Good Starter Bike?

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by cubbies11
Let me know what you think these are the bikes in my price range.

Cubbies

Whichever one fits...Trek isn't a bad ride though it is tiagra..

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by cubbies11
Let me know what you think these are the bikes in my price range.

Cubbies

Most entry lvl bikes are very similiar. Comes down to choice. Compact frame or standard? Wheels? ect. Personaly I would get the one with the best runnung gear, Frames are a Dime a dozen at the moment, quite easy to get a good alloy frame made in China for $300 - $400NZ, about $200US roughly. so updating to a good frame later is easier than getting a better groupset.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Fixey
Most entry lvl bikes are very similiar. Comes down to choice. Compact frame or standard? Wheels? ect. Personaly I would get the one with the best runnung gear, Frames are a Dime a dozen at the moment, quite easy to get a good alloy frame made in China for $300 - $400NZ, about $200US roughly. so updating to a good frame later is easier than getting a better groupset.

frames more important than components dummy

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Fixey
Frames are a Dime a dozen at the moment, quite easy to get a good alloy frame made in China for $300 - $400NZ, about $200US roughly. so updating to a good frame later is easier than getting a better groupset.

... unless you have a chance to get a good U.S.-hand-made frame now in the C'dale R500 (fit permitting, of course.) CAAD4 might no longer be their top of the line but Cipollini didn't seem to mind when he took 4 straight stage wins on one in the '99 Tour. 😉

"frames more important than components dummy"
=======================================

...he was not saying that frame isn't important dummy! He is saying it is easier to get a good frame at a great price than it is to get a great groupset at a great price dummy! Perhaps you should take a reading comprehension course dummy!

Don't forget though, taking a long-term view, the groupset and components are the 'disposable' parts of the bike.

They'll get worn out and replaced sooner or later anyway, so when you start out you may as well invest now in a good frame that fits you well and will last you a long time.

Well I'm biased on this since I just bought a new Felt F80. Like all people who buy a new bike they love it as do I.

Here in CT they all were within a small price range.

I did test ride a few of your choices & found them all to be nice rides. In the end it wasn't components or price that made up my mind. It was comfort.

This is actually a question I'm wondering about as well... I'm getting back into riding and currently have a Specialized Crossroads hybrid. It's fairly nice, but I'm looking to sell it and acquire something a bit more spirited... the Trek 1000, 1200, and Cannondale R500 are all some that I'm looking at. I've also looked at the Giant OCR2 and OCR3.

Local bike shop tried to sell me on the OCR3, since that was the only road bike they even carried in stock(!), but after reading some reviews I'm not sure it's really that good of a value given the Sora drivetrain. I'm also not sure I like the compact frame, since I'll probably want to do a little touring once I get my stamina back -- I haven't done any serious riding since my old Schwinn 10 speed that I had ten years ago.

I've also looked at the Novara Strada 2004, but at $1100 that is a little out of my price range... I'm going to see what another local shop up in Bowling Green has, because I'm not that impressed with the two here. The one up in BG sells Trek, Giant, and Cannondale, so I'll probably be looking at the 1200, R500, and possibly R600... although I suspect the R600, like the 1500, may be out of my price range for a starter bike.

Any thoughts? 🙂

I should note that I'm hoping to use whatever I get as my primary bike for a couple of years, then upgrade to something nicer and retire this to a commuting bike... my employer provides a bike rack, but it's exposed, so I don't want to commute on an ultra-expensive bike.

The Lemond Nevada City or Reno would be a good choice. But like everyone else says, it's six of one and half a dozen of the other, just make sure it fits you well.

Good luck and happy riding

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Mart
The Lemond Nevada City or Reno would be a good choice. But like everyone else says, it's six of one and half a dozen of the other, just make sure it fits you well.

Good luck and happy riding

I agree with you Mart...The Nevada City is a sora bike but it has a carbon fork. You can get it for $530-569 USD's. I tested the Reno and it's not bad but most of the components are Tiagra but...The rear derailer is 105. It runs about $799-830 USD's.

LeMond Geometry fits well for people like me with short legs and long torso, I think...

