Road bike ride in the northeast.

[widgeon13]

Road bike ride from the Adirondacks (upstate NY) to the Atlantic, (southern Maine shore)

My BIL rode across the US from LA to upstate NY last spring and will complete the ride this September. I have signed on to do the ride with him but my current road bike is an older Trek 460, very comfortable but very old and I can't change the cassette. I have a Cannondale F700 mountain bike which I like but it would not be suitable for this ride. We'll be doing 60+ miles per day depending how I feel since I'm the weak link in the chain. I have been training and will continue over the summer.

Consequently I have no low hill climbing gear on the old roady. I'm going to be looking at some new road bikes but really don't know what to get. I have looked at the Cannondale CAAD 8 6, CAAD 9 6, Trek 1.5 and Cannondale Synapse Alloy 6. I am going to specify a triple crank (30/39/50) and the standard cassette 12-27 (I think). Are any of those good choices?? I don't want to break the bank but I'm looking for a good comfortable road bike in the range of $1000. I have some latitude but really don't want to go over $1400 or so. Is there a good bike out there for that price. Seems like buying a bike is like buying a boat, many to pick from but much to confuse the inexperienced buyer.

Any recommendations from the experienced riders. I will go through the measurements for the proper fit but can't give the dimensions at this time. I don't really want a used bike so have stayed away from CL and fleabay.

Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.

[Laneco]

In the price range you are looking at, Specialized makes a very nice and comfortable road bike for long miles. This one is about $1900 retail but pretty sweet and with a triple.

Specialized Bicycle Components : Roubaix Triple

There's quite a few very decent road bikes out there in the $1500 to $1900 range available with triples. Nearly every manufacturer has bikes in "price groups" to be competitive.

Don't overlook nice used bikes. A used road bike is a bargain and some riders trade up every year or two, making their last year's perfectly good model a screamin' deal. A $1000 spent here picks up a bike that was $2500 or $3000 just a couple of years ago (and is still in excellent condition).

angela

[Porsche-O-Phile]

When are you going? I'd love to hook up with you for a few of the miles... If you're by this way as part of your route.

[Porschephile944]

Instead of a triple have you considered a compact double? It should shift a little better and will probably mean less shifting overall, might not be suitable if your doing a touring ride though.

I have a 2007 specialized allez elite that i bought used a year ago and have been super happy with. With your price range it shouldn't be hard to find something that will be comfortable to ride all day for a few days in a row. At a minimum i would look for a carbon front fork, carbon seat post and seat stays, for the added comfort. I would also buy the bike a few months in advance so you can get used to it and make any necessary adjustments.

Also, find a good bike shop that will allow you to test ride outside the parking lot, preferably for 20 or 30 miles so you can get a real feel for the bike and to make sure your comfortable on it.

Good luck, sounds like it should be a fun experience.

[widgeon13]

Thanks for the good info. I am working on a plan to get the right bike in the next month so should have plenty of time for riding and orientation. Carbon front fork and seat post are already in the plan. Mid to late September is the time we have scheduled right now. My BIL lives in LA but has a home next door to us in the southern Adirondacks. He has been planning the route so I will have to wait to get the exact route from him. Our wives will be dictating the lodging since they are the road support crew and we have promised top class food and lodging. A little motivation to get the trip completed in order to keep the cost down some.

I am working with a couple bike shops now and will see if they will offer a test ride. I will also try to get some contacts from Glens Falls NY or Lake Placid on any bike clubs/groups that might have some network for road bike sales in the area. I will also peruse CL but I'm not to experienced with bikes so will have to be careful. The trip should be fun and September is a great time to be biking in the NE.

My goal over the next week is to get fitted and have the measurements to help me shop. The training has been enjoyable and more fun than distance running that I have done in the past, just seems much less punishing to the body.

Keep the suggestion coming.