Advice for finding a new bike

Obscure usually goes for more than $1200. Besides, the rigs you mentioned are all high quality.

You won't find full ultegra for 1200. New that is. I did see a used Orbea 58cm with Kysrium SSC SL's and full dura ace for about 1500.

If I were building a new bike, personally I would ebay a full 10 spd dura ace grouppo for about $1100 and then get the frame you desire.

Good luck.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by mattp71
You won't find full ultegra for 1200. New that is. I did see a used Orbea 58cm with Kysrium SSC SL's and full dura ace for about 1500.

If I were building a new bike, personally I would ebay a full 10 spd dura ace grouppo for about $1100 and then get the frame you desire.

Good luck.

Thanks for the advice.

However, I've found choosing a grouppo isn't the issue for me. it's either shimano 105 or ultegra, which, like mentioned, is a bit out of my price range, as new. the grouppo, is less important to me than the frame.
I'm about 5'4 and female. But, i don't really need a women specific bike. the women's bikes seem to always be light blue. :p

I think a compact geometry with a top tube of about 53cm would work quite well. a few monthe ago i did a bunch a measurements and research to find the approxamate sizes i need, Not just the frame, but cranks and stem as well.

Also, Are there any crit people that can share what they and their friends race on? and/ or what brands or models i might want to consider?

the isn't much of a racing community in my area. Everybody either rides for fun and the love of it or raced back in the 80s and has since lost touch with the scene, or both.

again, thanks for any adivce!

I've been riding a leader bike for a while now. You can check them out at leaderbikeusa.com. I'm riding the 715r, it's a solid aluminum frame nothing too fancy. Others complain about the buzz of aluminum, my other bike is all aluminum, the leader has a carbon seatpost and fork which I find makes a huge difference. The wheels are a little sketchy though I haven't put that much mileage on them and they are fast like woah. If I did it again I'd still get a leader, spectacular value, just be very careful of the parts you get, they measure bars outside to outside not center to center. I might have asked for a different wheelset, though you'd probably exceed 1200 for the mavics. You probably want to use your own saddle too.

Yeah I mention it because for crit racing it handles like a dream, feels solid through tight corners up in the mid twenties. Fast acceleration, all that stuff that's good for crits. Off to ride it now.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by mattp71
You won't find full ultegra for 1200. New that is. I did see a used Orbea 58cm with Kysrium SSC SL's and full dura ace for about 1500.

If I were building a new bike, personally I would ebay a full 10 spd dura ace grouppo for about $1100 and then get the frame you desire.

Good luck.

Here's a full ultegra bike for less than $1000

http://www.supergo.com/profile.cfm?...7605&referpage=

$929

Scattante (house brand) frame, Ultegra components, can be shipped for ~$35

I personally own this bike and the frame alone is very light, mine weighed 1330 g in 51 cm size!

You aren't going to any better for the money.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Mr_Potatohead
Here's a full ultegra bike for less than $1000

http://www.supergo.com/profile.cfm?...7605&referpage=

$929

Scattante (house brand) frame, Ultegra components, can be shipped for ~$35

I personally own this bike and the frame alone is very light, mine weighed 1330 g in 51 cm size!

You aren't going to any better for the money.

thanks. that looks like a great deal, but I'm not sure it's the right bike for me, the top tube would be a bit too short. also, I would have to test ride any bike that I'm getting at a LBS.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by mingcat9
thanks. that looks like a great deal, but I'm not sure it's the right bike for me, the top tube would be a bit too short. also, I would have to test ride any bike that I'm getting at a LBS.

Have you tried a FELT? a 105 bike goes for about $889.00 with carbon fork an Ultegra with carbon fork and seat stays goes for about 1,300.00. the 105 is dk blue metalic and the Ultegra is white metalic i think...

Just a thought...

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by zapper
Have you tried a FELT? a 105 bike goes for about $889.00 with carbon fork an Ultegra with carbon fork and seat stays goes for about 1,300.00. the 105 is dk blue metalic and the Ultegra is white metalic i think...

Just a thought...

thanks!
the 105 looks awesome...I'm adding it to my list of bikes to test ride. the gemertry looks about right for me and I like the blue...🙂

might have trouble test riding a felt - lots of store near me and none of them carry Felt bikes.

i don't race so take my advice as more of a general bang-for-buck bike shopping thing.

