xrunr

New to biking. Looking for intermediate road bike. Can anyone offer some direction? Are carbon seat stays the way to go, or should the frame be all one material (except front fork)? Looking at: '05 Felt F70 or '05 Felt F60, '05 Fuji Team or Roubaix, '06 Cannondale R700, '06 Giant TCR2 (alum), '06 Raleigh Supercourse, '06 Trek 1500, '06 Lemond Tourmalet or '05 Alpe D'Huez. I haven't ridden all yet, but getting different "sells" from dealers: "Go w/carbon seat stays" and "nope, all one material w/carbon fork". My concern is frame construction longevity. I think a bike over $1000 should be made to last regardless of material, but the dealers who are pushing all aluminum are knocking the carbon seat stays. Thoughts?

Rick G

Ride all of them and see which one you like the best.The only thing carbon on my bike is the fork,so I really can't comment on the seat stays and all that.Good luck and enjoy.

NealH

Carbon seatstays are controversial. Most would probably agree that, if they add anything, it ain't much. My recommendation is not to use these stays as a criteria in your selection.

For you first bike, I would also recommend a more multi-road friendly type bike instead of a skinny tire-tight chainstay racer type bicycle that limits you to a tire size often no bigger than 25mm. My opinion is that you will enjoy a bike far more if you can ride it on good roads, bad roads, fire trails, and the such. This is the reason I like bikes like the Specialized Tricross or, one of several others similar to it. These type bikes allow you to change things, like your tires, to suit the roads and/or riding style. And, they generally ride far more comfortably.

johnny99

Read the $700 bike thread at the top of this forum. $1000 bikes will be slightly upgraded, but not that much different.

Many carbon frames can last a lifetime if you treat them well. Heavier metal frames are more abuse-resistant, though.

Bikes with carbon stays in your price range are probably using them more for looks than for function.

BillyBob

You really have to decide on your riding goals.

Are you just riding for fitness or do you plan to race?

My advice is to buy a cheaper bike unless you are absolutely certain what your intermediate goals are.

Experimenting with bikes is a lot more expensive than experimenting with running sneakers.

xrunr

Fitness riding to replace running (can't run anymore), but have friends that do group rides. Want to get into that with them and do some Century rides or similar. They all want me to get a carbon bike, but can't afford.

xrunr

Have mtn. bike for the offroad stuff. Need to replace running. Want to get into group riding, Century rides, MS150, etc.

onRoffR

I think sales people are going to spin the longevity issue to push the bike they sell. If you get the bike from an authorized dealer and it is a major manufacturer like cannondale , trek, specialized most of these brands have lifetime warranties on the frame and the longevity factor is not a real issue. I would focus more on geometry for the style of riding. the cannondale R700 is a lot of bike for the money retail is 1249 Caad8 optimo frame is very light and responsive. personally I would go to the R800 and gain the shimano 105 10 speed components for $300 more. also much better brakes. as far as materials,with a seat stay only in carbon ,I don't think you will feel a big difference . but ride them and see. more important is the way the bike fits this has a greater impact on rider comfort in this price range.

xrunr

Thanks. Is the 10 spd that much of a difference over 9? I've only tested 9's so far, but one of my friends told me the same thing (get a 10) but didn't give me much reason.

onRoffR

The new 105 ten speed is really nice, biggest difference is the added gearing plus the hoods are more ergonomic, feel alot more comfortable. also the cable housing on the new 105 have the silicone grease very smooth .these are trickle down technologies from the Dura ace stuff.the 105 crankset is a lot better too .a couple of years ago, with the 105 9 speeds, a lot of manufacturers where going to alternate cranks, truvative and the likes. the 105 brakes are a lot better than the cannondale theta. a lot more braking power. Last but not least if you want to upgrade to ultegra or Dura ace 10 speed componnents all three are interchangable you can upgrade one piece at a time.I think it's easily worth the extra bucks. but its your budget.you can get the frame that fits now and upgrade components later when you know whats not working well for you.

xrunr

Had choices narrowed down to Fuji Team (alum frame, carbon fork & seat stays,ultegra 30spd), and Felt F60 (same setup as Fuji Team), prices 12-1300. Friend suggested for a little more I should go for full carbon like Giant TCR 2c (ultegra 20spd). Want to do some centuries and probably some tri's. He said for the long rides, the full carbon is going to feel a lot better than alum., and not that I'll notice much yet, but lighter for races. Any opinions? LBS would have to order Giant, so I can't test ride. Any other comparable carbon bikes? (LBS carries: Giant, Cannondale, Specialized, Fuji, Felt)

xrunr

After many test rides, and information overload, I went with the opinions of a couple riders I know and got a Giant TCR2c. Went outside the budget, but they assure me it was the "right" thing. I like it, and I guess that's all that matters. Some say it's only $. Thanks for all the opinions and advice. Time to get On the road again...

the beef

It's a very nice bike. Congrats.

xrunr

Thanks. Wound up riding with a guy on a C'dale R1000 (I think), said he was going carbon next and probably a Giant TCR. That's good on the ears.