New bike time?

On 20 Nov 2004 23:16:42 -0800, Mitch L. wrote:

Yes, always.

--
bpo gallery at http://www4.tpgi.com.au/users/mvw1/bpo

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

Quoted message said:

Ok, so I've read through all the posts and webpages and recognized
myself. I've been commuting on the MTB (bought through a great LBS)
through Austin for about 4 months and loved every minute. [1] My
bike sees knobbly tires about once a month, the rest of the time it
sees slick tires and the road to campus. I've done the triathlon on
the road bike, and I'm looking to do more, maybe even ride with the UT
Bike Club [2]. So, maybe it's time for a road bike?

My price range is $500-$700. I haven't seen any good used bike deals
lately. I love my LBS, but I see this online shop called "Ibex bikes"
is having a sale, and the Vantage 5500 looks like a good bike at the
extreme high end of my price range, but I'd be willing to pay it if
it's definitely worth it, and the 4400 is well within my range if I
can stomach the yellow.

I can vouch for Ibex. I own a Corrida 2.2 flat bar road bike and it has been
a great bike for the price. Ibex's customer service is quick to respond to
any questions, and as long as you can handle very basic adjustments you'll
have no problems doing assembly. Is the Ibex as nice as my Schwinn Peloton?
Nope. But the Ibex only cost $299, and the Peloton was $1500+. If you are
confident on sizing yourself and don't have a problem with an oversized
aluminum frame then you have made a good choice with Ibex.

Quoted message said:

My price range is $500-$700. I haven't seen any good used bike deals
lately. I love my LBS, but I see this online shop called "Ibex bikes"
is having a sale, and the Vantage 5500 looks like a good bike at the
extreme high end of my price range, but I'd be willing to pay it if
it's definitely worth it, and the 4400 is well within my range if I
can stomach the yellow.

For your first road bike, there is, literally, nothing more important than
its fit. A good LBS is worth a lot in that regard; not just the initial
fitting, but any tweaking that might need to be done afterward. It's also a
whole lot easier to get adjustments taken care of via your LBS. And dare I
say that people don't come in "small", "medium" & "large" sizes. And for the
Vantage's top-tube length to vary by only 3/4 of an inch (2cm) from their
smallest to largest size makes no sense at all.

Spending a few more $$$, *or* spending the same amount for one-step-lower
components may make the difference between a bike that you can't wait to
ride, every chance you get, and one that sits in the garage because there's
something not quite right about it. Maybe it's the fit (most likely), or
perhaps some nagging little adjustment, who knows? Those are things that a
good LBS should be happy to take care of, because they'll do everything they
can to make sure you're actually out having fun riding, not just buying, a
bike.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

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

Quoted message said:

Ok, so I've read through all the posts and webpages and recognized
myself. I've been commuting on the MTB (bought through a great LBS)
through Austin for about 4 months and loved every minute. [1] My
bike sees knobbly tires about once a month, the rest of the time it
sees slick tires and the road to campus. I've done the triathlon on
the road bike, and I'm looking to do more, maybe even ride with the UT
Bike Club [2]. So, maybe it's time for a road bike?

My price range is $500-$700. I haven't seen any good used bike deals
lately. I love my LBS, but I see this online shop called "Ibex bikes"
is having a sale, and the Vantage 5500 looks like a good bike at the
extreme high end of my price range, but I'd be willing to pay it if
it's definitely worth it, and the 4400 is well within my range if I
can stomach the yellow.

Any suggestions?

[1] Except the lady that nearly hit me when I was *stopped* *at a red
light* *in the bike lane.* She was midway through her Crossanwich.

[2] Not race with them. I'm realistic. I'm betting there are
bike-versions of the road races I run though, with lots of folks and
good training motivation. (Missing Motive half-marathon tomorrow due
to too much homework, grr.)

Michael Warner <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

On 20 Nov 2004 23:16:42 -0800, Mitch L. wrote:

Yes, always.

Well, the help I was looking for was less: "new bike yes/no" and more
"new bike: which", with the best deal I'd seen being the Ibex.

I'm 6'0" but I have long legs and arms and an inseam around 33". Any
other good brands or anything? I've exhausted the entire Interweb,
I'd say.

(Also among my thoughts...Austin's apparently the bike theft capital
of the US. I tend to cringe at leaving my MTB chained up outside
class, I *might* be able to leave the $499 bike chained up, but
leaving an $800 bike outside makes my guts quiver a bit.)

