kosherdave

Hey everyone,

I'm in the process of researching a new road bike. I currently ride an entry level Specialized Allez, which I really like… but I've gotten a lot more into cycling (biathlons especially) in the last year and want to upgrade to a much better (Carbon) lightweight bike. I was thinking of a Specialized Roubaix or a Trek 5000 or a used Madone. I'd like an Orbea Orca but can't afford that much.

Can anyone out there with a good amount of cycling knowledge give me advice? I race in biathlons and century rides and on a typical weekend ride I do 30-50 miles, and ride throughout the week at Central and Prospect parks, as well as on my stationary trainer. So I want something comfortable.... perhaps around 2 Grand, give or take…
Any suggestions?
Feel free to email me at Kosherdave@yahoo.com! Thanks a lot!

Pfoot

I bought an 04 Trek 5000 about a year ago and probably have about 3K miles on it. This year I've done an olympic tri, a sprint tri, the bike segment of a half iron tri, a Century and a biathlon in Westchester County.

Really dig the bike. Light, stiff, smooth, looks good, feels good. Bought in from an LBS in northern NJ - got a good deal because it was Nov of 04 and the 05s were coming out.

Highly recommend the Trek 5000. I'm very very happy.

Grasschopper

Think about the Tarmac over the Roubaix as it is a more performance oriented geometry. The Comp is in your ball park on price https://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkM...keTab=techspec

I do like the look of the Roubaix Comp though and it is a bike I am thinking about down the road. I like the color scheme of the Roubaix a lot more. https://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=13025

timwat

I went from Al to CF as well. While there are experts who debate the significance and impact of frame material by itself, I couldn't be happier with my move. The colloquial metaphor, "CF is like riding a bike made of wood" is true to a point...in some ways.

What brands do your various LBS' stock?

Also, as most would offer, I'd suggest as many test rides as humanly possible. In my test rides, I found each brand's "performance" geometry different from each other, sometimes significantly so, and each brand's "relaxed" offering (OCR vs. Pilot vs. Roubaix, etc.) even more so.

bobby c

I was in the same boat as you a couple of weeks ago (although I'm not doing competitive riding) - I had a couple of grand & wanted CF. One thing I found is there there are plenty of options out there, I was surprised. I rode several bikes & probably a half dozen (at least) would have fit the bill.

I rode a Roubaix, it was comfortable but perhaps too so. As Grasschopper says, it isn't performance orientated with a more relaxed geometry. I like the Tarmac better, it was a nice ride. Cannondale also had some nice rides. I ended up with a Giant TRC Comp 2, it didn't feel significantly different than the OCR and it likes to run. For me it came down to price, I got a good deal for a full Ultrega bike without resorting to mail order. But I'm sure I'd be happy with many others as well.....

cycle17

Love both of my CF bikes (04 5200 trek and 05 5000). But Specialized, C Dale and Giant are also good choices. I personally think that Trek has got the CF frames down pat. But I cannot say anything bad about the other major brands either. The 5000 is a heck of alot of bike for the money IMO.

gcasillo

If you can swing it, look into a Look. The original carbon fiber bike company. Several options from spendy to relatively cheap.

simplyred

You're in trouble now...
By asking us - you've opened the box. There are a dozen solutions - all equally suitable for what you want.

Any of these will turn the trick

Trek 5000 & Madone 5.2


C'Dale Synapse, Six13 Pro 2


Specialized Tarmac & Roubaix



Look KG461

Giant TCR/OCR Comp 2 & 3




Felt F4C & F5C


Bianchi 928 Carbon/Veloce

Fuji Team - not as shown.. I got lazy.. can you blame me?


Take your pick... Any of these will DO.

Cheers!
-Peter

bobby c

Amen to this list. I tested/rode many of these, I'd say it boils down to best fit, service & price.

bob

Warblade

Personally I'd go with the Madone 5.2. Ultegra components are great for someone who is not wanting to spend a lot of money yet still wants quality. Plus Trek makes excellent bikes. The Madone 5.2 I would expect to run about 2500ish or so from a LBS. I ride a Madone SL 5.9 and absolutely adore the thing to pieces. Give it a shot.

