looking to buy a road bicycle... suggestions?

[Leland Pate]

I'm looking at spending some coin on a nice road bike to use on the countless back roads over here in Germany.

I've looked at several local shops that carry brands like Giant, Cannondale, and Bergamont with limited success. The dollar is so weak against the euro that it puts most nice rides out of my reach. So, I've opened my search to include... gasp... ebay.

A friend sent me this link of a Fetish Cycles composite frame bike with Shimano DuraAce components: eBay link

I think men have a genetic pre-disposition to be attracted to composite material... and this thing is dripping with it.

I don't know... I tried to so several searches and came up with very little about this company. It seems this looks like a good deal but I'm so used to seeing crap on eBay that I've become quite cynical. If it looks too good to be true, it usually means it is. ::

So, I'm looking for input on this particualr bike, but I'm also interested in hearing any other suggestions.
Lee

[klaucke]

If you are just getting into cycling, it may be overkill, but if you enjoy ownership then it doesn't matter. I don't know too too much about Fetish cycles but I've seen some nice bikes from them. I have had good luck w/ ebay, I got my last roadie for very little money.

The Dura-Ace is light but expensive, but I think Ultegra and 105 are just fine for recreational riders and possibly more robust. All the composite pieces on that bike are nice but they are brittle and suffer catastrophic failure rather than bending in the event of a crash, or even if you had to swerve off the road. As old cyclists commonly say, "Steel is Real," and I subscribe to that mantra. Steel framed bicycles are very durable and ride exceptionally well, the small weight penalty notwithstanding. Regarding that specific bicycle, it has a very large drop from seat to bars and may be uncomfortable for all but the most sporting of riders. Also, frame fit is very very important so make sure to get a proper fitting frame for your leg and torso length; the ebay ad only mentions S/M/L and that is probably not refined enough for a proper fit unless you pigeon hole one of those sizes exactly. Also, it is common on CF bikes to have a lot of material around the bottom bracket, this bike does not seem have that-- I'm not sure how big a difference that makes but it will be a bit flexier.

Shimana vs. Campagnolo is a heated debate but for ease of maintanence and parts availability, Shimano cannot be beat. For a first bike I'd stick to Shimano (in fact, I'll always stick to Shimano).

Generally speaking, I like steel frames, and Fuji has made some very nice examples over the years (excepting the "sexy" factor people associate w/ many Italian brands) and they are often a bargain on Ebay. If someone was looking for value and quality for short money that is the direction I would point them in.

[Rich76_911s]

I don't know anything about Fetish bicycles never even heard of them before. Do you know what size bike you are looking for?

I was in Denver over thanksgiving and a bike shop there called Wheat Ridge cyclery had a really great deal on a durace / ultegra orbea bike. I believe it was an orca but I am not 100% sure. It was a test ride bike that looked brand spanking new. If you are looking for a 56cm bike shoot them a call and see if they can sell it over the phone. The bike for the price was amazing. They also had a trek madone sslx, and ssl for decent money but you can't sell trek bikes over the phone or online. The wheatridge cyclery web page is http://ridewrc.com/index.cfm

If you call ask for Eric he knows his stuff!

'07 stuff should be rolling into showroom floors shortly so '06 bikes could get cheaper when that new inventory comes in.

Rich

[Bill Verburg]

What' your price range, as w/ Porsche the sky is the limit.

When I bought a # of years ago Colorado Cyclist had a very nice Ti frame Ultegra package for ~$2k

They currently have full carbon/Ultegra for ~$2.2k

They put together a really nice package both in price and quality and they are great to deal w/ if you want something somewahat different from the package.

If you haven't ridden a lot try different frames before commiting. I grew up w/ Reynolds 530 but my current Ti is head and shoulders better in ride quality.

The carbon frames, like aluminum, I have found to be too stiff for my liking. The hardcore do love them though.

Again as w/ Porsche wheels/tires are important

[scottmandue]

I know you said "road bikes" but I like light duty mountain bikes for road use, I like their extra durability on bad roads with pot holes plus the wide tires and wider seat are easier on my big fat white a$$.

I have a perfectly operational bike in my garage but I am lusting after one of these... aluminum frame and check it out... disk brakes!

Hmmm... server won't let me upload pic, here is a link... looks best in black IMHO.

Crude not my day, link just takes you to the Specilized site, click on USA>bikes>rockhopper

Rockhopper

[HardDrive]

What about a Trek 5200? Beautiful carbon bikes. Around $3000. I had one for years. So light and fast....amazing acceleration.

[dd74]

Fetish bicycles are made in Scotsdale, AZ., and have had a very good reputation on the cycling boards. I haven't seen one in the flesh, but any composite frame of note with Dura-Ace for under $2K is a good deal.

Link: http://www.fetishcycles.com/about/index.html

My only suggestion is to make absolutely certain that the Fetish will fit you. It doesn't matter how good the bike is - if it doesn't fit, you'll hate it. So, measure your height, instep, and arm length, and use that as a baseline for the size frame you need.

