Getting started...
 

Hi All! I am new to the forum and looking to get in to Road Biking. I am an American but live in Northern Italy. I ride a motorcycle and we have some of the nicest roads anywhere for scenery. I am getting older and the years of running have taken a toll on my knees so it is time to get on a bike. I have about 1500.00 to spend and will be buying two bikes, so I want to be in at around 3000.00 total. We have some nice shops locally but the Euro rate is killing me...Any suggestions on what to buy? Where to buy? I have been fit in to a size 50 frame with my short legs...I rode a Trek Emonda SL today and was super impressed. It has a 105 group. The shop wants 1700 Euro for it so close to 2100.00 dollars or so. This included clip on pedals.

Where in Northern Italy? A few years ago I spent nearly two weeks at the Italian Cycling Center outside Bassano del Grappa. Great riding.

Do you have money put aside for the extras? (Pump, shoes, saddle bag, tools, spares, helmet, gloves, shorts, shirt, cold weather clothing, etc) or is the $3000 part of that? Also is that 3000 dollars or Euros? Not clear to me reading the post.

I will say that 105 is a solid group and you need not stress yourself over on brand versus another. Get what feels comfortable when you ride it and what you think looks good too.

Also why two bikes? One for a partner? or a MTB and road dual bike set up?

I am on Aviano Air Base. It is close to Pordenone. I have been to Bassano on my motorcycle. Nice area.

I need two bikes because my wife will also be riding. We are both starting for the same reason. Years of running are taking a toll. The 3000.00 dollars is not firm and I meant that to only be the bike and pedals. I know the other stuff will add up too.

The other thing is if you are just getting into it is what kind of bike. The Emonda is a lightweight bike with a more race geometry. Did you also get a chance to ride the Domane which is a more of an endurance bike which will put you in a more relaxed upright position?

They only had the Emonda in a 2017. I am looking online at Performance as well but I don't know if they will ship USPS and that is how we get all our packages...I am waiting on customer service to reply.

For someone looking at getting a bike for the first time, I would suggest you didn't go on line and rather do the test rides in person at a bike shop. That being said, my last three bikes were all bought without a test ride including one bought at a LBS as a frame only. Canyon was a really good experience for me, and I am sure they would be good for you living in Italy.

https://www.canyon.com/en/road/endur...-disc-7-0.html

Still I would really want to test ride one if I was new getting into it before buying. I had a lot of years into cycling before I even bought a frame from a LBS and even more when I bought online.

I agree with [MENTION=1534]jitteringjr[/MENTION] that even if you don't buy local, test-ride local. Try a bunch of styles of bike. Go online and download the geometry charts and compare numbers.

You don't really have to know what everything means---if you tried a bike with certain dimensions, another bike with similar dimensions should at least Fit the same. All bikes might feel different because of saddles, handlebar shapes, and wheels and tires ... but all that is cheap to change ... or easy to change.

Also ... almost any bike that is generally the right size will feel good for the first 20 minutes.

As jitteringjr notes, the Emonda is racy geometry ... you will be bent over and stretched out. Some people love this position and can ride comfortable for hours. Some (possibly more) people prefer to sit a little more upright.

Most frames can be adjusted via different stems, saddles, bars ... but why start with something you don't want and make what you want?

Most road bikes are split between "Race" geometry and "Endurance" geometry nowadays (Scan the list of threads for hours of pointless argument over the "true" meaning of these terms.) An Emonda is racy, a Domane is Endurance. A CAAD 12 is racy, Synapse is Endurance. A Giant TCR is racy, a Defy is Endurance.

Try the two types and see. On longer rides where sightseeing is involved, (and old shoulders and necks and lower backs) a more upright posture might help.

Also, the accepted wisdom nowadays is that 28-mm tires are about the sweet spot for speed and comfort. Some of the racier bikes might only fit 25s.

Also ... do you two mostly just want to ride, or do you want to ride and stop to share a snack, drink some wine, take some photos? Think how you might want to carry anything you might want to bring.

