Can you offer some advice about selecting a new road bike?
Objective: Replace current four year old hybrid bike (Avanti Discovery
[6]) with something lighter and faster. I do no competitive riding,
just commuting and social rides. Virtually all my riding is on cycle
paths and roads. I don't use a pannier rack.
Rider: 185cm, 85kg. Rode an ancient 10-speed road bike until 2000.
Budget: $1000 or so, $1500 at a stretch.
Based on my visits to local bike shops, the following bikes seem to
suit my needs, and seem to have good local support.
I'm leaning towards the Learsport 7700 because it seems like good
value and the distributor is nearby. Would that be a sensible choice?
What other factors should I be considering?
Trek 1000 - [1] - $999 - Not compact frame, double chainring, alloy
fork, Shimano Sora 8-speed
Avanti Triplo Comp - [2] - $950 - Triple chainring, alloy fork,
Shimano Sora and other 8-speed components
Avanti Vivacé - [3] - $1200 - Carbon fork, double chainring, Shimano
Tiagra and Sora components
Giant OCR 3 - [4] - $900 - Triple chainring, alloy fork, Shimano Sora
and other 8-speed components
Giant OCR 2 - [7] - $1400 - Triple chainring, carbon fork, Shimano
Tiagra components
Learsport 7700 - [5] - $1099 - Carbon fork, triple chainring, Shimano
Tiagra components
Thanks,
Greg.
Canberra, Australia.
[1] http://www.trekbikes.com.au/catalogue.cgi?rm=product&product_id=5&subcategory_id=1
[2] http://www.avanti.co.nz/bikes_detail.asp?id=142&t=7
[3] http://www.avanti.co.nz/bikes_detail.asp?id=145&t=8
[4] http://www.giant-bicycle.com/au/030.000.000/030.010.000.asp?lYear=2004&bikesection=8786&range=39&model=9739
[5] http://www.learsport.com/lear7700.htm
[6] http://www.avanti.co.nz/bikes_detail.asp?id=134&t=5
[7] http://www.giant-bicycle.com/au/030.000.000/030.010.000.asp?lYear=2004&bikesection=8786&range=39&model=9738