Buying my first road bike...

[quote="lizzyk32"]I've gone cycling a few times (nothing serious) and done a lot of indoor cycling, but I've never bought a road bike. I really want to become more involved with cycling, but due to being in my senior year of undergrad school, money is a little tight. Does anyone know of a good beginner's road bike for around $400 that would be good for me? I'm looking a lot on Ebay, but I just want to make sure that I go for a good brand of bike, etc. Thanks![/QUOTE]


Go to:

bikesdirect.comroad bikes.htmOpen ↗

Look at the Motobecane Mirage Sport and the Mercier Galaxy AL. Either is $400 delivered to your door, and both are directly comparable to LBS "brand name" bikes selling for $200+ more. About the only difference is that the "brand name" bikes have flashier (not necessarily better) paint and graphics. In fact, there is a very good chance that the bikes are assembled in the same Asian factories. That's the reality of the modern bike biz.

The bike will need to be set up by a competent mechanic. A fair price is about an hour's worth of labor at the "shop rate".

Thanks! That info helps a lot! I think I'm going to try the Mercier galaxy.

lizzyk32 said:

Thanks! That info helps a lot! I think I'm going to try the Mercier galaxy.

IMO, those are great bikes for the money. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Ibex Bikes are good deals. I have the Ibex Classic 3300. Cost $435 after shipping. It has served me well in the past 4 months, and 500 miles I have on it. One thing though.... It has downtube shifters, so if that bothers you...

ibexbikes.comCLS 3300 Details.htmlOpen ↗

heres mine. the lighting sucks, but you get the idea.

<img src="img.photobucket.combike002.jpgOpen ↗">
<img src="img.photobucket.combike003.jpgOpen ↗">

[quote="joetronic"]Ibex Bikes are good deals. I have the Ibex Classic 3300. Cost $435 after shipping. It has served me well in the past 4 months, and 500 miles I have on it. One thing though.... It has downtube shifters, so if that bothers you...

ibexbikes.comCLS 3300 Details.htmlOpen ↗

heres mine. the lighting sucks, but you get the idea.

<img src="img.photobucket.combike002.jpgOpen ↗">
<img src="[/QUOTE]


Well, if the DT shifters bother you, here are two "solutions"

1)Rivendell barend shifter mounts let you turn the DT shifters into barend shifters:

tinyurl.comd6tw5Open ↗

(IMO, the Rivs are a real bargain at only $25-30)

2)Kelly Take-offs let you mount the DT shifters right next to the brake levers:

tinyurl.com7o6gwOpen ↗

Also, using the non-indexed DT shifter on the front means you have much greater freedom of choice in terms of front gearing and, upgrading to 9 or 10 speed in the future only requires new DT shifters, a 9 or 10 cassette and a 9 or 10 speed chain. Much cheaper than upgrading with STI.

[quote="Ozark Bicycle"]

joetronic said:

Ibex Bikes are good deals. I have the Ibex Classic 3300. Cost $435 after shipping. It has served me well in the past 4 months, and 500 miles I have on it. One thing though.... It has downtube shifters, so if that bothers you...

ibexbikes.comCLS 3300 Details.htmlOpen ↗

heres mine. the lighting sucks, but you get the idea.

<img src="img.photobucket.combike002.jpgOpen ↗">
<img src="[/QUOTE]

Well, if the DT shifters bother you, here are two "solutions"

1)Rivendell barend shifter mounts let you turn the DT shifters into barend shifters:

tinyurl.comd6tw5Open ↗

(IMO, the Rivs are a real bargain at only $25-30)

2)Kelly Take-offs let you mount the DT shifters right next to the brake levers:

tinyurl.com7o6gwOpen ↗

Also, using the non-indexed DT shifter on the front means you have much greater freedom of choice in terms of front gearing and, upgrading to 9 or 10 speed in the future only requires new DT shifters, a 9 or 10 cassette and a 9 or 10 speed chain. Much cheaper than upgrading with STI.

joetronic said:

Ive never had a problem with the DT shifter. I actually like them belive it or not. But I have been timkering aruond with the idea of bar end shifters (less distance to move hand.) Thanks for the links. the Take-offs look like they would be in the way. Has anyone here used them?

I'm a big bar end shifter fan; they are on all my bikes. Simple, reliable, flexible and convenient. Friction for the front (hello, freedom!), and a friction option for the rear "just in case". If you are not a racer, they are the obvious choice for road bikes, IMHO.

Kelly Take-offs are especially popular with the cyclo cross crowd (as are Paul Thumbies). Convenient, but less prone to crash damage than STI/Ergo. Cheaper, too.

I kinda like the Take-offs, but not enough to ditch my bar ends. Thumbies, set up with interupter brake levers are an acquired taste, IMO. But I don't cyclo cross.

I looked at the Ibex bikes, but I think I'm going to stick with ordering from bikesdirect. I'm looking at the Mercier Galaxy and the Windsor Bristol. The bristol is $100 than the Mercier.... is it worth it? Or are they virtually the same thing? I've heard a lot of good things about the Windsors, but not too much on the Merciers.

lizzyk32 said:

I looked at the Ibex bikes, but I think I'm going to stick with ordering from bikesdirect. I'm looking at the Mercier Galaxy and the Windsor Bristol. The bristol is $100 than the Mercier.... is it worth it? Or are they virtually the same thing? I've heard a lot of good things about the Windsors, but not too much on the Merciers.

From a quick glance, it appears the Windsor offers a carbon fork in place of the steel fork of the Mercier. Also, different rims, which may (or may not) be better. In the rims dept., it appears the Motobcane Mirage Sport has the edge. Is the Windsor worth an extra $100? Depends....the fork is a ~$50 item at retail, so the rims are the rest of the equation. IMO, I would buy the Moto or the Mercier and save my $ for improvements I actually want.

As to brands: Bikes Direct has "resurrected" several dead brands, such as Mercier, Motobecane and Windsor. All the bikes are assembled in the same Asian factories and the brand names are irrelevant. The bikes are a good value.