1) Performance has the '04 Fuji Team on sale for $1399. it's an X-Fusion alum frame with full Ultegra - can't remember the wheelset offhand.. the x-fusion is a fancier kind of alum and the 04 team has carbon stays as well.

this page has pic and geometry popups:
http://www.fujibikes.com/road/bike.asp?category_short_name=road&myArray=87,88,89,90,91,92,93,102,94,95,96,103,97,104,106,99,98,100,105,101,107,108,109,112,110,111,113,114&myArrayID=5&yr=2004

you might like the 04 Fuji Roubaix Pro - also on sale at Performance. it's around $900 i think and has a classic geometry Reynolds 853 and full 105. this bike is not to be confused with the regular Roubaix, which is an alum bike w/ 105.

the girls i've known who ride prefer steel bikes but if you're shopping is including alum, this bike is a good deal and this site has good deals in general:

http://bikesdirect.com/products/mercier/serpens_al05.htm

but like that other offbrand recommendation you won't be able to test ride.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by mingcat9
thanks!
the 105 looks awesome...I'm adding it to my list of bikes to test ride. the gemertry looks about right for me and I like the blue...🙂

Yeah.... rode it before I bought mine..nice bike for the buck. Boze may be right, depending on how many bike shops near you. I have serveral and only 3 shops carried them and out of those three only one shop had all the models in stock in various sizes...I suspect as the company grows, it will be easier to find them..Nice bike though...

thanks.

I found a couple felt dealers about a half hour away. in my town we only have 2 bike shops. specialized & trek, at the one, and giant and schwinn at the other--this shop doesn't sell or offer many road bikes, mainly cruisers and bmx stuff. the fuji roubaix pro looks nice, but I'll have to find out if there any any dealers around here. oh, and I know the good bike shop in town will be helpful no matter what kind of bike get.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by mingcat9
thanks.

I found a couple felt dealers about a half hour away. in my town we only have 2 bike shops. specialized & trek, at the one, and giant and schwinn at the other--this shop doesn't sell or offer many road bikes, mainly cruisers and bmx stuff. the fuji roubaix pro looks nice, but I'll have to find out if there any any dealers around here. oh, and I know the good bike shop in town will be helpful no matter what kind of bike get.

Well good luck and I know we all we be waiting for a pic of the bike once you decide...Happy shopping!

Specialized makes an allez elite that is complete 105. It is very race worthy and also very sharp looking. Check out there website for all the fine details. My lbs here in Florida sells it for $1000.00

I have owned the Allez sport model and upgraded to the roubaix comp
Specialized bikes are well built and there frames are used by racers throughout the world. They also stand behind there products.

Take one for a test ride before you decide on anything else.

Another vote for Felt, F70-F60 range...great value in bikes...I think because they are kind of new and getting estabilished as a major player in the cycling market their prices are very competitive. Orbea's are very cool too. Perhaps it's a bit spendy, but of the Specialized, the fire engine red and white Allez comp (full ultegra) is a beauty!

Ride all that you can, and don't ignore a lightly used bike. You might find a Klein or Colnago or Cervelo or who knows what'll flip yer lid!

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by mwinoski
Specialized makes an allez elite that is complete 105. It is very race worthy and also very sharp looking. Check out there website for all the fine details. My lbs here in Florida sells it for $1000.00

I have owned the Allez sport model and upgraded to the roubaix comp
Specialized bikes are well built and there frames are used by racers throughout the world. They also stand behind there products.

Take one for a test ride before you decide on anything else.

I looked at the specialized. all of the bike shops in the area seem to be out of the allez. I looked at cannondale, but only the R1000 really struchk a chord with me and it's out of my price range. I didn't think it would be soo tough to find the right bike. I really like the felt F70 and F60, so I going to check if there's any felt dealers that have the F70 or even a higher model in stock, and in my size, so I can test ride one. 🙂

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by mingcat9
I looked at the specialized. all of the bike shops in the area seem to be out of the allez. I looked at cannondale, but only the R1000 really struchk a chord with me and it's out of my price range. I didn't think it would be soo tough to find the right bike. I really like the felt F70 and F60, so I going to check if there's any felt dealers that have the F70 or even a higher model in stock, and in my size, so I can test ride one. 🙂

I really don't think you can go wrong with a felt. My best friend has a cannondale and they are nice bikes, but pricey I agree. Love my LeMond but almost bought a felt....