mind... although I'm not all that fond w/ the idea of owning a Trek. Not that there's anything wrong with them. It's mainly because EVERYONE around where I live seems to own one. I want to be different :p

Take a look at the Jamis line as well:

http://www.jamisbikes.com

That sounds like a "fit" issue. My bars are 3-4 inches lower than my seat and very little weight is on my hands. Have you been fitted?

Steel is real. Entry level Alu is hard as heck. Did you ever wonder why so many mint Trek 1000's are on sale on Ebay for dirt cheap prices. It just so happens the "slightly wider" road bikes are also the more expensive brands! The better Alu is going to cost you money so why not look at steel bikes. The site below has entry level steel bikes for sale....

www.bicycleblowout.com

Hmmm. The Jamis Nova (Specialty Road bike). It's really got my attention. Cromo-frame, for strength, 28 mm tires, which I would change over to Armadillo tires (the bike path I use has a glass problem) The only reservations I have is the brakes. The only reservation I have is the brakes. They are listed as: *Avid Shorty 4 cantilevers,Shimano “105” levers*. I don't anything about those, being a V brake kinda of guy. My experience w/ them the V type is that they have pretty good stopping power and are easy to adjust, although they can be somewhat "temperamental" at times.

You make a good argument. I think I'll give more consideration to cromo. Thanks for the URL.

Well no "formal fitting" to speak of, but the lbs salespeople were attentive. The 23" (58cm) frame of the Fuji gives me about 1 inch of clearance. There is no other adjustment as it has a threadless headset. I don't know what other factors, geometrically speaking, come into play (although, I've always had a bike, I never got *into-it* all that much. Anyway, I don't feel over-extended, although I wouldn't mind if I were a bit more upright. When I bought the bike, a couple of months ago, it was suppose to come w/ an adapter which would help put me a bit more of an upright position. I wanted the adapter in black not chrome/silvery color. The lbs people have had a difficult time getting a black colored adapter... they do have the normal chrome color, but that make the bike look tacky. Black would blend in with the (blk)headset much better.

Could be as simple as giving your saddle a "nose up" position (or moving the saddle back), putting more weight on your butt instead of your hands. If this helps, stand with your feet shoulder lenth apart and try to sit. The further your butt is behind you the less you will need extend your arms to balance your weight....oh crap, why re-invent the wheel, here:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/pain.html#posture

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/saddles.html#angle

Hope this helps.

I have 3 bikes total and I noticed that the two that are NOT Fuji have, as you say, their 'nose up' a bit. OTOH, the Fuji's seat is perfectly parallel to the ground.... so I'll adjust it a bit higher and see what happens. I had a Marin Kentfield awhile back that gave me the same problem (numb palms). I was able to remedy that by adding a stem adapter, which brought the handle bars up a couple of inches higher. It surprised me what a difference that made. I'm thinking that doing the same to the Fuji will be the remedy. The bike shop has plenty of chrome extenders, but none in black, which is what I want. It's been on backorder for over a month.... I have a bad feeling that I'll never get one from them :cry: . I figure that the LBS people figure that sooner or latter I'll settle for what they do have... CHROME. It would look pretty tacky but I may have to settle for chrome, if I don't want to put up with the numbness. Thanks for the URLs, I read them and feel pretty confident that I'm following all the "rules" of body positioning.