Mitch L. said:

Ok, so I've read through all the posts and webpages and recognized
myself. I've been commuting on the MTB (bought through a great LBS)
through Austin for about 4 months and loved every minute. [1] My
bike sees knobbly tires about once a month, the rest of the time it
sees slick tires and the road to campus. I've done the triathlon on
the road bike, and I'm looking to do more, maybe even ride with the UT
Bike Club [2]. So, maybe it's time for a road bike?

My price range is $500-$700. I haven't seen any good used bike deals
lately. I love my LBS, but I see this online shop called "Ibex bikes"
is having a sale, and the Vantage 5500 looks like a good bike at the
extreme high end of my price range, but I'd be willing to pay it if
it's definitely worth it, and the 4400 is well within my range if I
can stomach the yellow.

Any suggestions?

Like Mike says, I would suggest getting your bike from a real bike shop.
Fit is *critical*, and if this is your first road bike a good shop can
help you no end. Don't make the mistake of thinking that spending more
money will necessarily make the bike more fun to ride, or faster. Your
main concern is to find hardware that fits with your body and riding
style. Money you save now can be spent on accessories, maintenance, and
eventual upgrades when you are more certain of exactly what you want.

As for bike recommendations, from what I've seen of the 2005 Catalogs the
best deals right now are Fujis. The Fuji catalog is packed with great
bikes and I've seen some very reasonable pricing from dealers around here
(great entry level bikes well below your price range). Of course there are
many great brands of bikes, and it's difficult to make recomendations
without knowing more about you, like your size and weight, the distances
you ride and in what sort of weather and climate, what the condition of
the roads you ride on are, what kind of traffic, etc. etc. Some of these
are things that a local shop will already know about you, the rest are
things a good shop will take note of.

I don't think Fuji's are significantly cheaper than bikes from other brands.
A Sora, or Tiagra, bike is about the same price everywhere; the fluctuations
are little. Fuji does have a lower-spec'ed Ace at ~$400.

If I buy mountain bikes, I think fit is not so much a problem, and I would
not hesitate to mail-order. Road bikes are different, and I would rather
buy locally.

Miles

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

Quoted message said:

Mitch L. said:

Ok, so I've read through all the posts and webpages and recognized
myself. I've been commuting on the MTB (bought through a great LBS)
through Austin for about 4 months and loved every minute. [1] My
bike sees knobbly tires about once a month, the rest of the time it
sees slick tires and the road to campus. I've done the triathlon on
the road bike, and I'm looking to do more, maybe even ride with the UT
Bike Club [2]. So, maybe it's time for a road bike?

My price range is $500-$700. I haven't seen any good used bike deals
lately. I love my LBS, but I see this online shop called "Ibex bikes"
is having a sale, and the Vantage 5500 looks like a good bike at the
extreme high end of my price range, but I'd be willing to pay it if
it's definitely worth it, and the 4400 is well within my range if I
can stomach the yellow.

Any suggestions?

Like Mike says, I would suggest getting your bike from a real bike shop.
Fit is *critical*, and if this is your first road bike a good shop can
help you no end. Don't make the mistake of thinking that spending more
money will necessarily make the bike more fun to ride, or faster. Your
main concern is to find hardware that fits with your body and riding
style. Money you save now can be spent on accessories, maintenance, and
eventual upgrades when you are more certain of exactly what you want.

As for bike recommendations, from what I've seen of the 2005 Catalogs the
best deals right now are Fujis. The Fuji catalog is packed with great
bikes and I've seen some very reasonable pricing from dealers around here
(great entry level bikes well below your price range). Of course there are
many great brands of bikes, and it's difficult to make recomendations
without knowing more about you, like your size and weight, the distances
you ride and in what sort of weather and climate, what the condition of
the roads you ride on are, what kind of traffic, etc. etc. Some of these
are things that a local shop will already know about you, the rest are
things a good shop will take note of.

Thanks everyone! If the weather holds up, I'm planning to go test
drive a few on Friday and hopefully have a new one. I appreciate the
advice. Here's what I'm going to ask about, based on this thread and
some others I've seen. Any opinions?

