Cycling peeps - thoughts on potential roadbikes...

[Synpax]

Im also thinking about getting a road bike.
I think Im gonna try to raise money and do one of these rides:
http://ride.jdrf.org/2006rides.html
Maybe death valley or asheville. If you raise the $$, everything else is covered.

Did you get a bike KB?

Is anything less than 1000$ even worth getting for a long distance (100 mi)?

I did an ironman (112 miles) on a $475 bike (four years older than this model):
http://kozy.com/site/itemdetails.cfm?ID=4100

I put $200 pedals on it and used a $300 pair of shoes. So the shoes and pedals cost more than the bike. I also put aerobars on it for $150.

Other than not being able to feel my johnson for about a week (though it was fully functional on it's own), I lived.

Of course, I am now going to spend $6000 on a bike in the next month or so that will be much faster/lighter/etc.

But to answer your question, the money spent on the bike is secondary to the development and determination of the engine.

 

[dawookie]

That's good to hear Synpax, it makes things a little more realistic as far as what Ill need to get started.

 

[Synpax]

Aye - get the best bike you can or care to have but you can get pretty far with a piece of garbage and enough genetics/training.

 

[Dial_tone]

I think if you plan to ride mostly flat terrain you're better off spending a bit less on the bike and putting it toward an upgraded wheelset. Given a choice between a 17 lb carbon fiber bike with normal rims versus a 19 lb metal bike with Zipp 440 wheels I'll take the Zipps anyday.

 

[Dial_tone]

This is my 10 year old jalopy. It's been a good bike. I used to have a track bike just like it.

BREW custom-made frame w/Reynolds 731OS tubing
8-speed Shimano Dura-Ace (Ultegra hubs)
Mavic Ksyrium Elite clincher wheels
Shimano Ultegra SPD-SL pedals
Selle Italia Turbomatic 3 saddle

in the market for a new saddle with a center cutout and saving for a Felt F2C carbon or Merlin Extralight titanium frame.

 

[Synpax]

This is my 10 year old jalopy. It's been a good bike. I used to have a track bike just like it.

BREW custom-made frame w/Reynolds 731OS tubing
8-speed Shimano Dura-Ace (Ultegra hubs)
Mavic Ksyrium Elite clincher wheels
Shimano Ultegra SPD-SL pedals
Selle Italia Turbomatic 3 saddle

in the market for a new saddle with a center cutout and saving for a Felt F2C carbon or Merlin Extralight titanium frame.

Ah - i should post my piece of trash bike, too. I have about the same pedals as you do.

 

[dawookie]

I picked up a bike over the weekend. I went with the Felt F90, their entry level road bike for 620$. I want to use and abuse this bike for a year and if Im still involved in the sport I can buy something better next year. It has the sora gruppo, which Synpax advised against. Carbon fork and seatpost. Its fine for me now and Ill use it for my first few tri's and road rides.

Killahbee did you pick up a bike yet?

 

[KillahBee]

Not yet. Took a few for test rides this weekend though. Rode the Allez Triple and a few versions of the Roubaix.

 

[Dial_tone]

I picked up a bike over the weekend. I went with the Felt F90, their entry level road bike for 620$. I want to use and abuse this bike for a year and if Im still involved in the sport I can buy something better next year. It has the sora gruppo, which Synpax advised against. Carbon fork and seatpost. Its fine for me now and Ill use it for my first few tri's and road rides.

That's really the smart way to do it. My first bike was a $200 Schwinn. My second was a $500 Diamondback and the third was the above one with all cherrypicked parts. I never totaled it but it was probably about $3,500 and that was 10 yrs ago. I got those wheels on Ebay last year for $475 new, almost $200 off.

 

[squatmonkey]

I agree with dial-tone, you should be riding on at least 105-ultegra range. Most frames in that range are worth keeping and upgrading as you wear-out parts. The first upgrade is usualy a good wheel set. A lighter,stiffer wheel set can change the feel,weight,excelleration over-all ride of a bike.