New Bike

Blanchy said:

I will be looking at buying a new bike shortly to replace my Trek 1200
that has been damaged beyond 'repair' and I am looking at something in
the 2K range. I have been looking at a Trek 1400 or a Giant OCR2. As
they both have the same amount of cf and basically the same running gear
What other differences are there and would I notice them being an almost
complete novice. 42 yr old, 90 kg, Commute 130k+ / week. Any other
recommendations

Run do not walk but run to Freedom Machine and buy an 0cr zero for 1500
bucks with ultegra.

Seriously Kath did the reseach and this was by far the best deal she
could find. Its packed behind me as I write

Dave

Sprint to Lygon Cycles or Bike Now for a TCR 1 2005 for $2000.
- full Ultegra (not just the shifters and deraileurs like the OCR Zero)
- compact frame
- 550 wheels

I bought an OCR Zero, then 2 months later a friend bought the TCR 1 ....
wish I had have waited

Marc

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

Quoted message said:

I will be looking at buying a new bike shortly to replace my Trek 1200 that
has been damaged beyond 'repair' and I am looking at something in the 2K
range. I have been looking at a Trek 1400 or a Giant OCR2. As they both
have the same amount of cf and basically the same running gear What other
differences are there and would I notice them being an almost complete
novice. 42 yr old, 90 kg, Commute 130k+ / week. Any other recommendations

The OCR0 Dave mentions sounds like a good deal, but above all else, test
ride all your options before you buy. I like my OCR3, but the reach is too
great and I suspect that I could have found something that fitted better had
I looked around. I actually prefer riding my fixed gear based on a 20+year
old steel framed Malvern Star because it fits me better. Geometry matters as
much as runnning gear.

dave said:

Blanchy wrote:
Run do not walk but run to Freedom Machine and buy an 0cr zero for 1500
bucks with ultegra.

Seriously Kath did the reseach and this was by far the best deal she
could find. Its packed behind me as I write

Dave

i picked up a ocr zero for 1500 here in canberra too, there selling them for dirt at the moment. get on the phone to ure local bike shops and find one.

Resound said:

The OCR0 Dave mentions sounds like a good deal, but above all else, test
ride all your options before you buy. I like my OCR3, but the reach is too
great and I suspect that I could have found something that fitted better had
I looked around.

So get a shorter stem. Basic ones are very cheap.

--
Home page: http://members.westnet.com.au/mvw

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

Quoted message said:

Resound said:

The OCR0 Dave mentions sounds like a good deal, but above all else, test
ride all your options before you buy. I like my OCR3, but the reach is
too
great and I suspect that I could have found something that fitted better
had
I looked around.

So get a shorter stem. Basic ones are very cheap.

--
Home page: http://members.westnet.com.au/mvw

This is on the list. Mind you, I'm a student; "very cheap" is a relative
term and besides I just blew my budget on shoes and pedals 🙂 The reach
thing wasn't as bad before the shoes and pedal either because they raised
the stack height, which meant that I had to raise the saddle in turn. (it
was already a trifle low, but not enough that it caused me to do anything
about it) Raising the saddle also moved it back slightly (and moving it
forward again will steepen the effective angle of the seat tube). So I found
myself riding on the tops of the bars a bit yesterday. The stem I have isn't
a long one either.

So here's an excuse to whinge and scrape...has anyone got a reeeeeally short
stem that they're not currently using and are prepared to lend me?

Marc Bishop said:

Sprint to Lygon Cycles or Bike Now for a TCR 1 2005 for $2000.
- full Ultegra (not just the shifters and deraileurs like the OCR Zero)
- compact frame
- 550 wheels

I bought an OCR Zero, then 2 months later a friend bought the TCR 1 ....
wish I had have waited

Marc

ALready have a TCR. Mind you the OCR zero is lighter than mine

t

Marc Bishop said:

Sprint to Lygon Cycles or Bike Now for a TCR 1 2005 for $2000.
- full Ultegra (not just the shifters and deraileurs like the OCR Zero)
- compact frame
- 550 wheels

I bought an OCR Zero, then 2 months later a friend bought the TCR 1 ....
wish I had have waited

Marc

Mind you you can always get a better bike for more money 🙂

Resound said:

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

Quoted message said:

I will be looking at buying a new bike shortly to replace my Trek 1200 that
has been damaged beyond 'repair' and I am looking at something in the 2K
range. I have been looking at a Trek 1400 or a Giant OCR2. As they both
have the same amount of cf and basically the same running gear What other
differences are there and would I notice them being an almost complete
novice. 42 yr old, 90 kg, Commute 130k+ / week. Any other recommendations

The OCR0 Dave mentions sounds like a good deal, but above all else, test
ride all your options before you buy. I like my OCR3, but the reach is too
great and I suspect that I could have found something that fitted better had
I looked around. I actually prefer riding my fixed gear based on a 20+year
old steel framed Malvern Star because it fits me better. Geometry matters as
much as runnning gear.

