Where to get a nice road bike?

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sash1

sash1

Diamond Member
Jul 20, 2001
8,896
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I'm looking to get a new road bike! However, I see that new ones are quite expensive, and I don't have a whole lot of money to be spending.

Right now I have an old Diamondback Topanga. And after riding 50+ miles per day, it's beginning to die. The chain is incredibly stretched out and I need a new cassette.

I was thinking of repairing it, getting a new seat, new pedals and new handlebars. Though I would kinda like a new bike.

How much would it cost to rebuild my bike as apposed to buying a newer one? I'm looking at either Diamondback or Trek. And depending which route I go, where is the best place to buy what I need?

Thanks!

~Aunix
 
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Monel Funkawitz

Diamond Member
Oct 12, 1999
5,105
0
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Where to get a nice road bike?
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Any Suzuki dealer. Stay away from them Amish style manual powered torture devices and get something that is cool. Chicks dig bikes. Chicks laugh at doods in speedos riding bicycles. See the pattern? :D
 
Don Vito Corleone

Don Vito Corleone

Elite
Feb 10, 2000
30,029
67
91
Here is my bike!

I recommend you go around to some local stores and take some test rides. We are getting into the later part of the season, and there should be good deals available. You definitely sound like you would benefit from a true road bike - I sure as heck would not want to ride a DB Topanga 50 miles a day! You may want to consider a sport/touring bike rather than a purebred race bike, if you are primarily commuting. Trek has a very decent steel touring model, the 520, that is not too costly. You may be able to get a good deal on a used bike, but you will want to rope in a bike-savvy friend, if you have one, for help in evaluating them.

EDIT: I just noticed that someone is selling brand-new Jamis Aurora sport/tourers on eBay for a Buy It Now price of $449 - very fair. You would need help in sizing from a local dealer, though.
 
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boyRacer

Lifer
Oct 1, 2001
18,569
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Originally posted by: vegetation
Originally posted by: Salvador
Team Trek! Why not ride what Lance rides?

Sal
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Sure, it's only about $9000 for a replica of his TT bike.
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Well you could buy the TT bike for $5k... you can preorder the Madone now. But the new 5900 is gonna cost you your soul.
 
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FrustratedUser

Lifer
Aug 16, 2001
22,505
4
81
Actually you could build a new bike fairly cheap. Look on eBay for a frame. There are many 'Leader' frames out there, they look OK.
Then pick up a Shimano 105 group which is good quality parts.
 
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boyRacer

Lifer
Oct 1, 2001
18,569
0
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Supergo has a Scattante aluminum frame with Shimano Ultegra groupset for $900... :D For $1400 you can get a composite frame with all Ultegra... not bad eh. :)
 
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FrustratedUser

Lifer
Aug 16, 2001
22,505
4
81
Originally posted by: boyRacer
Supergo has a Scatante aluminum frame with Shimano Ultegra groupset for $900... :D For $1400 you can get a composite frame with all Ultegra... not bad eh. :)
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That is a great deal. Colorado cyclist has a great deal on a full DuraAve bike for $1900.
Scattante and Douglas are in-house brands of Supergo and Colorado Cyclist and your local bike shop might treat you like $hit if you go there with you bike for a tune-up.
Well, do the tune-up yourself. It is nor difficult.
 
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Hector13

Golden Member
Apr 4, 2000
1,694
0
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Originally posted by: AunixM3
Right now I have an old Diamondback Topanga. And after riding 50+ miles per day, it's beginning to die. The chain is incredibly stretched out and I need a new cassette.
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wow, are you really riding for 3+ hours a day? I wish I had time to ride like that; are you still in school?

 
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boyRacer

Lifer
Oct 1, 2001
18,569
0
0
Originally posted by: FrustratedUser
Originally posted by: boyRacer
Supergo has a Scatante aluminum frame with Shimano Ultegra groupset for $900... :D For $1400 you can get a composite frame with all Ultegra... not bad eh. :)
Click to expand...

