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Virginia Rocks!
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Just outside the beltway
Posts: 8,497
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Road Bikes (bicycles) Advice
I know some of you are into road bikes. I'm looking for a nice compliment to my Trek 930 mtn bike. I paid $550 ? for that 6 years ago and have probably got out ever penny I pidd for it. However, I just don't have the time to hit the trails like I used to.
Been riding it on the street for years, but its like driving a Jeep on a racetrack. I'm now looking for a road bike. Last night I was looking at the Cannondale R700 - it was pretty nice. That bike was about $1200 (which is probably a little more that I want to spend but could spend that). Quite light, all the welds are ground off to reduce vibrations. Bladed spokes. No C/F but the seat stays were bowed to allow for some flex. What do you ride, what do you like about it?
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Rosewood 1983 911 SC Targa | Black 1990 944 S2 | White 1980 BMW R65 | Past: Crystal 1986 944 na Guards Red is for the Unoriginal
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Friend of Warren
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Lincoln, NE
Posts: 16,495
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Lots of road bike guys here. Some are really serious. I'm not so serious, mostly just ride the roads around my house. Guess what I am trying to say is unless you are going to get really serious about road bikes, or just like to spend money, there are lots of bikes out there in the $300-$500 range that will serve your needs quite well.
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Kurt V No more Porsches, but a revolving number of motorcycles. |
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It's like everything else, Bang for the Buck and usage.
My brother has a c/f cannondale, he's very hard core. I hate it. I have a Douglas Ti from Colorado cyclist, huge bang for the buck. Love it, 8000mi in 3 yrs. You can spend more or less, but try riding as many different frames as you can, the difference in materials and geometry is astounding.
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Bill Verburg '76 Carrera 3.6RS(nee C3/hotrod), '95 993RS/CS(clone) | Pelican Home |Rennlist Wheels |Rennlist Brakes | |
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Registered
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,085
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Really depends on who (rather than what) you are. Big guy? Climbing, comfort, speed/trialing, road condition? Plenty of good chromoly bikes left that are in the <1K range. Alu is plenty stiff especially in big tube sizes. Ti is very comfortable, but prob $$$ and can deflect if you step heavy etc.
My road is Alu aero w/CF fork and rear triangle. Pretty comfortable, but a little on the stiff side. Never deflects though when I sprint. Look at some of the smaller frame & bike builders too. Their prices might surprise you.
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Peter '79 930, Odyssey kid carrier, Prius sacrificial lamb Missing ![]() nil carborundum illegitimi |
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Slackerous Maximus
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Columbus, OH
Posts: 18,187
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I rode a Trek 5200 carbon for years. Just recently passed if off to my father so he can train for a biathalon.
http://www.trekbikes.com/bikes/2004/road/5200.jsp Amazing bike. So light and stiff.....power at the pedal goes directly to the road. I liked the carbon frame, but it was a damn rough ride. If you live in an area with rough road surfaces, you may want to go with steel. The carbon is so stiff that it you get a lot of 'road noise' feeback through the frame. I am riding a street hyrid at the moment because I am only riding in the city. The steel frame softens up the ride, and my next road bike will definitely be steel (maybe aluminum). ![]()
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2022 Royal Enfield Interceptor. 2012 Harley Davidson Road King 2014 Triumph Bonneville T100. 2014 Cayman S, PDK. Mercedes E350 family truckster. |
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Registered
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 574
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Have an older Cannondale R700 - which way back (in 1995) was a triathlon-specific 650c time-trial type bike. Stiffness never bothered me (5'11", 160lbs) on rides of less than 50 miles or so. Seat stays were cantilevered rather than bowed.
Switched to carbon spoked wheels for a 112 mile bike race/training in the summer of 1999. Never had a problem with buzziness after that. Good bang for the buck..... Rode it at a triathlon 2 weeks ago - and still rides beautifully. |
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Light,Nimble,Uncivilized
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Re: Road Bikes (bicycles) Advice
Quote:
![]() How does grinding the welds down reduce vibration???
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Drago '69 Coupe R #464 |
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N-Gruppe doesn't exist
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Re: Re: Road Bikes (bicycles) Advice
Quote:
they smooth out the welds to make the bike look cleaner. who told you that crap about lowing vibrations?
