ButchA

With all the dozens and dozens of road bikes out there, I want ask your opinion on "the best bang for the buck" type of basic road bike. My needs are rather simple. I looked at this bike, that bike, studied geometries, components, etc... and decided on what I would want if I were to design, build, and/or assemble my own bike.

Brand: Anybody

Frame: 6061 Aluminum

Geometry: A nice, relaxed, non racy, endurance style frame. Comfort is the keyword here.

Fork: Carbon

Crankset: Compact double 50-34T

Cassette: Shimano Sora HG50 9 speed --OR-- Shimano Claris HG50 8 speed

Shifters/Brifters/Brakes: Shimano Sora ST3500 9 speed --OR-- Shimano Claris ST2400 8 speed

Rims: 700 double walled, 32h -- to support my 215 pounds!

Tires: 700x25 (whatever brand that has a touch of universal tread for cornering (i.e. not slicks)

Pedals: Platform w/toe clips (sorry... I just can't do clipless as a "newbie")

Seat: Anything that is comfortable!


Given these specs, what manufacturer makes a road bike like this? (Besides Trek!! I won't own a Trek. I refuse.. LOL! )

Suggestions, thoughts, ideas?

Elvo

Domane 2.0 - Trek Bicycle

ButchA

Um, thanks... But I want to stay away from Trek. The reason is the ubiquity of Trek. Everybody and their brother owns a Trek. I have tried out Treks and found them uncomfortable - especially the seat.

dtrain

kert

tagaproject6

Determine budget. Go to bike shop with said budget. Choose bike with exception of one that you seem to dislike. Ride it, get fitted, ride it again. Take it home and ride it lots. Your judgement of a saddle's apparent discomfort without putting in time is not logical.

There are plenty of bikes that fit the criteria you listed. Go out there and shop.

Elvo

Try out a domane with the paradigm seat. Should be very smooth if its fitted correctly.

sevenmag

Specialized Secteur.

dtrain

You might not hit 100% on that list. Many folks change out the saddle, and initial comfort there shouldn't be a deal breaker. Entry-level bikes (heck, most bikes) used to come with 32-spoke wheels. Not so much anymore...though your chances are better at having 25c tires as stock now-a-days. I notice you live in a Performance town? I'd go check out a Fuji Sportif.

10 Wheels

The Brand does not matter...Saddles and Pedals are personal items that most us change .

Jarrett2

Solid recommendation. Also Giant Defy.

dtrain

'Best bang for the buck"...does that mean you'd consider mail order:
Save Up to 60% Off Road Bikes - Motobecane Mirage S
Diamondback Century 1 Bike - Men's - Closeout at REI-OUTLET.com
(EDIT: ^ that Diamondback has an alloy fork. Might not be of interest - and I wouldn't blame you.)

Igualmente

The Raleigh Revenio 1 seems to hit a bunch of the main items on your list. Probably have to double check the wheels for spoke count, rim type and tire width as the online info I can get at doesn't help. You get to decide if the saddle is comfortable, but as has been said, changing saddle and pedals is typical.

Edit: cassette is 12-26, so you may not get what you want there .

bikemig 

If comfort is what you want, get a cross bike and run a 700 x 32c good quality tire.

NormanF

Get a country/all-arounder/adventure bike if comfort is your main interest.

Road bikes are like a Ferrari... smooth, beautiful and fast. But for every day riding you want something that you can take anywhere as well for commuting errands.

dtrain

Sportif is a step in that direction. It's no Ferrari.

goenrdoug

I feel the need to interject that 215lbs doesn't necessitate 32 spoke wheels made of iron.

I fluctuate from 210 to 225 and I have put 3K miles on a dirt cheap set of Aeromax wheels (~$90 SHIPPED) with 20f/24r spokes and haven't had a problem. Well, I take that back, at about 2200 miles, I had two broken spokes (two separate occasions) on the rear wheel. So, yeah, 24 might be a bit light on the count.

Looking back on my purchase, ideally, I'd prefer to be able to go with a 24/28 30mm set from Boyd. I gotta save up my Xmas wishes for those, though.

Willbird

I ended up with a 2014 sportiff 1.5.cost me 809.00.

meets a lot of your criteria, and I'll add one of my own "not a white bike" :-).

shoukd pick it up maybe this weekend or next, and I weigh 221 right now.

The only real do n side to this bike is that the disk brakes make a wheel upgrade more of a pita

dtrain

Double points weekend at Performance. Great time to check out a Sportif, ButchA.

jeanHTX

whoa there (and i'm not just saying it because i own a trek, i only got it because it was a closeout sale and fit my needs).

anyway, prior to getting to your anti-trek post, i was going to suggest my current ride (2014s are probably on closeout at a ton of bike shops near you) or one of the specializeds that i also test rode... maybe the Specialized Allez Sport or the Specialized Specteur Sport?

cleansheet

Jamis Ventura Comp

ButchA

Thanks for all the great replies everyone! I was just joking around about Trek. They are fine bikes... It's just that they are literally everywhere. No matter where you go, no matter where you ride, someone is on a Trek.

I have a Performance Bike shop here in town and have seen the Fuji bikes in there before. I'll check them out!

Agee's Bicycles (another LBS in town) has both Trek and Raleigh. I have heard good things about Raleigh, mainly that they are darn near indestructible.

bbattle

Do you think there might be a good reason why you see so many cyclists riding Treks?

Raleigh, Bianchi, Orbea, Specialized, Cannondale, Giant, Kona, Salsa, Felt, Fuji, Cervelo, Nashbar, Performance, BikesDirect, Jamis, etc., etc. all make good quality aluminum bicycles.

The Raleighs I've seen at my LBS look nice and a good value for what you pay.

TWTourist2

I'll second the Sportif. Best bang for the buck as for brand names. Thanks to Black Friday I have a Sportif 1.1C.

bgrider

I bought a new bike in 2013 and felt that the Giant line was the best value for the money. I wound up with a Defy 1 (which should fit your specs pretty well) and have been very pleased with it. Most important thing is to test drive the models you are looking at so you can make an informed decision about what you like. Buying on specs alone is not recommended in my opinion.

Garfield Cat

Want to stay away from the big brand names and still ride a great bike? Try Volagi. These are former Specialized employees who started their own company. You can even call them and talk with them.

Volagi Cycles | By Endurance We Discover