That is a great deal. Colorado cyclist has a great deal on a full DuraAve bike for $1900.
Scattante and Douglas are in-house brands of Supergo and Colorado Cyclist and your local bike shop might treat you like $hit if you go there with you bike for a tune-up.
Well, do the tune-up yourself. It is nor difficult.
Click to expand...

Yeah... but i guess the name doesn't exactly appeal to bike snobs who would rather buy a Trek 5200 or Giant composite for over 2k... BTW dieselstation posted a thread in the Hot Deal forums... if you buy a roadbike at supergo you get a free mountain bike. :D Lasts until the 10th. :)
 
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FrustratedUser

Lifer
Aug 16, 2001
22,505
4
81
The local Performance-bike shop here has a smoking deal on an all carbon Giant + Ultegra for $1800.
It's on clearance so that is the only one they have. The frame alone is $1700!!
 
Don Vito Corleone

Don Vito Corleone

Elite
Feb 10, 2000
30,029
67
91
This is an awesome deal on a very respectable road bike for $699. The sloping top tube design makes it a little easier to find a good fit, making this a fairly safe bike to buy by mail order.
 
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FordLorider

Golden Member
Oct 10, 1999
1,493
0
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As long as you guys ride those ponies somewhere where we don't have to see you wearing spandex, ride anywhere you want! Help make the world a better place!
 
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FrustratedUser

Lifer
Aug 16, 2001
22,505
4
81
Originally posted by: FordLorider
As long as you guys ride those ponies somewhere where we don't have to see you wearing spandex, ride anywhere you want! Help make the world a better place!
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So you are one of the a$$hat truck drivers who pass 2 feet from a biker.

<--- does not wear spandex

 
sygyzy

sygyzy

Lifer
Oct 21, 2000
14,001
4
76
When I bought my Trek 8000 MTB I was happy to have been able to buy such a high level bike at it's price point. I want to get a road bike now since I do mostly commuting and when I looked at the same price point ($1000) I was surprised to find that I cannot even get a "good" bike at that price. The "best" level is like $3000. Good and better are like $1500-$2000.

Why is this? Lighter components I assume, but is there anything else?
 
Don Vito Corleone

Don Vito Corleone

Elite
Feb 10, 2000
30,029
67
91
Originally posted by: sygyzy
When I bought my Trek 8000 MTB I was happy to have been able to buy such a high level bike at it's price point. I want to get a road bike now since I do mostly commuting and when I looked at the same price point ($1000) I was surprised to find that I cannot even get a "good" bike at that price. The "best" level is like $3000. Good and better are like $1500-$2000.

Why is this? Lighter components I assume, but is there anything else?
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I think this is more an economy-of-scale phenomenon than anything. MTBs were hot sellers in the '90's, and road bikes were more of a niche item. I have no idea about their relative sales now, but I am amazed by the values in MTBs nowadays - you can buy a full-suspension bike with clipless pedals and disc brakes for less than $500. Low-end road bikes do not seem to offer as much bang for the buck. On the bright side, both Campy and Shimano make excellent midrange gruppos nowadays. On the downside, everything seems to be made of aluminum, which is not my preference. To each his own, I guess. I am pretty well outfitted on both the road and mountain sides at this point (Moots VaMoots and DeRosa Professional road bikes and Serotta CHT MTB), but it seems to me it is a buyer's market these days.
 
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FordLorider

Golden Member
Oct 10, 1999
1,493
0
0
No, we all pass 2 feet from the biker when they don't use the sidewalk that is always 10 feet from them, instead they go on their way slowing traffic. Hopefully it's only a matter of time before there are laws against that.
 
Don Vito Corleone

Don Vito Corleone

Elite
Feb 10, 2000
30,029
67
91
Originally posted by: FordLorider
No, we all pass 2 feet from the biker when they don't use the sidewalk that is always 10 feet from them, instead they go on their way slowing traffic. Hopefully it's only a matter of time before there are laws against that.
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Ahem - it is illegal to ride on the sidewalk in most places, and dangerous everywhere. I can easily maintain 20 MPH on my bike - do you think it would be wise for me to ride where there are pedestrians? Cars have to share the roads with cyclists by law - get used to it!
 
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