Recommend Me a Road Bike

[novon]

Is Bianchi a good brand? Looking to spend ~$1200, willing to consider better used bikes as well.

What's the best way to go?

Thanks

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: novon
Is Bianchi a good brand? Looking to spend ~$1200, willing to consider better used bikes as well.

What's the best way to go?

Thanks

Depending on where you live used bikes can be a real bargain. Many people go out and buy a really expensive racing bike and then decide cycling isn't for them. You can find some nice stuff used and sometimes for far less than it cost new.

Watch out for stolen bikes though. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Ask for receipts.

Bianchi is an excellent brand. There are many good brands in that price range. You can sometimes find really good deals on last year models also. You might be able to get a $2000 bike for $1200 this way. Finding one in your size and in an appealing color could be a problem though.

 

[FrustratedUser]

There are so many ways to go.....

I like to build my bikes myself, hunting for parts and have it done just the way I want it, so I went and got a NIB top of the line frame on eBay and got all the parts and built it. I managed to get a $3000 bike for $2000.

If this is not an option for you then just go to your LBS and check out what bikes and brands they have.
Bianci is good but you shouls also consider Specialized, Cannondale, Trek and so on.
Fuji got pretty good bikes too, maybe not a 'name' brand but they are usually a good deal.
Colorado Cyclist have their store brand 'Douglas' and 2 years ago a friend of mine got a fully decked out road bike (Full Dura Ace) for $1800. The Ultegra equipped version was around $1300 - $1400 I think. You might want to keep an eye open for similar deals.

As for components you should really not go below Shimano 105 grade components. I prefer Dura Ace for shifter/brake controls, rear derailleur and front derailleur. Cranks, brakes and the other stuff was Ultegra on my build up. It's smooth as silk to ride.....

 

[mjh]

Whatever you do, make sure you get properly fitted for the bike. There is nothing worse than dropping down money on a nice bike and then realizing that it is either too big or too small for you. Some of the brands that I recommend checking out:

Giant
Bianchi
Trek

I could probably recommend almost a dozen different bike brands that you could consider.

 

[bigrash]

Get a Trek or Specialized bike. I love my Specialized but if I wanted to spend more I would have gotten a Trek

 

[novon]

What do you guys think of this?

This is a 2004 Bianchi Veloce with a classic 57cm Reynolds 631 steel frame with sloping top tube and MegaPro down tube for that legendary ride of steel. Bianchi carbon fork with aluminum steerer. New Campagnolo Veloce 30spd group; Campagnolo Vento G3 wheelset and Vittoria Rubino Tech tires. Performance-expanding triple cranksets, dual bottle mounts and rear rack eyelets.

This bike has seen very few miles, and rides like a dream. Has been stored inside. Everything is tuned up, no rust, and the wheels are round and true.

This bike was purchased less than 2 years ago for $1,600. It still retails for $1,300-1,400 at stores. $900



Will 57cm be good for my 6' height?

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

I would look hard at the used market - you can get an excellent used bike for $1,200.

For better or worse, the new bike market at that price point is not that interesting - you are basically shopping for fit, because nearly all the bikes will have an aluminum frame and similar components for $1,200.

Bianchi is unusual, in what I consider a positive way, in that they still offer a fairly wide array of steel bikes, which I prefer to aluminum for everything but pure racing (which I really don't do anyway). LeMond may also have some steel bikes that are fairly affordable.

Ultimately, I encourage you to do a lot of test riding, and make an effort, if possible, to ride a reasonable distance and hit some potholes, expansion joints, or other bumpy surfaces. When I sold bikes, years ago, most customers loved Cannondales on short test rides, but ended up unsatisfied with them for real riding - they were quick, stiff, and accelerated well, but were very harsh in real use over any distance. (I don't mean to pick on C'Dale, whose bikes have improved immeasurably in this area since - I'm just using them as an example.)

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: novon
What do you guys think of this?

This is a 2004 Bianchi Veloce with a classic 57cm Reynolds 631 steel frame with sloping top tube and MegaPro down tube for that legendary ride of steel. Bianchi carbon fork with aluminum steerer. New Campagnolo Veloce 30spd group; Campagnolo Vento G3 wheelset and Vittoria Rubino Tech tires. Performance-expanding triple cranksets, dual bottle mounts and rear rack eyelets.

This bike has seen very few miles, and rides like a dream. Has been stored inside. Everything is tuned up, no rust, and the wheels are round and true.

This bike was purchased less than 2 years ago for $1,600. It still retails for $1,300-1,400 at stores. $900

Will 57cm be good for my 6' height?

It sounds pretty good, though I think they're shooting a bit high on the price - I'd like to see it $100-150 cheaper.

One warning: The 2004 Bianchis are measured center-to-top (i.e., from the center of the crank bolt to the top of the seat collar, as opposed to the center of the seat tube), and a 57 c-t is probably too small for someone 6' tall. I'd put you on at least a 59, and perhaps even a 61. It's easy to buy a bike that's too small if you come from a MTB background, and you'll regret it out on the road.

 

[mjh]

You need to get to a bike shop and simply ask them to fit you for a few different bikes. They will (well, at least should) explain what size bike you should be looking for.

I usually recommend that people who are not too familiar with bikes go to a bike shop to purchase their first bike. Although you will most likely not get the best deal from a bike shop, knowing that you are getting a working bike with no problems is usually a good thing.

 

[conehead433]

I bought a Schwinn Voyager back in 1981 or so and have put quite a few miles on it. They make better and lighter bikes now but you can get a bike that will do nicely without having to pay thousand(s) of dollars for it. After getting my bike I immediately swapped out the stock seat for a leather Brooks saddle and added front and rear Blackburn racks. I put on a Cannondale front handlebar bag, a tool bag, and also added a mirror. I also ended up swapping out the double crank for a triple crank. Just make sure you get a bike that fits you and by all means put a mirror on your bike and use it, it could save your life. A helmet is not going to stop your neck from breaking.

 

[novon]

thanks for the help.