Road Bicycle - Reality Check

[JavaBrewer]

I used to be an amateur road racer. After many years (and 30 or so pounds) I am finding myself drawn, BIG TIME, to riding again. I have been riding my MTB lately but admittedly mostly street/fireroad miles...my screwed up back and shoulders won't survive a typical MTB over the bars scenario. In the last month I have about 200 miles in my legs and am loving the experience.

So I was in the local bike shop today buying new disk brake pads for my MTB and started looking at road bikes...

Looks...WOW!
Light weight...WOW!
Price...holy K...R...A...P!!!!!

I have advised many folks here to consult Craigs list for a road bike. I will follow my own advise but...damn....talk about some serious envy....



I'm not sold on Carbon frames but then my last experience riding one was in the late '90s. The bike shop guy said "you don't know what you're missing". They rent out the latest bikes for a day's ride to help make up your mind. Bottom line these bikes are several $K over my budget so I'll pass...got to start out slow...

[MichiganMat]

Tell me about it.

I ride a CX bike with road rubber in the off-season and its plenty for my training, Im mostly an XC racer so I don't necessarily need a $9K carbon Italian speed-rocket...

but I wouldn't kick it off the work stand if one were handed to me

[pwd72s]

Wish I could find my old childhood bike...one of these:

[HardDrive]

Bad back? Want a fast, comfortable road bike? Take it from a guy with 2 ruptured disks, you want a Roubaix. I have an 07, and the thing is a cruise missile, yet very comfortable.

[Zef]

GO AHEAD...My wife's bike is a Roubaix coupled with Shimano Ultegra (full groupo).
Mine is a Marinoni VR2....full racing carbon torpedo...You'll love carbon torpedo.....!

[greglepore]

David-look around on the net, there are several "off brand" carbon bikes that come out of the same factory as many of the brand names.

Carbon is great, but I don't like its failure mode (no choice but to ride carbon forks tho). Know a number of crit guys that break a frame or two a year. Check out Carl Strong-he does nice affordable custom steel, or buy used.

[arerrac]

Do you have any of your old bikes?
I'm currently riding a used '84 Bianchi Specialissima with a '01 Campy Carbon/Ti Gruppo. Quality Steel lugged frame with a modern twist. Threw on a carbon fork and it's a real nice comfortable ride that can put the power down. The cost of a new gruppo is all you have to worry about.
I still have all the original Campagnolo Record parts on another Bianchi. Just in case I want to fo totally Retro.

[DARISC]

I got hooked again after 30+ years, bought the 27 spd Surly Long Haul Trucker touring bike, then a month and a half later the cherry, full Campy Super Record, '83 Medici 12 spd road bike (paid hundreds more for it than the Surly ).

Gotta force myself not to let the Surly sit while I ride the Medici up and down the coast. The Surly has MTB gearing so it's good for the hills here in CBD.

Lost 18 lbs in a couple months. Luckily, no back or shoulder problems - biggest concern and fear is cars.

The guys here were a big help to me on this thread: What bicycle to buy?

[jluetjen]

I had the same sticker-shock. I really wanted a "touring" bike where I could mount some bags if I was going to go some place and discovered that they don't make them any more. I ended up buying a used mid-80's Trek 520. It's got a Chromalloy frame that is tough as nails, but still has some give over rough roads. Sure it's not quite as light as the more modern bikes, but I'm not racing and the difference in weight is really only about 1%-1.5% of the total bike and rider combination. In total it cost me a few hundred bucks after I freshened it up a little bit.

Quite a bit less then what I would have paid for the cheapest new Trek road bike, and a better fit for what I was looking for.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by arerrac

Do you have any of your old bikes?
I'm currently riding a used '84 Bianchi Specialissima with a '01 Campy Carbon/Ti Gruppo. Quality Steel lugged frame with a modern twist. Threw on a carbon fork and it's a real nice comfortable ride that can put the power down. The cost of a new gruppo is all you have to worry about.
I still have all the original Campagnolo Record parts on another Bianchi. Just in case I want to fo totally Retro.

