Ranks of Things - Help Me Get My Bearings
 

I know this topic is somewhat subjective but... just like cars or anything else out there, there are top, middle, and bottom of the line brands and products. Help me shorten my learning curve as far as things go in the cycling world.

It seems Shimano and Sidi are top of the line shoes. I ordered shimano r220 '09 model.

Garmin and Cateye seem to be the better computers. I see one of those in my future.

What about bicycle padded shorts/chemosis?

I got a pair if Attack Pearl Izumi shorts but after wearing them once do not think the padding was all that dense or comfy. That made me wander what's regarded as the best or better chemosis.

Oh, and just a point of curiosity... What bike is considered to be better Pinarello Dogma or it's Carvelo equivalent? I need to know in case I win the lottery.

If you're serious, most of this stuff is personal preference. And it's chamois.

it's there to prevent chaffing, not really be a pillow for your butt

All of the companies you've named make a range of products from the low to the high end. Shimano for example produce crappy OEM stuff for departement store bikes, as well as top of the line components used by pro racers. Sidi do relatively basic shoes with average soles as well as super light ones with carbon soles and fancy fastening systems. And so on.

And seriously, Carvelo? Chemosis?

Yes, I know but I do not have the cash to go try on every brand of padded shorts out there. So that's why I was asking... in order not to waste time on trail and error & money.

As to the Carvelo vs Pinarello it's just curiousity. I hear/read both of them mentioned a lot and wanted to know if there is a consensus out there.

Shorts and saddles are as personal as anything can get for cycling. Some people like more padding than others. If you're having comfort issues with PI shorts you might just need to put some more saddle time in. A lot of us spend a lot of time finding what we like and finding the right position for the saddle.
On the other hand, if you hate those shorts you have to figure out why. Some people swear by Assos. I can be happy on some of the cheap shorts.

Carvelo makes italian ice cream cakes..........

Pinarello are now known mostly for squiggly shaped frames and hideous paint jobs. That doesn't make them any better than the other 100 quality frame brands.

Where are you in fort worth? Shoot me a PM if you want to ride sometime.

I have a garmin computer you're welcome to play with, and at least one extra cateye computer floating around here somewhere. It's also always nice to meet new cycling people.

I thought you were shopping for bearings! :p

LOL

Southwest Fort Worth. My Bike is supposed to come in the LBS the frist/second week in March. May shoot you a PM then.

To avoid becoming a dilettante, I think the best way to find out "what's best" is to ride what you have into the ground. Replace when needed, after doing your research at that time.

Alot of these answers become much more obvious when you have a bunch of time in the saddle. Then, you better understand that "the mission drives the gear."

Nailed it.

One further: Start to learn what sort of nuances you look for in the contact points (hands/feet/butt) with cheaper stuff first. Trial and error is, as with any new interest, unavoidable. As much as it feels like you're saving yourself some trouble by sniffing out the top tier equipment now, the God's honest truth is you probably wouldn't notice the difference between that and something more middle of the road at this point. Hell, you might find something you love at a lower price point.

Is the bike your getting your "first"? Or have you built up an interest on something else? Mountain bike, etc.

It's my first of it's type. I rode a fixed gear growing up and a couple of road bikes in my teens and early 20's. Had not ridden for about 10 years until a friend let me borrow a mountain bike recently. This will be my first bike with clipless pedals, etc.

I'm planning on putting a pair of GP 4000's 700x23 & Shimano 2010 105 pedals on it and riding it mostly as road bike.

Whatever I have RULES, whatever you have sucks. I mean get with the program.

The LBS will also replace the 46 crank it comes with with a 50 for a 50/36 set up. Hope that make some of you purists happy/less miserable/:twitchy: regarding my choices.

You can't please all of the pcad's all of the time.

Unless you ride a cervelo or scott and climb mt. doom every day, you'll never please pcad...it is all futile.

What shop? hit me up when it comes in. I ride around in your corner all the time. I'm just east of downtown. Seems like you're making good choices so far.

FW Cycling and Fitness off of Cherry Lane & Camp Bowie Bvld.

Great guys over there. James did a fit for me and totally changed my riding. They have some crazy shop rides... crazy like way to fast for me to even attempt yet.

Ways to learn the ropes:

1) Ride with a bunch of dentists. They're loaded and always use the top of the line stuff.

2) Go to Bikesnobnyc's blog. He's probably the best at delineating, ridiculing and condemning bike fads and such.

3) Use whatever PCad uses. He's not shy about his preferences.

The" carvelo" can't be ridden in hot weather.