Help me buy a road bike

[GasX]

Edit: I just got a Cannondale R800 off eBay. Now I have to suffer through to waiting for delivery period... :|

Before I go down the eBay route, I'd like to consider new bikes purchased from an LBS. Of the two local shops, the following models are carried:

Bike Shop 1:
Specialized Allez Sport $899
Cannondale R500 $1000

Bike Shop 2:
Trek 1200 $850
Trek 1500 $1099
Lemond Reno $850
Lemond Tourmalet $1050

If anyone knows anything about these bikes or has a recommendation, I am all ears. (or eyes in this case...)

 

[Blieb]

Ok .... I know the Allez Elite is like $1100 .... comes with 105 groupo ... The elite is a much better bike, the frame is more aerodynamic, you get zert inserts in the front fork ... it's a much better bike than the Sport ...

For $1200 I think, you can get the R700, which is over 1lb lighter than the Allez Elite, has much better wheels, and side by side is great bike. Not to leave out that Cannondales are made in the USA ...

I think it would be worth the extra $250 to go up just one tiny notch and get the R700 if you fit it well ...

The best thing about local shop is you can take it to them for little tweaks and they won't gougue you too bad ...

I'm totally a specialized fanboy though, for myself.

Edit:

Allez Elite: http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=9356&bikeTab=techspec
Cannondale R700: http://cannondale.com/bikes/05/cusa/model-5RR7T.html

I'm not sure where in NJ you plan on riding if you'll need the triple or not ... that's more a question for the local shop

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: Blieb
I'm not sure where in NJ you plan on riding if you'll need the triple or not ... that's more a question for the local shop

What is "the triple"? I have seen various "triple" models, but do not know what sets them apart...

 

[GasX]

Oh, the $850 Trek is a sweet deal because it comes with clipless pedals, but I am not a big fan of the paint job...

 

[Blieb]

Triple means how many gears you have in the front.

You will likely get 9 in the rear (unless it's an older closeout model) ... and 2 or 3 in the front ... double vs triple.

SO, in the end, you either have 18 or 27 gears total.

Here in FL, the shop guys told me I was a wuss if I got a triple, because the gear ratios are different, but we also don't have 5 mile climbs like ya'll do ...

 

[DingDingDao]

Triple refers to the chainring. Most road bikes are either doubles or triples. I have a Cannondale R600 double, love it. I'd give a :thumbsup: to any Cannondale road bike, actually, but Blieb is right--if you can go up to the R700, do it.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: Mwilding

Originally posted by: Blieb
I'm not sure where in NJ you plan on riding if you'll need the triple or not ... that's more a question for the local shop

What is "the triple"? I have seen various "triple" models, but do not know what sets them apart...

Triple means it has three chain rings in the front. I recomend getting them if your area is hilly and you're less than fit. I actually like the gearing better on the tripple compared to a standard double.

The double is usually 39/52
The tripple is ??/42/52 (?? could be 32, have to check mine)

 

[MetalMat]

I bought a bicycle for less than 200 bucks back in 2002 and its been working great, I must have put over 500 miles on the thing.

 

[GasX]

Ah - the distinction makes sense. I have a lot of leg strength and will not be riding mountainous terrain, so I don't NEED a triple. But like any good gear junkie...

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

In this price range I'd be looking at the secondary market - you could get a killer used bike for that kind of money. I have a residual wariness toward Cannondale from my days working in a bike store (when they made some truly dangerously crappy products, then refused to stand by them), but by all accounts they're much improved nowadays. Still not really my thing, though . . .

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: DonVito
In this price range I'd be looking at the secondary market - you could get a killer used bike for that kind of money. I have a residual wariness toward Cannondale from my days working in a bike store (when they made some truly dangerously crappy products, then refused to stand by them), but by all accounts they're much improved nowadays. Still not really my thing, though . . .

What would you think of a Merlin titanium bike with 30,000 miles on it for $1000?

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: MetalMat
I bought a bicycle for less than 200 bucks back in 2002 and its been working great, I must have put over 500 miles on the thing.

500 miles in three years averages out to less than half a mile a day, which isn't really enough for anyone to take your opinion on the matter seriously.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: Mwilding

Originally posted by: DonVito
In this price range I'd be looking at the secondary market - you could get a killer used bike for that kind of money. I have a residual wariness toward Cannondale from my days working in a bike store (when they made some truly dangerously crappy products, then refused to stand by them), but by all accounts they're much improved nowadays. Still not really my thing, though . . .

What would you think of a Merlin titanium bike with 30,000 miles on it for $1000?

That's a lot of miles, but titanium doesn't age in any meaningful way. The major concerns I'd see are these (based on the mileage, I'm assuming this is a fairly old bike):

- The early Merlin bikes had a proprietary pressed-in cartridge bottom bracket; I'd rather not be stuck with one of those, and replacing the BB shell with a threaded one would be enormously costly.

