James said:Comrades,
I'm looking for advice of what sort of road bike to buy. It shouldn't
be too delicate because roads are not exactly ideal track conditions,
and I'm planning to use it for middle-long distance rides rather than
quick blasts, so a harsh racer wouldn't be ideal.Given I'm about 5"5' and long in the leg for that height, plus it's
pretty hilly here in Wales so lightness is a neccessity, what might
this group reccommend as a reasonable hybrid between a tourer and a
racer, given I've got maybe £1500 ($2750, Eur 2180) to spend on it?
If roads aren't great, I'd stay away from fancy wheels. Think about
service a year or more down the road. I wouldn't obsess over frame
material/technology, it's mostly hype, and overpriced hype to boot. The
frame is pretty much the least important thing to worry about, just find
one that gives you the back angle you want. Beware of bikes with really
tight clearances on brakes/forks/chain-seat stays, if you want to ride
different tires in the future, you could be out of luck.