Brand new here and looking to get a road bike for the first time. I only know of a few major brands (i.e. Cannondale, Trek, etc.) I don't mind buying used, but I obviously want new if I can afford it. Keep in mind I'm not even sure this will keep my interest for an extended period of time, so I don't plan to spend more than $400, preferably less. I know that I want aluminum.
I saw a couple on bikesdirect.com that fit the budget and interested me. The Windsor Wellington 1.0 for $299 shipped and Dawes Lightning 1000 for $389 shipped. The Windsor is only a 14 speed and the Dawes is a 24 speed. How much do I realistically need?
Are Dawes bikes any good? And are they made that much better than a Windsor (to justify almost $100 more)? What other bikes would you recommend for this price? Also, I am just a touch over 5'10" and about 160 pounds. What am sizes am I looking for when ordering?
The Dawes has STI. You can shift without taking your hands off the bars, just by pushing the brake levers to the inside instead of pulling them backward as if to stop. The Windsor has to be shifted by releasing the bar with one hand and reaching to the stem to operate the shifters. The Windsor system would probabaly be bulletproof, but the STI shifters on the Dawes are supposed to work well too, provided you readjust the cable tension every now and then.
The Dawes also has the more modern freehub-type rear hub whereas the Windsor has an old-tech freewheel hub. The main difference is you'll bend or break a freewheel hub's axle if you ride where it's kind of rough or if you do a lot of power climbing up hills out of the saddle. It's weaker but some people have put a lot of miles on them no problem.
You should probabaly get a triple front chainring if you live where there are plenty of hills. That's whether you choose a 7 speed rear or 8 speed rear wheel. There's no real drawback to getting one if you live where the streets are pretty flat except a bit of extra cost, weight, and complexity.
Brand new here and looking to get a road bike for the first time. I only know of a few major brands (i.e. Cannondale, Trek, etc.) I don't mind buying used, but I obviously want new if I can afford it. Keep in mind I'm not even sure this will keep my interest for an extended period of time, so I don't plan to spend more than $400, preferably less. I know that I want aluminum.
I saw a couple on bikesdirect.com that fit the budget and interested me. The Windsor Wellington 1.0 for $299 shipped and Dawes Lightning 1000 for $389 shipped. The Windsor is only a 14 speed and the Dawes is a 24 speed. How much do I realistically need?
Are Dawes bikes any good? And are they made that much better than a Windsor (to justify almost $100 more)? What other bikes would you recommend for this price? Also, I am just a touch over 5'10" and about 160 pounds. What am sizes am I looking for when ordering?
Thanks, Daniel
Related to size: go to your LBS and try a 56 cm, 54 cm, 58 cm see which size fits the best. (write down top tube dim- measured horizontally- of the one fitting best) I would NOT buy a bike without knowing if it fits. Then check the Geometry tables for bikesdirect and pick the one that matches or comes closest to the one you tried at the LBS. Then you can order direct. Keep in mind you'll probably be replacing the stem and the saddle, so add that to the total cost. My guess is that a 56 cm would fit BUT you need to try it. For comfort buy the largest frame you can ride, for speed buy the smallest frame you can ride.