Felt makes a bike for about 900 bucks with all 105 and seems pretty solid.... I just kept looking around testing riding every bike I could get my hands on and found the bike that fit right and was a good buy...Just so happens that I am a little partial to LeMond since buying and logging many miles on mine.

Hmmm. There's no Felt dealers nearby, but the same bike shop in Bowling Green that I mentioned also carries LeMond bikes, so I'll take a look at the Reno if they've got one.

I don't mind getting a bike with a Tiagra drivetrain since it uses a 9 speed rear cassette... so I'm hoping that'll let me upgrade to 105s later if I find the Tiagra doesn't do it for me. From what I've read, you can't upgrade a Sora drivetrain without replacing the rear cassette. But perhaps I'm mistaken?

David

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by shade
Hmmm. There's no Felt dealers nearby, but the same bike shop in Bowling Green that I mentioned also carries LeMond bikes, so I'll take a look at the Reno if they've got one.

I don't mind getting a bike with a Tiagra drivetrain since it uses a 9 speed rear cassette... so I'm hoping that'll let me upgrade to 105s later if I find the Tiagra doesn't do it for me. From what I've read, you can't upgrade a Sora drivetrain without replacing the rear cassette. But perhaps I'm mistaken?

David

I think that is correct. Plus most bikes that come with sora stock may not be worth upgrading..i.e. have no carbon fork or frame is inferior...I am not an expert on this as I am just learning myself.. But, If you like the Reno, I think it would be worthy of an upgrade to 105 which isnt' all that expensive these days...

too bad about the felt problem...I've heard that it is tought to find a dealer that has a large inventory of them in stock...

Keep us posted though..Good luck on the LeMond!!!

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by oneradtec
"frames more important than components dummy"
=======================================

...he was not saying that frame isn't important dummy! He is saying it is easier to get a good frame at a great price than it is to get a great groupset at a great price dummy! Perhaps you should take a reading comprehension course dummy!

A frame for $200 is not really a good frame and it isn't an upgrade either. It's just a functional generic frame.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by shade


I don't mind getting a bike with a Tiagra drivetrain since it uses a 9 speed rear cassette... so I'm hoping that'll let me upgrade to 105s later if I find the Tiagra doesn't do it for me.
David

That's fractured wishful thnking.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by shade
[B} From what I've read, you can't upgrade a Sora drivetrain without replacing the rear cassette. But perhaps I'm mistaken?

David [/B]

You probably read alot of BS about Sora. But, if you want to go to 9 speed, you need shifters,chain and casette. Don't buy a Sora bike with the idea of spending a bunch of bux upgrading it.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by boudreaux
You probably read alot of BS about Sora. But, if you want to go to 9 speed, you need shifters,chain and casette. Don't buy a Sora bike with the idea of spending a bunch of bux upgrading it.

Sound advice shade...Although Boudreaux's delivery isn't the greatest, I find he is usually right on the mark...I know some may disagree but he hasn't steered me wrong yet.

Boudreaux, glad to see you are still hanging around....

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by cubbies11
Let me know what you think these are the bikes in my price range.

Cubbies

How about a Seven Elium?

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by boudreaux
You probably read alot of BS about Sora. But, if you want to go to 9 speed, you need shifters,chain and casette. Don't buy a Sora bike with the idea of spending a bunch of bux upgrading it.

Well, yes, that was kind of my point. I'd rather go with a 9 speed bike in the first place.

The reason I mentioned upgrades is because I've seen a few bikes that use the same 9 speed cassette in the rear, but some of them were Tiagra and some of them were 105s, so I assumed that would allow me to upgrade if, for some reason, I don't like the Tiagra.

The biggest complaint I've seen about the Sora drivetrain is that it doesn't always like to shift under load, and I know enough about my riding habits (I used to ride a lot, ten years ago) to know I'd have trouble with that. That's why I'm looking for a bike with a better drivetrain.

But thanks for your comments 🙂

David

Well, I took the plunge this morning and purchased a Trek 1200 at a local bike shop today. Just had it out on the road for a bit half an hour ago. It rides really nice and handles well -- I think I'm in love. 🙂