Also, pay very close attention to the length of the top tube - some bikes have longer top tubes than other, which alter the riding style from one frame to the next. My LeMond has a longer top tube which causes me to sit deeper into the frame and use different leg muscles than I do with my Colnago.

If you aren't certain, find a good bicycle store wherever you are, and have someone there measure you for a frame. You'll know from there if the Fetish, or any other frame, is the right fit. As for stems, seat posts and crank arm length - all that can be swapped for adjustment. The frame you're stuck with.

Good luck!

[Scooter]

I completely agree with dd74. It is most important to get a bike that fits, so getting measured should be your first step. I am partial to Ti, because it is very comfortable on long rides and it should last a very long time (some say forever). Good luck!

[SlowToady]

Originally posted by Scooter
I completely agree with dd74. It is most important to get a bike that fits, so getting measured should be your first step. I am partial to Ti, because it is very comfortable on long rides and it should last a very long time (some say forever). Good luck!

And, if possible, get fitted on each bike you're thinking about buying. It's a lot more work, but, each manufacturer is a bit different. Just a few weeks ago I was reading a story by a professional bike fitter (worked for US Olympic team and I think Postal Service) who got an offer from an un-named frame company to build a frame for him, to his specs, for free. He sent them off the specs, got the bike back exactly as he ordered it...and it was terrible.

Slight changes in geometry make big differences.

I, personally, would probably for for a Colnago Dream, slightly used, with Campy Record components, which I saw for good bargains on ebay (compared to new prices). It's a bit older (3-4 years old) but it's a hell of a bike. Everything about that bike is pricey though, be warned.

The Trek suggestions are always good, Klein (owned by Trek) makes some really nice frames, I've always liked Litespeed....

When you say backroads, how exactly do you mean? How old are you? Any physical ailments? Aluminum is very harsh, ride wise, but puts power down well. Unfortunately, due to fatigue, Al frames tend to wear out after a few (3-5) years. Fast though. Carbon fiber offers a great ride, with good acceleration, and low weight. Steel is a good bet; forgiving ride but not as fast as carbon or Al. But you can ride it a darn bit longer than Al, and not be as sore.

As a previous poster noted, wheels are VERY important, don't go cheap on rims. On the other hand, rims get VERY expensive very quickly (ex, the top Campy rims are $2300) and buying more rim than you need is costly and rather pointless.

Is there a bike shop anywhere near you? Find some local racers or hardcore cyclists and see where they go.

[artplumber]

Also if you are more of a "sprinter" body than you might have been in the past, it's pretty easy to deflect the BB's on Ti bikes. ()

[cantdrv55]

Try posting your question about Fetish bikes on www.bikeforums.net. I bet you'll get some responses on that particular bike.

[k9handler]

Leland, come down to Ramstein as we have a pretty good selection at our ODR. Pay in $ and get a nice Kona....in the spring they will have loads more as the winter time is ski stuff.

[Zef]

The best one is there...Hand made at your fit...
http://www.marinoni.qc.ca/html/en_index.html

[greglepore]

The VAST majority of carbon bikes are made in the Far East to pretty high standards-this includes many extremely expensive brands.

Ie, check out bikesdirect.com. Their carbon Windsor models, when placed side by side with some very pricy Looks, are the identical frameset. Really. Fetish bikes are not "made" in Arizona, they're assembled there from some strategically chosen Far East parts.


That bike does not have a Dura Ace gruppo, note the off brand brakes (probably Tekro, lite but flexy) and no name wheels. All that is D/A is the shifters and derailleurs, so don't compare that pricepoint to full D/A bikes, which are likely to start at a grand more or less more than that, even with an equivalent frame. Nothing "wrong" with the parts, but its an apples and oranges comparison.

If you're not a "cyclist" already, I'd consider either a compact gearing setup or a triple crankset.


My point in this is that most of these off brand carbon frames are fine.

[slow&rusty]

Wow...that Fetish bike is beautiful and the price is incredible....!

I ride a fair bit seeing that I live in Colorado and we have the roads and scenery for it. I have two Cannondales Road bikes that serve me well (R700 and R900). Both are equipped with Ultegra but I sprung for Campy Record hubs on one.

Many of my friends have had great success on eBay buying complete bikes. I say go for it, but be diligent and check feedback and all those good things before bidding.

I have never ridden a composite frame, but would like to try it. That price is tempting!

Regards - Yasin

[Leland Pate]

Thanks for the input fellas... HD, do you know of any good bike shops around K-town?

Greg, thanks for your input as well. What do you think about a Kestrel cycle?

Also seems to be a good value for the money.

[Leland Pate]

[k9handler]

Leland, I know of a few in Kaiserslautern...as for the Kestrel I would say nice! Aegis is also a very sweet CF bike, had one a few years back.

[Leland Pate]

Here is a better pic of the Kestrel:

[nostatic]

plastic is spastic. steel is real (and Ti even better).

If you're just starting out, find a decent used steel road bike that fits. The components don't really make much of a difference. The frame material doesn't make that much difference. Fit does.