1: The basic opinion is that Sora is crud. Maybe I can afford Tiagra?
2: I've spent some good effort converting the MTB into a good rugged
commuter, so I'm not considering a touring bike. Something that I'll
be comfortable on for the faster group rides in Austin.

Thanks all!

[email hidden] (Miles) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I don't think Fuji's are significantly cheaper than bikes from other brands.
A Sora, or Tiagra, bike is about the same price everywhere; the fluctuations
are little. Fuji does have a lower-spec'ed Ace at ~$400.

If I buy mountain bikes, I think fit is not so much a problem, and I would
not hesitate to mail-order. Road bikes are different, and I would rather
buy locally.

[email hidden] (Mitch L.) wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Thanks everyone! If the weather holds up, I'm planning to go test
drive a few on Friday and hopefully have a new one. I appreciate the
advice. Here's what I'm going to ask about, based on this thread and
some others I've seen. Any opinions?

1: The basic opinion is that Sora is crud. Maybe I can afford Tiagra?
2: I've spent some good effort converting the MTB into a good rugged
commuter, so I'm not considering a touring bike. Something that I'll
be comfortable on for the faster group rides in Austin.

Thanks all!

Well. You might want to look at building something yourself. I have
a Kogswell "D" series frame that is very nice, but Kogswell is out of
"D" models for the moment. The Surley Pacer is similar, and a very
nice bike (the ones I've seen, anyway). In either case, we're looking
at $300+/- for the frame and fork. If you can purchase the rest of
what you need used, a $600 bike that performs very nicely is well in
the picture. Heck, you can get very decent frames for even less--I'm
picking up a lugged Reynolds 531 F/F with headset this afternoon for
$50. Scope the basements of your local LBSes.

There are ways to cut costs even if you go with new components. Do
you need brifters? Almost all new bikes have 'em, but you can go with
DT shifters and brake levers for less than half the price. Tektro
brakes are very good, and about half the price of Shimano. There are
a number of crank builders (like Sugino) who make very good stuff for
less. The places not to compromise (IMO) are the hubs, cassette, and
derailers. For those I'd do Tiagra at a minimum, and 105 would be
better. Rims shouldn't be a compromise either, but what you get will
depend on your weight, etc. Saddles and bars/stems are personal, and
no cost should be spared there...get what fits.

Quoted message said:

I've done the triathlon on
the road bike, and I'm looking to do more, maybe even ride with the UT
Bike Club [2]. So, maybe it's time for a road bike?

And with those words...
My advice to those of you who are thinking of buying a bike is to not
test-ride a bike that is more expensive than the one you're looking
at. To give the LBS guy credit, he didn't even MENTION the next bike
up, but it was sitting just to the left of the one I'd just ridden and
I saw the words "Tiagra" instead of "Sora" on the shifters. With all
the advice I'd seen, everyone telling me how much better they were,
surely a short test drive to see the difference couldn't hurt...

I once rode a $2400 touring bike that wasn't as comfy as this $820
bike I just test-drove. And it isn't that $820 is out of my price
range -- everyone's made a few purchases they couldn't afford and had
to justify them later, and I'd be perfectly capable of doing that, or
saving up for a bit longer to get it. But I'd never ride it except on
dedicated rides -- I can lock my $340 Wahoo on a bike rack with the
knowledge that if someone stole it I'd be out $340. But to lost an
$800 bike...no, I could never. I'd only take it out for "bike rides".

In case you're wondering, the bike in question is a Raleigh Grand
Prix. My other prospect of an affordable bike with comparable
components was the Ibex at $500, but with a compact geometry and much
different sizing numbers I'm guessing there's no way it'll ride
anywhere close to the same.

Thanks everyone!
Mitch

"Mitch L." <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

My advice to those of you who are thinking of buying a bike is to not
test-ride a bike that is more expensive than the one you're looking
at. To give the LBS guy credit, he didn't even MENTION the next bike
up, but it was sitting just to the left of the one I'd just ridden and
I saw the words "Tiagra" instead of "Sora" on the shifters.

Sheldon Brown really likes Sora shifters. If it's good enough for Sheldon,
it's more than good enough for me.

Aren't we all in love with bikes we can't afford? I have a serious lust for
handmade custom lugged steel---but I ride TIGged steel. Would I like to have
a Rivendell or Waterford? You betcha. Am I in financial shape to fork out
the 4-5 grand? Nope. But a man's reach should exceed his grasp, or
something....