Fox Farm

Take a look at the Blue Competition Cycles RC-4 I think it's called. Bought one for my wife and it's pretty nice. Frame and fork cost $1200.

Stannian

If you can get hold of an '05 5000 go for it. The '06's are going to be a little cheaper, but the carbon is not the nicer OCLV 120 that is on the '05. Also look at the Madone 5.2, or 5.2 SL if you want a little more performance. The OCLV 120 frame from Trek is a super nice ride and is fairly stiff. The OCLV 110 on the SL is not as forgiving but you get a lot more performance out of it if that is what you are looking for. Still though, I got to ride a 5.2 Madone (OCLV 120) and it was simply astounding. It was right in the middle of a ride and I swapped it for my Trek 1200 Aluminum with a buddy. I rode it for a few miles, and I loved it. When I was thinking of the bike it didn't seem much different, but as soon as I was comfortable with his bike and forgot what bike I was on it was a huge difference. When I pushed on the pedals for smaller rolling hills it wanted to just shoot out from under me, but when we came into town and hit rough roads it seemed to just eat the bumps from the road and was super forgiving. Trek does an awesome job on their carbon frames.

Polonswim

Isn't it illegal to put that much soft bike porn on one thread?

cydewaze

That Tarmac is dead sexy, and the Six13 isn't too shabby either!

simplyred

How about some amateur bike pron? This one's a virgin!
Woah! - Dangerous...
This might be illegal...

bobby c

Yes, the Tarmac sure is a beautiful bike, as is the Giant OCR. I loved both of them in test rides, I went for a Giant TCR because it was in stock & I liked the features. Any of these bikes are great, I'd love to be able to test ride each of them for a couple of hundred miles to get a better sense of their strengths or weaknesses.

badsac

Better tell Wrolich he'd do better on a Tarmac.

https://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2005...ch-specialized

audiojan

Surprised noone mentioned the Orbea Orca... Combines comfort, with tremendous speed (as long as the engine allows for it... ) and is light enough to climb anything. The bike WILL NOT hold you back. Also, the quality of the Orbea's are beyond reproach and it comes with life time warranty. Take a look at them at www.orbea-usa.com

StalkerZERO

Dude, what is that reflector thing you have in the back of the bike? I would like to get one. Nice ride by the way.

edit: p.s. What brand of cages do you have on the bike?

NoRacer

IMHO, it looks like one of those under-the-saddle "speed wedge" storage packs w/a reflective band across the lid.

Here's some others:

https://www.performancebike.com/shop/...tegory_id=2310

.

egonlou

I ride the Specialized Comp, but ultimately, it has to do with what fits YOU the best. Gotta go ride the bikes. See whats comfortable.

kosherdave

Hey Thanks a lot, and those are some beautiful bikes! I was at my LBS last night, and checked out the Trek 5200. They said the new 5000 will be coming out eventually and I might want to wait for that, now it's made in China I think, and so it should be several hundred dollars less. I've read Carbon from China has greatly improved and no longer suffers from the bubbles under the paint...
Although, I especially like the Bianchi (well all of them really) is such a gem! Man, it's going to be harder than I thought to make a decision! But I appreciate all the help!

simplyred

My saddle bad
I try and take it off whenever I go around the neighbourhood..
Some blinky LED's should be better if your intentions are for night riding...

Tacx Tao Aluminium cages... They're light and cheap.. But they've recently bent up because of a crash.. My main water bottle holder is off centre...

Thanks!
-Peter

zacster

How about this for bike porn???



And BTW, I bought that bike in Brooklyn, at R&A. If you haven't already, you should check them out. Just don't go on a weekend when you're likely to not get much help. I bought mine in early February when not much is going on in a bike shop, they had it ready, custom built, the next day.

dekalbSTEEL

Check the original post. He said he can't afford the Orca