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Buying a bike! (Help!)
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 2016-03-31 11:07 PM |
 201 |  Subject: Buying a bike! (Help!)My boss recently caught the triathlon bug and we have been training together and are doing a few races together this year. He is really enjoying the cycling, and wants to do some pure cycling events next year, but the only bike I have is a TT, and from what I've been told they actually enforce no TT bikes rule at several of the rides he wants to do. That being said, I need a road bike. I started looking around, and there are way too many options for one person to digest without help! Little background, I used to be fairly active in triathlons and have a Cervelo P2 that I use for those. I like it, but I don't spend much time in aero (poor fit, and yes I know I need to get that fixed). Previously I was a 22-25mph cyclists at Olympic distance races. Currently working hard to get back into shape, but I do want to be competitive (as possible) once I get there so comfort is important, but I want a bike that performs. There are so many different types of road bikes (endurance, Grand Fondo, aero) that I don't know where to start. I have a decent idea of the difference, but I don't know how MUCH of a difference we are talking. I like the idea of a comfortable bike as we are talking about some long rides and several IM's, but how much am I losing to gain that comfort on the performance side? I know this will vary from rider to rider, but wanting some opinions/advice. Budget is $3k for bike, pedals, shoes, computer and hydration solution. Open to specific recommendations if anybody has them, or just general advice is appreciated. Thanks! PS, everybody loves bike porn.... Just saying... |
| 2016-04-01 9:20 AM in reply to: Fat2FitAggie |
Champion 10668    Tacoma, Washington | Subject: RE: Buying a bike! (Help!) Well, I assume you already have shoes that you use when riding the P2 -- use those. Which also tells you which pedals to put on the new roadie. No need to spend any more time thinking about that part. Hydration "solution" is bottle cages and standard bottles. Cheap and effective. Ubiquitous. Don't spend any more time thinking about that aspect. The rest will be fit-driven, just like the tri bike (but a road bike can be a bit more forgiving on the wiggle room in that fit). The drive for "fondo" or endurance geometry is basically a higher front end (longer head tube to support a higher bar position). But it depends on your needs. Pro cyclists have no issues putting long hours on bikes with the "long and low" position. Some of it is adaptation, some of it is flexibility and youth. You won't be giving up anything on an endurance geometry bike if you need that position -- you'd accomplish the same thing with spacers and an up-sloped stem on a "race" bike. However... there might be other aspects of the "race" bike that will be limiters for you. Things like tire clearance if you like 28mm tires, and chainstay length/stiffness that, while facilitating efficient power transfer, can make a bike more punishing to the rider. I might suggest getting out and just riding a bunch of bikes, and see what things you like. Aesthetics can play a huge factor in your enjoyment of the bike as well. Some people are enamored with lugged steel construction, some people need to have the swoopiness of the latest carbon. Look around and pay attention to what catches your eye as well. Parts will hang on any of the frames just fine, so don't get hung up on that too much. Hope that helps. |
| 2016-04-01 10:56 AM in reply to: Fat2FitAggie |
| 261 | Subject: RE: Buying a bike! (Help!) Originally posted by Fat2FitAggie My boss recently caught the triathlon bug and we have been training together and are doing a few races together this year. He is really enjoying the cycling, and wants to do some pure cycling events next year, but the only bike I have is a TT, and from what I've been told they actually enforce no TT bikes rule at several of the rides he wants to do. That being said, I need a road bike. I started looking around, and there are way too many options for one person to digest without help! Little background, I used to be fairly active in triathlons and have a Cervelo P2 that I use for those. I like it, but I don't spend much time in aero (poor fit, and yes I know I need to get that fixed). Previously I was a 22-25mph cyclists at Olympic distance races. Currently working hard to get back into shape, but I do want to be competitive (as possible) once I get there so comfort is important, but I want a bike that performs. There are so many different types of road bikes (endurance, Grand Fondo, aero) that I don't know where to start. I have a decent idea of the difference, but I don't know how MUCH of a difference we are talking. I like the idea of a comfortable bike as we are talking about some long rides and several IM's, but how much am I losing to gain that comfort on the performance side? I know this will vary from rider to rider, but wanting some opinions/advice. Budget is $3k for bike, pedals, shoes, computer and hydration solution. Open to specific recommendations if anybody has them, or just general advice is appreciated. Thanks! PS, everybody loves bike porn.... Just saying... If your budget is $3k then use part of that on a professional fitting. When I purchased my Cervelo P2 I paid $250 for a Retul fitting and they allowed me unlimited bike fittings and adjustments for a year. I had them adjust my fitting on not only my P2 but also my Jamis road bike. Let's say you spend $500 on pedals, shoes, computer. That leaves you $250 for a fit. That leaves over $2000 for a road bike. There are lots of good road buts out there in that price range |
| 2016-04-01 2:06 PM in reply to: TriTampa2 |
| 409 Durham, North Carolina | Subject: RE: Buying a bike! (Help!) Are you interested in doing cx as well? Is it even an option around you? I personally think if tri as my main sport and cycling secondary. Because of that I chose to get a cx bike and just two different wheelsets. I'll keep one set with nobbies for cx/gravel grinding and the other with road slicks on it. If you decide to go that way the biggest thing to consider is disc brakes or canti and what axle width. The biggest plus would be if you could use the same wheelsets on both bikes because that will keep the costs down. |
| 2016-04-08 12:58 PM in reply to: Fat2FitAggie |
| 8 | Subject: RE: Buying a bike! (Help!) Got a 2015 Roubaix for group rides, hilly courses and cycling events. I have really liked it. Out in west Texas we have chip seal the size of bowling balls and I have enjoyed a bike designed for cobbles. *My LBS is a Specialized and Trek dealer so I flipped a coin between Roubaix and Domane |
| 2016-04-09 9:54 PM in reply to: Fat2FitAggie |
1055 | Subject: RE: Buying a bike! (Help!) On a 3k budget, you should be able to get a decent set-up. I'd head over to your bike shop and see what they've got available. You should be able to get a carbon frame with a 105 group set. Maybe they'll have a deal on some left over 2015 inventory. You should get a fit with any bike you buy from the bike shop, no need to go pay for one. As to the types of bikes. . . I wouldn't get too hung up on it. The folks at the bike shop can tell you the difference between the models. Give them a spin and see which one you like best. |
| 2016-04-10 6:54 AM in reply to: ziggie204 |
Expert 4624 Middle River, Maryland Silver member | Subject: RE: Buying a bike! (Help!) Originally posted by ziggie204 On a 3k budget, you should be able to get a decent set-up. I'd head over to your bike shop and see what they've got available. You should be able to get a carbon frame with a 105 group set. Maybe they'll have a deal on some left over 2015 inventory. You should get a fit with any bike you buy from the bike shop, no need to go pay for one. As to the types of bikes. . . I wouldn't get too hung up on it. The folks at the bike shop can tell you the difference between the models. Give them a spin and see which one you like best. I'd rather get a fitting from someone who doesn't have an interest in selling me a bike. |
| 2016-04-10 10:46 AM in reply to: Fat2FitAggie |
Member 75 South Texas | Subject: RE: Buying a bike! (Help!) If you are interested in road bike specific information a great resource is the forum section of roadbikereview dot com. There are very active forums with members who will provide great advice. JWR |
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