It matters more actually. Fit is the single most important thing. And
then comes what suits you which aint always a compact. So I should
have said if you can get one your size and you are happy with a compact
then get...

But excepting all that.. at the 1.5 k price point I have no doubt that
Kathy found the best bang per buck. But in a month or so their will be
a better one.

Resound said:

This is on the list. Mind you, I'm a student; "very cheap" is a relative
term and besides I just blew my budget on shoes and pedals 🙂 The reach
thing wasn't as bad before the shoes and pedal either because they raised
the stack height, which meant that I had to raise the saddle in turn. (it
was already a trifle low, but not enough that it caused me to do anything
about it) Raising the saddle also moved it back slightly (and moving it
forward again will steepen the effective angle of the seat tube). So I found
myself riding on the tops of the bars a bit yesterday. The stem I have isn't
a long one either.

So here's an excuse to whinge and scrape...has anyone got a reeeeeally short
stem that they're not currently using and are prepared to lend me?

i've got one laying about that is 1 1/8 and i suspect 90mm (though i've
never measured it). it's however a flip flop design that is around -/+
15 degrees which is very high or very low. it's yours if you want it.

brett

Resound said:

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

Quoted message said:

Resound said:

The OCR0 Dave mentions sounds like a good deal, but above all else, test
ride all your options before you buy. I like my OCR3, but the reach is
too
great and I suspect that I could have found something that fitted better
had
I looked around.

So get a shorter stem. Basic ones are very cheap.

--
Home page: http://members.westnet.com.au/mvw

This is on the list. Mind you, I'm a student; "very cheap" is a relative
term and besides I just blew my budget on shoes and pedals 🙂 The reach
thing wasn't as bad before the shoes and pedal either because they raised
the stack height, which meant that I had to raise the saddle in turn. (it
was already a trifle low, but not enough that it caused me to do anything
about it) Raising the saddle also moved it back slightly (and moving it
forward again will steepen the effective angle of the seat tube). So I found
myself riding on the tops of the bars a bit yesterday. The stem I have isn't
a long one either.

So here's an excuse to whinge and scrape...has anyone got a reeeeeally short
stem that they're not currently using and are prepared to lend me?

Don't forget that the saddle is adjustable fore and aft. In the absence of a shorter stem, you could try shifting the saddle forward as far as it will go.

Ritch

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

Quoted message said:

Marc Bishop said:

Sprint to Lygon Cycles or Bike Now for a TCR 1 2005 for $2000.
- full Ultegra (not just the shifters and deraileurs like the OCR Zero)
- compact frame
- 550 wheels

I bought an OCR Zero, then 2 months later a friend bought the TCR 1 ....
wish I had have waited

Marc

Mind you you can always get a better bike for more money 🙂

He did say in the 2K range

Marc Bishop said:

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

Quoted message said:

Marc Bishop said:

Sprint to Lygon Cycles or Bike Now for a TCR 1 2005 for $2000.
- full Ultegra (not just the shifters and deraileurs like the OCR Zero)
- compact frame
- 550 wheels

I bought an OCR Zero, then 2 months later a friend bought the TCR 1 ....
wish I had have waited

Marc

Mind you you can always get a better bike for more money 🙂

He did say in the 2K range

Correct - he did. On the other hand, I originally went out with a budget
of abou 1K to spend - OCR 3 or so... But each time, for just a little
bit more, I got the next level up bike - then when we saw the OCR 0 for
that price, I couldn't pass it up! But as you say, he's starting with a
bigger kitty than I had 🙂

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

Quoted message said:

Resound said:

This is on the list. Mind you, I'm a student; "very cheap" is a relative
term and besides I just blew my budget on shoes and pedals 🙂 The reach
thing wasn't as bad before the shoes and pedal either because they raised
the stack height, which meant that I had to raise the saddle in turn. (it
was already a trifle low, but not enough that it caused me to do anything
about it) Raising the saddle also moved it back slightly (and moving it
forward again will steepen the effective angle of the seat tube). So I
found myself riding on the tops of the bars a bit yesterday. The stem I
have isn't a long one either.