Great stuff. I think I may be better suited to an Endurance bike. I guess I need to keep shopping...

I like the idea of this bike but...I think you are right. I need to get a bike where I can at least get a basic fit. Evidently, there is a great fitter in my little town of San Quirino. I am going to shoot over there tomorrow if I get time and see what he says. He has a couple race teams and does his own frames as well. Not sure how I feel about getting an off brand frame, even with quality components...

Edited to add...Wow this forum has a lot of restrictions...Only five posts the first day unless you pay for a membership...No URLs the first ten, even if they are someone else's and you are quoting them...

The Wilier headquarters is near Bassano. Also Selle San Marco and Sella Italia, but you need a bike, not just a seat. :)

There is some glorious riding in that area. Always wanted to do the bike path from Bassano to Trento, but I am 6000 miles away.

You can find good deals from the UK and the shipping shouldn't be so bad since you're in Europe. At a size 50cm frame you might be able to find a great deal on NOS.

wiggle.com | Cycle | Run | Swim | Tri-Sports & Bike Shop
www.ribblecycles.co.uk

I do prefer buying local though, as it is a nice support to have, especially when just starting out.

None of us would ever suggest posting one-word responses to five threads a day to get to ten .... why give away our secrets?

+1

+1
If you shop local, test ride, ask questions & get their good friendly advice and knowledge....
Then buy online or elsewhere, then have to take the bikes in for some maintenance

What kind of service are you gonna deserve ??

Support your LBS, stop by to say hi.
They'll be there when you need them :)

Sure, buy stuff online , but do your own research.
Just my thoughts.

So I got out shopping today. I found a used Cannondale Synapse Carbon 105 in red for 1200 Euro. It is less than six months old and is my fit. It looks absolutely new. The shop said the guy traded it because it was a size too small...This same shop will also sell me a new 2018 Émonda ALR 5 for about the same price. I am not sure on the carbon vs aluminum frames. I rode both bikes and they both fit well, as far as a newbie like me can tell...Thoughts on the two? Is Cannondale still decent? I had heard they had moved most of their manufacturing to China. I also saw a Domane ALR 5 Gravel at another store that I am in love with but didn't get to ride it. It comes with the same gearset but has discs...It is about 1800.00 Euro. I realize these prices are more than you see in the States right now because of the crap exchange rate but, it is what it is...Any help or suggestions would be awesome. Thanks, Chris

Thanks for the great advice!

Great area - if I remember correctly, you can start on the flats north of Padova and then go the other way from Pordenone to more challenging terrain.

You are so close to so many of the large Italian brands as well as some bespoke framebuilders that I am guessing there will be a lot of LBS and you're bound to find a good deal on a 2017 model that they want rid of. (I think you've already found this with the Synapse). In December my friend came with me to a LBS and ended up leaving with a 2016 Specialized Roubaix bike for about 40% of its original list price and that's in Switzerland where discounts are the cultural equivalent of tinned spaghetti in Italy.

Also I read a €1700 initial price request from an Italian shop (your earlier post) to be €1400 maximum in terms of what they'll accept. Maybe they are also playing hardball on price because you're a foreigner. Do you have any local friends who could come and help you haggle? I am from the UK but of Italian parents. Every time I go on holiday to Italy with English friends, prices drop the second I start speaking Italian. Hope this helps

I speak fluent Italian. Funny enough though, I went to the first shop with a local Italian that went to school with the owners. Taxes are so high here in Italy, they need every dollar they can get in retail sales. Because of that, I am very hesitant to bargain even a little. I ended up buying the used Cannondale and paid what they asked. When I went to actually pay, they dropped the price another hundred euro. They also gave me a fair deal on some goodies to go with it...I will be giving them my business from here on out...

Sounds like you scored. Well done.

Thanks! We are happy and really enjoyed the first ride.

Sounds a great result.
I have 2 friends who have different versions of the Synapse and they both love it - tell me its incredibly comfortable on long rides. Enjoy!