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Ted '70 911T 3.0L "SKIPPY" R-Gruppe #477 '73 914 2.0L SOLD bye bye "lil SMOKEY" ![]() "Silence is Golden, but duct tape is SILVER.” other flat fours:'77 VWBus 2.0L & 2002 ImprezaTS 2.5L |
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Registered
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Comming from a road racing background I have ridden Trek carbons, Lightspeed ti's, Marin's steel/carbon and full carbon and a few custom steel frames. A custom Eddy Merckx too.
Personally the custom steel frames that I have ridden are the most lively followed by ti, and then carbon. A light Wheel set goes a very long ways to a fun ride. I think the grinding of the welds has no consequence on ride. it is a cosmetic thing and maybe a little weight savings.
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Tim. 1988 911 Carrera. Silver. 1973 914 Metalic Blue. 2012 Cayenne S |
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drag racing the short bus
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Location, Location...
Posts: 21,983
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Steel frames has always suited me. You can't beat the comfort, road feel or the longevity. For a group set, I'd suggest Shimano. They've come a long way and compete well with Campagnolo.
Look around online. I've seen instances where you could set up a bike like this for well below $1K. |
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Light,Nimble,Uncivilized
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Quote:
That said, I want my next bike to be custom steel w/ all Campy. ![]()
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Drago '69 Coupe R #464 |
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Registered
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: cascade mtns,WA.
Posts: 884
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If you are up there in age, ti is the only way to go. If you custom it to you, it will be the last bike you will ever buy. Ti never rusts has about a 18% flex before it will actually bend, it will probably never metal fatigue out like other metals. Never have to worry about paint chips or scratches.
After riding road bikes for over 30 yrs with campagnolo and get this, still use sewup tires, wouldn't have it any other way. Clincher riders are always fixing their tires while I will always be riding by with my 175 psi sewups.
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gatotom 76-911s-sold went to motherland 13-A4 2.0T Quattro S 96-Chev 1500 4x4 88 Sabre 38 mk 2 sailboat |
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Light,Nimble,Uncivilized
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Quote:
![]() Hmmm, custom steel, campy and sewups. I think we're onto something here!
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Drago '69 Coupe R #464 |
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Unconstitutional Patriot
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: volunteer state
Posts: 5,620
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I vote for a steel frame to keep cost reasonable. Pick a comfort road bike (more upright) that has a decent length head tube so you won't be cleaning your teeth with the front tire. I like Campagnolo Veloce drivetrain because it's not expensive, the components can be rebuilt, and the levers feel better in my hands.
I ride an Interloc road bike. It fits me decently and is crazy light (not that I care any longer), but the finish is awful. The Veloce 10 speed drivetrain has been fabulous, but indexing can be hit or miss if the chain is not clean and lubed. I do lust for American or European steel with Campagnolo and bulletproof wheels. |
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drag racing the short bus
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Location, Location...
Posts: 21,983
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Yeah - steel bikes can be plenty light, too. My LeMond Zurich weighs 18 pounds.
As for metal fatigue, I still have a Colnago Super frame that when I raced, I put about 30,000 miles a year on. I've had it for 20 years. I still have it, and it rides the same as the day I first raced it on Mulholland Highway. Metal fatigue is definitely not in its nature. Drago - are you too large for Ti? |
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Registered
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,085
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Quote:
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Peter '79 930, Odyssey kid carrier, Prius sacrificial lamb Missing ![]() nil carborundum illegitimi |
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Registered
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You can never go wrong with a nice steel frame.
My Merckx frame that I rode in Europe in 1986. has countless rain rides cobbles crashes ect. Has sooo many miles on it and it is still a blast to ride. Ti bikes: I broke the Lightspeed twice in three years both times at the chainstays
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Tim. 1988 911 Carrera. Silver. 1973 914 Metalic Blue. 2012 Cayenne S |
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drag racing the short bus
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Location, Location...
Posts: 21,983
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Quote:
I used to have a climber's body. But then I made the mistake of lifting weights. I do sprint now...but usually to get out of the way of cell-phone-attached mothers in Suburbans. ![]() The rule, I've heard, with climbers is not unlike that of the weight/horsepower ratio of cars: -100 lbs = 10+ hp. In cycling it's like: -10 lbs = 1+ mph uphill, IIRC. Sadly, it's sometimes easier to take 100 pounds off a car than 10 pounds off one's self. |
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Quote:
I use 160# clinchers, they seem to do ok most of the time
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Bill Verburg '76 Carrera 3.6RS(nee C3/hotrod), '95 993RS/CS(clone) | Pelican Home |Rennlist Wheels |Rennlist Brakes | |
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drag racing the short bus
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Location, Location...
Posts: 21,983
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