phantagarow

I am on the market for my first road bike and I have a serious problem: I live in the middle of nowhere, so each time I need to test ride a bike that I am interested, I have to drive to different LBS (in my case not so local) in different cities. Each time I test ride one of the bikes below, I love the ride. However, since there is at least a week between my test rides I am having hard time comparing them. Since the prices are close to each other, I need opinions of experts. Which of the following would be a better buy?
(Again this will be my first road bike)

1) Specialized Tarmac Expert w/ ultegra -- 20 mile away, $2500
2) Litespeed Siena w/ultegra -- 50 mile away, $2600
3) Kestrel Evoke w/ultegra -- 250 mile away, $2500
4) Orbea Onix w/rival -- 30 mile away, $2300
5) Litespeed Firenze w/ultegra -- 120 mile away, $2000 (haven't tested though)

Prince9931

Take a Weekend go to city were all these bikes are located and test ride each one. Only way to tell if its right for you. If you are going to spend that much $$ you might as well pony up for a hotel room for the night where ever you stay

the beef

Geez. Those are sweet choices for a first road bike. Whatever you get will probably end up kicking ass anyway - pick one and enjoy!

Prodigy4299

I'd go for the Specialized. All the bikes you listed are wicked. The further the store is, the harder it'll be to go back if something is wrong. Therefore, just go for the one that's the closest.

jschen

Agreed that those are some awesome bikes for a first bike. I'm sure you'd love any of them. I'd pick either the Tarmac or the Onix just because support will be closer if/when you need help. Pick the one with the more helpful store. Unless you already really know what you're doing with a bike (maybe from a different cycling background) and don't expect to ask for much help should anything go wrong... then I dunno... pick whichever one you like the looks of the best, I guess.

[e] Looks like I posted at the same time as Prodigy4299 with basically the same advice. You love all those bikes. Great. Do you feel welcomed at all those stores?

Basscycle

Hmmm, I'm noticing that there's no Madone on the list? In any case, you can't miss on any of those bikes but what it comes down to is what feels best to you. One thing about the Tarmac though is the way that they've designed the headsets. The spacers are designed in such a way that you can pretty much set the stem just about any way you want it, totally versitile design. I think that'll probably give you the greatest number of fit options so if you're worried about fit, that may be the way to go.

Garfield Cat

A word of advice. If this is your first bike, even if you're a millionaire, the first road bike is like a learning curve. After a year or so, after 3,000 miles, then you will narrow down the field.

phantagarow

I don't have much cycling background. I have a mountain bike hat I try to ride regularly. I recently contracted the bug of road cycling.

Interestingly enough, the farther the shop the more welcoming they are. One reason might be that I call those shops that are far away and ask questions about the bikes and confirm whether it would be a good time for me to visi them and test ride a bike at the same time.

Maybe I should have called all of them...Thanx for the advice.

phantagarow

As a matter of fact I tried a Madone 5.2 in the shop I tried Orbea on the same day. I felt much better on Orbea (it might be the "this looks cooler" and "Madones are everywhere" effect) so I ruled Madone out.

badkarma

My favorite frame out of the ones you listed is the Onix. However, I'm not sold on SRAM yet seeing its gruppos haven't been around for even a year; personally, I'd go with an ultegra drivetrain.

You really can't go wrong with any of those bikes. You have 3CF and 2 Ti bikes there (only test rode one), did you notice a difference b/t the CF and the Ti at all?

CCFISH81

Orbea w/ rival- I'm sold

michaelmc

You really can't go wrong, with any of them, agreed. I wouldn't worry about the SRAM stuff; they've been in business for a long time, and they're not some fly-by-night company. The group is new, but they have a good reputation regardless.

munkyv22

Go for the sexiest one.

