crit/all around bike for a 200lb+ cat 4/5 "sprinter"
 

Hi All,

I'm looking for a new race/training bike, primarily for crits and group rides, but it needs to be tolerable for a handful of longer rides as well. I want a stiff bike with Sram force or shimano Ultegra (or higher). I'm currently riding a 2001 Bianchi with an aluminum frame and shimano 105 9-speed (from '07)

I was thinking about trying to find a cannondale CAAD 9 or 10. my budget is around 1800 or so (I don't mind buying used if it's in good shape)

are there any other bikes I should be looking at?

other advice?

Thanks in advance!

What about your current bike doesn't work for you? What doesn't it do that you want out of a new bike? how do you think the new bike will make a difference?

If you just want a new bike for the sake of a new bike, that's allowed too.

There isn't really anything that doesn't work on my current bike except the hubs keep coming loose (which doesn't really have anything to do with the bike, its a problem with my stupid easton EA90 wheelset)

I would like to think that '12 ultegra would have crisper shifting than '07 105 and it might be nice to have 10 cogs in the rear instead of 9. I would think a CAAD 10 should be a bit stiffer than my old Bianchi, and I'm a big guy so I think that could help my overall experience.

I think a part of it is wanting to get a new bike for new bike's sake. My Bianchi is the only "real" bike I've ever had, and I've had it for about 5 years now, and I think I'm ready for a change...

Take a look at the jamis icon pro. Edit: the elite has ultegra, but I think it's around $2600, which I realize is over budget. The pro is pretty nice tho. (I just bought one)

A teammate has a CAAD 10 with Rival. Seems like a very good bike for the money. Coincidentally, he bought it to race in order to save his Bianchi for less hazardous rides.

Build it up to your spec

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Shimano-...item4173e10440

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CANNONDALE-C...item1c33cf7f39

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Shimano-Ulte...item3a7ca6ea7a

That'll leave you ~$300 to get a saddle, bars, and stem. I'm assuming you can use your old pedals. Good to go. If you want a complete bike, the CAAD10 is around that price with Rival.

If you want Carbon, go for something like this-

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/..._road_xiii.htm

Yea, yea, it's BD, but my teammate has one and it's actually a great bike.

Welcome to BF! Glad to hear you found a good solution. Considering you are no longer looking for a new bike, and you have a duplicate post in the Clyde/Athena forum, I'm going to close this.