So here's an excuse to whinge and scrape...has anyone got a reeeeeally
short stem that they're not currently using and are prepared to lend me?

i've got one laying about that is 1 1/8 and i suspect 90mm (though i've
never measured it). it's however a flip flop design that is around -/+ 15
degrees which is very high or very low. it's yours if you want it.

brett

Greatly appreciated, but I think that's about how long the one I have now
is.

Blanchy said:

I will be looking at buying a new bike shortly to replace my Trek 1200
that has been damaged beyond 'repair' and I am looking at something in
the 2K range. I have been looking at a Trek 1400 or a Giant OCR2. As
they both have the same amount of cf and basically the same running gear
What other differences are there and would I notice them being an almost
complete novice. 42 yr old, 90 kg, Commute 130k+ / week. Any other
recommendations

Ride them both (and a few others) before spending a cent.
Include, if you can, some high speed descending. Your decision
may be influenced by how well (or not ...) a certain bike handles
when going fast. I have a Trek 1400 and a Trek Madone 5.2, and I like
going downhills very fast.

Bleve said:

Blanchy said:

I will be looking at buying a new bike shortly to replace my Trek 1200
that has been damaged beyond 'repair' and I am looking at something in
the 2K range. I have been looking at a Trek 1400 or a Giant OCR2. As
they both have the same amount of cf and basically the same running gear
What other differences are there and would I notice them being an almost
complete novice. 42 yr old, 90 kg, Commute 130k+ / week. Any other
recommendations

Ride them both (and a few others) before spending a cent.
Include, if you can, some high speed descending. Your decision
may be influenced by how well (or not ...) a certain bike handles
when going fast. I have a Trek 1400 and a Trek Madone 5.2, and I like
going downhills very fast.

I forgot to add, there may be a reason for why the Giants
are being sold off so cheaply.

Bleve said:

Bleve said:

Blanchy said:

I will be looking at buying a new bike shortly to replace my Trek 1200
that has been damaged beyond 'repair' and I am looking at something in
the 2K range. I have been looking at a Trek 1400 or a Giant OCR2. As
they both have the same amount of cf and basically the same running gear
What other differences are there and would I notice them being an almost
complete novice. 42 yr old, 90 kg, Commute 130k+ / week. Any other
recommendations

Ride them both (and a few others) before spending a cent.
Include, if you can, some high speed descending. Your decision
may be influenced by how well (or not ...) a certain bike handles
when going fast. I have a Trek 1400 and a Trek Madone 5.2, and I like
going downhills very fast.

I forgot to add, there may be a reason for why the Giants
are being sold off so cheaply.

Cos the new ones are due.

Blanchy said:

I will be looking at buying a new bike shortly to replace my Trek 1200
that has been damaged beyond 'repair' and I am looking at something in
the 2K range. I have been looking at a Trek 1400 or a Giant OCR2. As
they both have the same amount of cf and basically the same running gear
What other differences are there and would I notice them being an almost
complete novice. 42 yr old, 90 kg, Commute 130k+ / week. Any other
recommendations

With Shimano 105 running gear I'd say the Trek 1400 is more like an OCR
1.
If you really want an OCR2 you can find an 05 model for about $1.2k.

Giant are very hard to beat price wise any time of year but with 2006
stock rolling in shops are flogging off their 05 models. You can get an
'05 OCR1 for about $1.6k and an OCR-Zero for about $1.8k or less.

The saddles are evil on the OCRs, so you'll want a shop that lets you
swap or upgrade at time of purchase.

Becareful with Giant's sizing, take your time. You may need a
shorter/longer stem...?

I got sucked in to the upgrade bit by bit trap and ended up getting
twice the bike I needed, great but now I can't leave all that carbon
anywhere so it isn't a good commuting bike. A Trek1000/1200 or OCR
0/1/2/3 would've been a better commuting bike.

But after all that if you really want a traditional frame geometry then
forget the extra bucks and just stick with the Trek.

Cheers.

Alvin Ryder said:

The saddles are evil on the OCRs, so you'll want a shop that lets you
swap or upgrade at time of purchase.

What are you basing that on? I've had my OCR2 for a year now with the
standard saddle and been very happy with it. I'm sure they fit some
people and not others, but I wouldn't just assume they are no good for
anyone.

DaveB