Jarpmann

i would vote for the tarmac or the onix, but you really cant go wrong with any of them IMHO. pick the one that fits the best from the most helpful store.

phantagarow

Today I drove about 60 miles to answer your question at least partially. I compared Siena with Scott CR1. (The shop carries it and I gave it a shot). I liked the ride of CR1 much better.
It might be the result of different geometries or material or both though.

timmhaan

i agree completely. i had no idea what i actually prefered until i started shopping for my second bike. the first round of test rides i did they all felt pretty good to me and i wasn't sure what was going to bother me later on down the road.

anyway, i'm also of the opinion that any differences between bikes at this level are going to be something that you'll just get used to as you ride it. in fact, if you're properly fitted and everything is working correctly, the particularities of the bike are of little importance. just my opinion though.

cycle17

As usual...I agree with JSC's advice. Go with the shop that's closest to you,since they are all nice bikes. Be sure to get sized and fitted properly also.

badkarma

The ride qualities of a frame are a function of frame material AND geometry. Generally, you can say CF is more comfortable than aluminum, but a badly built CF frame will be less comfortable than a well-built alum. frame. Given that you liked the CR1 over the Siena, you'll probably prefer most CF frames over most Ti ones - so maybe that'll help you narrow your search.

Just one bit on CF vs. Ti. In most cases, a Ti frame will last longer than a CF one. Most of us rarely ride our frames to failure. I'm not meaning to scare you, the CF frame will probably last at least 15,000-20,000 miles, but a Ti frame may last double that, or longer.

the beef

Just don't pick up one of those bikes, go for two 30-mile jaunts, then go "i don't like road biking", leaving the bike to sit collecting dust in your garage. That'd be a pity.

R900

I'm also surprized not to see a Madone - they are just great riding bikes. Also might want to look at a Cannondale Six/13, made in the US, and from all accounts excellent. Anyway, I've been to many of the shops in southwest (Columbus, Cincy, Dayton) region, lots of great shops. Where are you located, maybe there is a great shop you haven't checked out. Forum member BikeWise1 owns the shop in Oxford, he really knows his stuff and can fit you as well. Could easily hook you up with a sweet steel Gunner or something else in your price range.

John

timmhaan

also, since this is a first bike consider the other costs that go with it:

1. shoes - a good pair can range anywhere from $100-250+.
2. pedals - a good pair can easily be around $200+
3. jersey\shorts\etc - can be around $50-80 and up for each thing.
4. helmet - $50-100
5. tools\spare tubes\tires\saddle bag\misc\ - $100-$200

it adds up very quickly.

badkarma

That seems a bit expensive Timm.

I got my shoes for $75. They're nothing great, plastic soles instead of carbon, but they've suited me well over the past 18 months. You can find good shoes < $100.

For pedals, a good pedal can be found for < $100. I use ultegras, and I think probikekit.com has them for something like $75.

jersey/short/etc. - I buy most of my shorts and jerseys from performance when they're on sale (probably $35-$40 for each jersey (or short)). However my team jerseys tend to run about $75 a piece, they're not cheap. But if you want just basic riding apparel, look for specials at Performance.

helmet - $50-$100 is about right

tools - $10 for multitool, approx. $25-30 (per tire) for decent tires, $5 for a spare tube, $5 for a patch kit, $15 for a saddle bag to put all this stuff in, $20 for a CO2 pump (or frame pump), $30 for a floor pump (for home), $3 for tire levers, and that's all that comes to mind right now.

EdZ

I absolutley love my Tarmac Pro. The frame is cherry. Extremely stiff when you put the power down but it floats over bumps. I used to ride a Cannondale CAAD7, and that bike was about as stiff as my Tarmac, but it felt like you were riding a jackhammer when the roads got rough.

timmhaan

yeah, it may be a tad expensive...but i'm pretty much just quoting prices i've noticed at bike shops around here (granted NYC may be a bit more).

i was also assuming that because he's considering such an expensive bike for his first one, that he would be inclinced to buy mid-to-high performance "extras" to go with it. the ranges i estimated were with that in mind. you can always knock a few bucks off here and there by ordering online and taking advantage of sales as well.

bbattle

The Onix is one sweet ride. I wussed out and bought the cheaper Dauphine as my first road bike.