pdxtex

if you are pretty bike savvy, buy off the internet, save some $$$. otherwise, buy the best bike you can afford which fits, and is from a bike shop you like and trust. lots of bike shops finance stuff too so if you think the terms are reasonable, a 1000 dollar budget might get you something a little nicer too. just saying.

golfer007

PDX I am originally from a small town near Salem, Oregon and just moved from there to Phoenix, Az not 2 years ago to pursue careers. Just want to show some love to my home state!!

Well, this is the bike I was actually thinking of this whole time.....

https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...rk_xi_apex.htm

It's got the Ritchey kit, Vuelta Aero wheels and of course the SRAM Apex. I feel like this one is going to be the best deal aside from possibly the Gravity Liberty X. The Liberty also have Apex but lower end wheels and bars, stem, post. What does everyone think here?

X-LinkedRider

Golfer, from experience. It doesn't matter what wheels the bike comes with, once you get a couple hundred miles you will be upgrading to suit your needs.

I'd go with the rival bike and be done with it. The wheels and stem and bars are so insignificant being you won't know how they feel anyway.

golfer007

Thanks, great advice X! So far, that bike may potentially be in the lead. It's that or the Motobecane Super Strada.

X-LinkedRider

This is how you have to look at the value of what you are purchasing.

Frames are all VERY similar in quality of material, design and sizing
You have not ridden any from BD so the fit thing is a useless variable besides available size. (you want 58-59cm would be my best guess)
This leaves with drivetrain (Rival > 105 > Apex in terms of form, function and price tag)
Wheels - Vueltas at this point ar no better than Alexrims unless you're getting the 800 dollar wheels. (So this is basically null and void)
Contact points - Ritchey is brand name, yes but that only means they have their levels of crap to great like everyone else. (Not a huge sale for me being that I would most likely switch down to smaller/larger handlebars, -6 or -10 degree stem and definitely a different saddle and shimano SPD-SL pedals. So like I said above. the only real difference in stuff you will keep and use over the long haul is in the drive train.

golfer007

Think it's between this-Windsor Falkirk:

https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...rk_xi_apex.htm

And this-Gravity Comp X:

https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/gravity/comp_x.htm

Excuse my french in the last thread, I called the Windsor a Motobecane. The Falkirk is actually Windsor. It looks to have some super nice additions to it. Although the Gravity Comp X has a bit higher components, the Windsor has better wheels and other parts.

golfer007

Well, I think I have weighed the Gravity Liberty X out. Although it is the cheapest out of the 3 I like, it doesn't come with clipless pedals and the others do and the wheels are not the Vuelta XRP's. I just find it hard to believe that the Alex wheels are not as good at the VRP's, as the XRP's retail for $699.

X-LinkedRider

they retail for 699 as per manufactures website. Notice you can't even buy them anywhere. They are zerolites with a less spoke count and a different name on the hub to accommodate. They are fine wheels, but at close to 2100 grams, they aren't anything special over the zerolites. As I said before. You'll be changing them anyway sooner or later. I mean you can buy some Fuzion M1's at sub 1800 grams for 130 shipped. (Recognizing even with bulk purchase pricing) How could BD possibly make any money selling you a bike for the cost of the wheels with no auto future business like service that LBS offers.

golfer007

Well, I only really plan on upgrading the seat post and saddle down the road. I don't plan on dumping a bunch of money into it. I want it to be as ride ready as much as possible. We are overlooking a big concern here: geometry. The Gravity has a more tapered top tube which means its more compact right? Which is going to be a more rigid ride? Geometry is something I am not too concerned about, but don't know a lot about.

X-LinkedRider

incorrect. Between these two bikes, the Gravity will most likely give you a more comfortable ride where the windsor would give you a more stiff ride. But at this level, between these two, you really won't notice the difference unless you owned both bikes and used them both regularly.

You still have to buy shoes and stuff. Unless you own these already. You will spend more than you think but save more than you spend on gas so it's ok.

ColinL

my $0.02 on bars, stem, seatpost (aka "cockpit")

ritchey is better but who knows if you'll fit and even like that stuff anyway. you might need a shorter or longer stem, straight vs setback seatpost, and you might not like the bar shape or width. none of those things are the originals on my bike.

for me it would be the Gravity X with Rival as first choice, easily, just as X-Linked was saying. if that size isn't available my second choice would be either Motobecane or Windsor with apex, depending solely on whether you want orange, silver or black. (They seem identical, so why not pick based on color.)

RyKnocks

Alright, I've been stressing over the same exact bikes as you have over the past week and I think I have narrowed it down to the Gravity Comp X.

