I live in North Orange County, CA and want to get out of the gym. Tired of looking machines. I want to get into road biking but at a what cost? I found this bike for $700 and wanted to know if this is a good price and also if you all think a better beginner bike is available. I can go lower in price but told parts can be expensive as they are replaced. Thank you.

Newbie, I just started rode biking about 1 1/2 years ago. My first bike was the Trek 1.2. I paid about $750 new for it. I was not for sure I wanted to stick with biking but the more I ride the more I like it. If you think you will stick with it I would think about the 2.1. Where the 1.2 is ok if you ride many hills or want to ride with a group the 2.1 will serve you better. Just my thoughts.

Got my missus a Felt Z95 for ~$675 last year; great entry-level ride - Sora/Tiagra mix. Seems they've discontinued that model though. But have a look at the Felts; conventional wisdom would have it that they're better value than the big boys like Trek and Specialized.

https://www.feltbicycles.com/USA/2010...alog/Road.aspx


Also keep an eye out for '09 model year bikes on closeout - though with Christmas fast approaching they may mostly be gone already.

I have a 2008 1.2 and I paid $500 (I live in St. Louis) for a used with about 400 miles on it. If your price is of a new bike thats a decent deal, but I don't really know how expensive things are in Orange County (I'm guessing pretty expensive). I'm jonesing for a racing build, but I can't really complain about the 1.2. If you just want to ride for exercise, I feel like its a good bike. Its fairly comfortable and has stood up to the abuse I've put it through (silly crashes and my own poor maintenance ).

However, I agree with cycledude. If you feel like you are going to stick with cycling, or you have the extra cash go for the 2.1. The 2.1 has some better components and would be a bit more versatile.

I have a Trek 1.2 and while it is a decent bike, I found that I outgrew it very quickly - mainly b/c of the Sora thumb shifters. Some people can deal with it, others cannot - I fall in the latter camp.

If I had to do that again, I would have spent a little more and gone for a Tiagra bike.

V.

I really like mine. Some day I will upgrade but for right now it serves its purpose.

The trek 1.2 is the one im goin with will do all i need done 4 sure

A Trek 1.2 is plenty good enough for an entry level bike. If you go new as someone else mentioned you can find a better value with some other brands MSRP vs. MSRP.

I bought my daughter one last year, then upgraded it to a 105 group. The kid at the LBS said it would be cheaper to buy a better bike upfront, but I didn't want to spend a lot more and have my daughter lose interest. Since she got into it, I figured another $400 to replace the drivetrain was a decent compromise. I did the work myself. Now it's a really sweet little road bike.

My take is that it's a decent frame with so-so components, but easy to upgrade.

It is a great entry level bike. If you need to upgrades can be done later if you really like cycling. Does the 1.2 fit you well ?

AG

$700 is a pretty good deal--less so if it's a 09 leftover, moreso if it's the 10 model.

Shifters with thumb returns are a matter of taste--Campagnolo runs thumb returns throughout their line of shifters, all the way up to their top of the line Record shifters. Most people are more familiar with the Shimano double-paddle design... which is a great way to upsell into a 2-series bike.

Trek also introduced a 1.1 for 10, with a retail price closer to $600. When people are waffling between a 1.x bike or a 2.x bike, I usually ask how they see themselves using it. Just occasionally, not sure about the sport? Get a 1 series bike. Committed to getting into road riding, see yourself getting out regularly, like 3 times a week or so? You'll be happier spending the extra cash on a 2-series bike upfront, with 105 components.

I started with a 2006 Trek 1500. Still in use today for training and racing. Works perfectly.

I don't think you can go wrong with the trek, but if you can afford it, go with the 2.1. Otherwise, the 1.2 is fine.

I say get the 1.2 and not the 2.1. You can argue with yourself over this component group and that wheelset and that frame material all day long. But, with your first road bike, the reality is that you don't know what you're looking at or what you're going to grow into.

So buy the low end one that you enjoy riding now. Ride the crap out of it. When you get the money, and the itch, for a serious upgrade go ahead and do it. Your serious upgrade may just be a whole new bike: And you're going to feel a lot less bad about buying a new bike if you have a 1.2 than if you have a 2.1.

If you get crazy about biking you're going to end up with a several thousand dollar bike. But buying that before you're crazy would be ... crazy. Buying something in the middle is just going to end up costing you $500 for a difference in ride that you couldn't appreciate at the time.

Campy's thumb lever is a bit different.