- The early Merlin bikes came with a kinda crappy SR aluminum fork that I'd probably want to replace, if it hasn't been replaced already. If the bike has a Kestrel carbon fork, as it probably does, make sure it has a steel steerer. If memory serves, they made some Kestrel forks with aluminum steerers, which creates a potential weak point on such a high-mile bike.

- The components (particularly the bearing parts, like the hubs, BB, and headset) are presumably pretty old, or have been replaced. If they're the original components, this is not a great deal, since they are probably near or past the end of their serviceable life, and $1K is not a bargain for this frame. You'd want to have someone knowledgeable check the bike out, to look for worn hubs in particular.

 

[GasX]

Thanks for the info on Merlin. Unfortunately, I checked again and the bike I was talking about is a Litespeed (from 2001)

Frame: Litespeed Vortex Titanium
Fork: Reynolds Ouzo Pro Carbon/Carbon Steerer (stock)
Handlebar: Cinelli Eubios 26.0mm
Stem: Profile Design
Shifters/Brake Lever: Shimano Ultegra (this is the only part of the bike that could use to be replaced. They work fine, but are scraped, the caps are loose and they are a bit rattly. They were purchased in September 2003)
Brakeset: Shimano Ultegra (spring 2003)
Front Derailleur: Shimano Ultegra (Brand New)
Rear Derailleur: Shimano Ultegra (December 2003)
Chain: Shimano XT/Ultegra (Brand New)
Cassette: Shimano Ultegra 12-27 (Summer 2004)
Wheelset: Cane Creek Aerohead (See Below)
Crankset: Shimano Ultegra (Brand new)
Bottom Bracket: Shimano Ultegra/XT (Spring 2003)
Seatpost: Thomson Elite Black (Spring 2004)
Saddle: Selle Italia Trans Am XP (Brand New)

 

[MetalMat]

Originally posted by: notfred

Originally posted by: MetalMat
I bought a bicycle for less than 200 bucks back in 2002 and its been working great, I must have put over 500 miles on the thing.

500 miles in three years averages out to less than half a mile a day, which isn't really enough for anyone to take your opinion on the matter seriously.

Most of it came recently though. Im just saying that I liked my bike, and I got it for cheap. No reason to be a dick :roll:

 

[bigrash]

I bought the Specialized Allez Triple a few weeks ago and I love it. It's a really nice bike for the price. I would definately recommend it

 

[Blastomyces]

I went looking for a Trek 1500 a year ago and walked out with a Trek 5000 on a "Congratulations Lance For Winning The Tour" Sale. Came out to 1600, couldnt pass that up. I bought my self a new mtn bike this weekend, but ill post that in a separate thread.

 

[GasX]

Originally posted by: Blastomyces
I went looking for a Trek 1500 a year ago and walked out with a Trek 5000 on a "Congratulations Lance For Winning The Tour" Sale. Came out to 1600, couldnt pass that up. I bought my self a new mtn bike this weekend, but ill post that in a separate thread.

Sounds like marketing speak for dumping the inventory before releasing the Lance Armstrong Tour Model...

 

[GasX]

Any thoughts from the after work crowd?

 

[PHiuR]

I like the Cannondale - (design wise) and you can't go wrong with one

the Lemonds one just look ugly.

 

[boyRacer]

The red R500 looks hot...

For what it's worth I had an 03 Allez Sport and was very satisfied with it.

That Trek 1500 looks better specd compared to the Cannondale.

Trek owns Lemond by the way.

I know I'm no help at all.

 

[sygyzy]

Trek 1500

 

[91TTZ]

My friend, who isn't very athletic but somehow "needs" the most expensive equipment, bought a pretty expensive bike and told me how he'd kill me on my 20 year old Fuji Cross Town. I pulled away with ease.

This story doesn't tell you anything about my bike, I'm just saying that unless you're in ultimate shape there's no use getting a real expensive bike. That would be like giving me a $10,000 guitar. I can't even play a cheap guitar, a more expensive one isn't going to make me any better.

 

[boyRacer]

Originally posted by: 91TTZ
My friend, who isn't very athletic but somehow "needs" the most expensive equipment, bought a pretty expensive bike and told me how he'd kill me on my 20 year old Fuji Cross Town. I pulled away with ease.

This story doesn't tell you anything about my bike, I'm just saying that unless you're in ultimate shape there's no use getting a real expensive bike. That would be like giving me a $10,000 guitar. I can't even play a cheap guitar, a more expensive one isn't going to make me any better.

$1000 is jack squat for a roadbike jk

The models below the bikes he posted are often specd with a component group that isn't easily upgradeable. If he wanted to go to a 9-speed he would run into trouble and would end up spending more money than he would have if he would have gotten a bike with a 9 speed group already.

If it will take a $1000 bike to make him ride it more then I don't think it's a complete waste at all. If he bought a $500 bike and it feels like crap and he ends up not riding it then that to me is a bigger waste.

 

[Vich]

I have a 05 Trek 1200, got it for 800$. Try to bargain with the LBS. Its a very nice bike with a 105 rear derailleurlike the allez, but cheaper!