Road bicycle components - advice needed

"Borrall Wonnell" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
| Hi all,
|
| I am about to purchase a road bike, after riding a loaner for the past
| season. I (think) I have narrowed the field down to two bikes.
|
| These bikes are from the same manufacturer and are *IDENTICAL* with
| the following exceptions:
|
| Bike A Bike B
| ======== ========
| Frame: Composite Aluminum
| Cranks: Shimano Ultegra 39/53T TruVativ Roleur GXP 36/50T
| BB: Shimano Ultegra TruVativ Giga X Drive
| Wheels: Shimano R550 Formula Xero XSR-1
| Saddle: Titanium rails Manganese rails
|
|
| Price difference is approx. $550 US. Apart from a composite frame, is
| there much difference between the components? The rest of the bike(s)
| componentry is composed of 10-speed Ultegra.
|
| (Just about) Any feedback would be appreciated!! Bonus points for
| those who spot the manufacturer.

My bet is the bikes are from Giant. My personal choice would be bike A,
but it's not going to be my bike.

The most important differences are:
- Crankset: 'standard' versuses compact.

Then:
- Wheels: Don't know about the Formula wheels, so I'd go with the known
quantity in the Shimano wheels

Least important: Saddle. Since many/most people replace the saddle on
their bike, it doesn't matter what saddle it comes with. None of the
bikes I have bought get to keep their original saddles

So, it comes down to the kind of rider you are and the type of roads you
ride. Is it flat where you live? Are you a slower, recreational rider?
Will you be riding in 20+MPH pacelines with some weekend warriors?

If you have lots of hills, are a recreational rider, then the compact
crankset may be fore you. If you consider yourself 'Mr. Hammer', them
maybe the 53/39

My 2 cents

(Borrall Wonnell) said:

Hi all,

I am about to purchase a road bike, after riding a loaner for the past
season. I (think) I have narrowed the field down to two bikes.

These bikes are from the same manufacturer and are *IDENTICAL* with
the following exceptions:

So, other than the frames, wheels, and drivetrain they are identical?

Jim Smith said:

(Borrall Wonnell) said:

Hi all,

I am about to purchase a road bike, after riding a loaner for the
past season. I (think) I have narrowed the field down to two bikes.

These bikes are from the same manufacturer and are *IDENTICAL* with
the following exceptions:

So, other than the frames, wheels, and drivetrain they are identical?

You forgot the saddle.

Bill "and tires, too, most likely" S.

Quoted message said:

My bet is the bikes are from Giant. My personal choice would be bike
A, but it's not going to be my bike.

The Giant OCR is going to have longer chainstays, and will have a more of a
touring geometry.

The Giant TCR series is for road racing.

Original poster, what is your intended usage?
--
Phil, Squid-in-Training

(Borrall Wonnell) said:

Hi all,

Quoted message said:

I am about to purchase a road bike, after riding a loaner for the past
season. I (think) I have narrowed the field down to two bikes.

Quoted message said:

These bikes are from the same manufacturer and are *IDENTICAL* with
the following exceptions:

Quoted message said:

Bike A Bike B
======== ========
Frame: Composite Aluminum

If you plan to keep the bike for the long term, buy the bike with the
frameset with the best ride. The main things influencing ride are
frameset materials, and overall weight. The difference between a 18
lbs and 20 lbs bike is pretty trivial in the big scheme of things.

On the other hand, if you buy a composite frame, by definition you
aren't going to keep the bike long term (they don't last more than a
decade, then they simply fall apart), so there you have it.

- Don Gillies
San Diego, CA

"Donald Gillies" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] (Borrall Wonnell) writes:

<SNIP>

Quoted message said:

On the other hand, if you buy a composite frame, by definition you
aren't going to keep the bike long term (they don't last more than a
decade, then they simply fall apart), so there you have it.

Wow! I didn't know that. Where can I find more concerning composite frames
having a maximum useful life of ten years? Does it matter how many miles
you ride per year, or is the age the limiting factor?

"Bill Sornson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Jim Smith said:

(Borrall Wonnell) said:

Hi all,

I am about to purchase a road bike, after riding a loaner

for the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

past season. I (think) I have narrowed the field down to

two bikes.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

These bikes are from the same manufacturer and are

*IDENTICAL* with

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the following exceptions:

So, other than the frames, wheels, and drivetrain they are

identical?

Quoted message said:

You forgot the saddle.

Bill "and tires, too, most likely" S.