Same geometry as the Giant Defy 2 (which is a bicycling.com editors pick) and it has a superior drive train to the Defy 2.

Like everyone else here has said, I stressed over the little details until I found that they're really all the same performance wise. I think making the jump into carbon stay frames, full carbon, etc will bring along the major differences. Another reason why I'm buying the Comp X is because the SRAM Rival parts alone are upwards of $500+, so the value in the drivetrain alone is there should you want to purchase a nicer frame in the future and slap the SRAM in there.

I'll probably be ordering the Comp X in the next week or so, unless something else changes my mind and makes me want to go with LBS/Sora components AT THE SAME PRICE. I love to tinker with mechanics so learning and doing my own repairs and tune ups doesn't bother me.

parktool.com ftw

X-LinkedRider

Very well understood RyKnocks. You hit the nail on the head. Rival group (sans the crank) is worth the price alone for the most part. Aside from wheels, which really is not the upgrade the website leads you to believe, everything else is arbitrary. Good luck with the comp-x! If I didn't have 3 bikes nicer than than it already, that would easily be my first purchase (if I went new). If you think you won't be upgrading the bike and actually be riding it, you'll learn soon. Even a 5k dollar bike doesn't keep people from upgrading it immediately. lol. (Check Hot or Not or Putting Road Bike On a Diet threads)

And yes, the parktool.com website is great. Along with youtube.

alexaschwanden

The comp X bike from bikes direct looks to be a great bike, go for it.

golfer007

Yes, I was thinking the Comp X as well guys. Best component group for sure. However, this local guy with a Salsa which is my size wants to sell it to my for $900. It's full Ultegra and has Mavic Krylium (sp?)wheels with SL hubs. The bike also has carbon fiber (what he said) clipless pedals and nice bars and stem. I will try to post pics when I can. Would this Salsa be a better option than the Comp X?

ColinL

Probably so, assuming it is in good condition. Carbon road pedals are not unusual. The wheels are Ksyrium, most likely. Kryllion is a Michelin tire.

golfer007

So here are the photos he guy texted me today of the Salsa.

















Please let me know what you all think of this compared to the Gravity Comp X with SRAM Rival?

golfer007

Bump, hoping someone can help me decipher which will be better? Researching as we speak.....

ColinL

go for a test ride on the salsa and bring cash in hand. it needs a new saddle and shift/brake lever covers. the covers were a known issue on the 9 speed ultegra but they are very cheap, probably $20 or less on ebay with shipping. if they aren't included, try to get the lights included on the deal.

and yes, that's a 2x9 drivetrain. I bet it is a standard 53/39 crankset and you can ask the seller about the cassette but my guess is 12-27 just looking at the pic and counting the nine cogs.

the wheels are mavic ksyrium sl which are pretty good. not aero, but light and strong.

X-LinkedRider

I am a fan of Salsa's but there is nothing special about that bike. Nothing except that it was obviously NOT babied the way you would want it to be buying it used. Take it for a spin, but I'd still jump on that Rival Comp X.

golfer007

Thanks for those 2 posts boys. I was hoping someone would say that. Now, if I could get the bike for say $500, that would be a much better deal right? That Comp X, the Windsor Falkirk with Apex and the Liberty X with Epex are all still on my mind. All 3 of those bikes have a lot going for them. I like the Windsor because is has a complete SRAM Apex gruppo and the Gravity bikes have Tektro brakes and an FSA crank set.

ColinL

The FSA crankset is no better or worse than SRAM Apex or S150 cranks.

The Tektro brakes, however, definitely are a notch below Apex. You can recover most of the gap by installing Swisstop or Kool-Stop pads in the Tektros.


Yes, in hindsight, $900 for that Salsa with Ultegra 6500 is a bit steep.

pweller

I'm no expert, but the teeth on the large chainring on the Salsa look pretty worn out. I'd be suspicious about the overall condition of the bike.

I've found, in general, a lot of people want too much money for a used bike especially when compared to BD. Even if you bought the Salsa, you'd have to repack all the bearings, looks like maybe new chain/chainring/maybe cassette, seat, brake hoods, etc. After all that work, just buy something new and save yourself the headaches.

adriano 

rival.

golfer007

After visiting a few shops today again, I am so close to biting on the Rivl equipped Gravity. But every person I have talked to locally says they have either never hear of Gravity or the frames/welds are garbage. This is of concern to me...

If I get the Gravity I would definitely try to upgrade the saddle and seatpost first and then probably to the bars and stem next. I know picking the right saddle is very subjective, but what is a good solid and proven saddle out there right now that will not break the bank? How about a nice entry level carbon seat post?