+1

I did buy a new road bike, but I also rebuilt my 1990 Trek 400. Everything except the frame has been replaced. I spent about $1000 doing the restore and I have a Crome-moly bike with Shimano 105 drive train, Carbon forks, Carbon seat post, carbon handle bars, Shimano 105 wheels. I used the CF for shock absorbtion, not for weight reduction. The bike is 22.5 lbs. Not "super light" but VG. It is my backup bike and the one I leave on the trainer.

At some point, I will take it apart and send the frame out for a strip and powder-coating. I need to see if TREK will send me decals.

[JavaBrewer]

The Roubaix was the bike the shop recommended. $40 to rent one for the day that will count towards the purchase if so inclined. Honestly it's still way over my budget of $750-$800. I'm gonna hold out a deal on Craigs list.

My old bike was a Trek 2300. It was a carbon/aluminum combo frame with Ultegra cranks and everything else Dura Ace. It was pre STI shifters and sported bar cons. I bought it used for $600 and swapped components with my old Land Shark crit bike.

I was just blown away with the gigantic price tags.

[HardDrive]

$750-800 is not realistic for a new road bike. You can get some excellent used bikes for that.

Great time to pick up a used bike.

[Racerbvd]

We have a few members here in the industry, one helped me out with my new road bike , as, like you, I'm old school, so I'm sure these same guys will step up to help you.. Not that others here haven't, but don't buy until you are sure.,.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by dmoolenaar

My old bike was a Trek 2300. It was a carbon/aluminum combo frame with Ultegra cranks and everything else Dura Ace. It was pre STI shifters and sported bar cons. I bought it used for $600 and swapped components with my old Land Shark crit bike.

That sounds like a good candidate for a rebuild.

[nikita76]

dmoolenaar,

How tall are you? If you have been fit/sized for a bike what size did the dealer say you are? I may have a carbon frame for you that you will need to build up but I can give you a great price.

Let me know.

[herr_oberst]

Am I the only one who is getting a little tired of the LOOK AT ME! surface excitement on these new ultra bikes? I love the high tech engineering, not so much the rice graphics and geegaws. A little restraint would be refreshing.

Originally Posted by dmoolenaar

(and this one is modest compared to many)

[tangerine911S]

I like the engineering in my aero frame but also the suddlty of the color scheme. Its not paint, its anodized so its tough too.

[Zef]

Clear coat on mine...

[dd74]

When buying a new bike, a person should remember that usually in two years' time, the current low-end component group, say in this example, Shimano 105, surpasses what was then the top of the line group, which in Shimano's case is Dura Ace.

Frame-wise, if you're injured chronically, I'd stick with steel. The new carbon is really for racers. Sure, some say it's comfortable, and others say it isn't. But more people agree overall that steel is comfortable.

Plus, carbon does break and shatter. That's why some carbon frames are rendered DOA after a deep scratch. Steel can, in many cases, be repaired.

Just a price idea:

1) Steel Gunnar or Torelli - $800. - very good, light and strong frames - hand made - the Gunnar in Wisconsin by a division of Waterford, the Torelli in Italy.

2) Shimano 105 - $750.

3) Another $600 for wheels/tires, saddle, handlebars, pedals.

All steel, and maybe a pound or two more than the newest carbon bike, but it can still be ridden hard if needed.

[Zef]

Originally Posted by dd74

When buying a new bike, a person should remember that usually in two years' time, the current low-end component group, say in this example, Shimano 105, surpasses what was then the top of the line group, which in Shimano's case is Dura Ace.

Frame-wise, if you're injured chronically, I'd stick with steel. The new carbon is really for racers. Sure, some say it's comfortable, and others say it isn't. But more people agree overall that steel is comfortable.

Plus, carbon does break and shatter. That's why some carbon frames are rendered DOA after a deep scratch. Steel can, in many cases, be repaired.

Just a price idea:

1) Steel Gunnar or Torelli - $800. - very good, light and strong frames - hand made - the Gunnar in Wisconsin by a division of Waterford, the Torelli in Italy.

2) Shimano 105 - $750.

3) Another $600 for wheels/tires, saddle, handlebars, pedals.

All steel, and maybe a pound or two more than the newest carbon bike, but it can still be ridden hard if needed.

A carbon frame bike can not be hard over ridden at our level....At Lance's one may be...but not at ours.