What about the bar tape? Do they both have chain stay
protectors? -- Jay Beattie.

I appreciate the comments so far! Here is some additional
information....

I live in a relatively hilly area with some short steep climbs but
mostly gradual slopes. I am not sure of the average grade, but when
motivated I can power through the hills; endurance is the limiting
factor (which I hope to improve with a new bike!)

The intended use will be training/racing, with the emphasis on
training/group rides. Most runs will probably be in the 20-30 mile
range, but I expect to occasionally ride longer distances (40-60
miles). Average speed (right now) is approx. 18MPH, but I expect that
I will quickly be able to fit in with the 20+MPH crowd.

The comment about carbon fiber giving out in 10 years does scare me a
little bit. Several people have indicated that I should buy the best
bicycle I can afford, as it will last a *long* time...but perhaps this
is not true? I don't expect that there will be a significant weight
difference between the two bikes. And yes, they are Giant.

I want to buy a good bicycle now, so that I am not itching for a
better one in 2 years. Other brands are not on the menu simply due to
availability/pricing in my neck of the woods.

Cheers,
Dave

"RWM" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

"Donald Gillies" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] (Borrall Wonnell) writes:

<SNIP>

Quoted message said:

On the other hand, if you buy a composite frame, by definition you
aren't going to keep the bike long term (they don't last more than a
decade, then they simply fall apart), so there you have it.

Wow! I didn't know that. Where can I find more concerning composite frames
having a maximum useful life of ten years? Does it matter how many miles
you ride per year, or is the age the limiting factor?

A bit of an oversimplification. Early composite frames were held
together with metal, usually aluminum, lugs and many of those died an
early death due to corrosion when the liner in the metal was
insuffient, the metal and composite came into contact, and viola! the
tubes more or less disintegrated at the ends.

More modern composites are glued together with composite lugs, so less
of a problem with that type of corrosion. But the composite does
degrade under UV, grease and solvents can lead to breakdown. And any
crack in the matrix and lead to sudden and sometimes catastrophic
failure.

With all the various problems with composite, one would expect that
the average lifespan of a composite frame would be less than the
average for a metal frame. But that is supposition, since I do not
think anyone has hard data.

- rick 'who just had his 17 year old steel frame refinished, expecting
another 17 years of service, at least'

On 7 Oct 2004 11:01:44 -0700, [email hidden] (Rick

Warner) said:

"RWM" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

"Donald Gillies" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] (Borrall Wonnell) writes:

<SNIP>

Quoted message said:

On the other hand, if you buy a composite frame, by definition you
aren't going to keep the bike long term (they don't last more than a
decade, then they simply fall apart), so there you have it.

Wow! I didn't know that. Where can I find more concerning composite frames
having a maximum useful life of ten years? Does it matter how many miles
you ride per year, or is the age the limiting factor?

A bit of an oversimplification. Early composite frames were held
together with metal, usually aluminum, lugs and many of those died an
early death due to corrosion when the liner in the metal was
insuffient, the metal and composite came into contact, and viola! the
tubes more or less disintegrated at the ends.

More modern composites are glued together with composite lugs, so less
of a problem with that type of corrosion. But the composite does
degrade under UV, grease and solvents can lead to breakdown. And any
crack in the matrix and lead to sudden and sometimes catastrophic
failure.

With all the various problems with composite, one would expect that
the average lifespan of a composite frame would be less than the
average for a metal frame. But that is supposition, since I do not
think anyone has hard data.

- rick 'who just had his 17 year old steel frame refinished, expecting
another 17 years of service, at least'

Dear Rick,

My favorite technical source addresses the question
indirectly in an episode set in the future:

Bart: [rings bell] Flanders is a soft touch. He'll give us
the money for sure.

[Ned answers the door. He's wearing dark glasses and
carrying a cane]

Ned: Jesus? Is that you?

Ralph: Mr. Flanders, you're blinded-ded!

Ned: Oh, yeah. I never should have had that trendy laser
surgery. It was great at first but, you know, at the
ten-year mark your eyes fall out.

http://www.snpp.com/episodes/BABF13

Carl Fogel

On 6 Oct 2004 17:14:43 -0700, [email hidden] (Donald Gillies)

Quoted message said:

If you plan to keep the bike for the long term, buy the bike with the
frameset with the best ride. The main things influencing ride are
frameset materials, and overall weight.

Fortunately advice here is free. "You get what you pay for!"

jeverett3<AT>earthlink<DOT>net http://home.earthlink.net/~jeverett3