What bikes match this profile?

Peter said:

I'm looking for a bike that has these characteristics:

1. will be used exclusively on paved roads
2. lightweight (25lb, or the less the better)
3. flat handlebars, with shifters on the bars (not on frame tube)
4. medium or high-quality shimano drive train components

nice to have:
1. seat post suspension

should not have:
1. front fork suspension (unwanted weight)
2. rear suspension (unwanted weight)

I'm OK with buying this new or used. Does anyone have any suggestions
for bikes made in the last 5 years, and available in California, that
meet this profile? Budget is open but certainly under $1000, and
maybe well under.

Thanks for your suggestions.

Hybrid. Go to some bike shops.

Bill Sornson said:

Hybrid. Go to some bike shops.

Yeah, thanks. I'm looking for some actual model numbers that I can
research on the web.

Going to bike shops is a very slow and ineffective way of gathering
info, as each shop only carries info on one or two brands.

I am looking for more knowledgable people who might have recently
bought such a model, or are familiar with a range of brands and who can
give product numbers.

Thanks,

Peter

Bill Sornson said:

Hybrid. Go to some bike shops.

Yeah, thanks. I'm looking for some actual model numbers that I can
then research on the web.

Going to bike shops is a very slow and ineffective way of gathering
info, as each shop only carries info on one or two brands.

I am looking for more knowledgable people who might have recently
bought such a model, or are familiar with a range of brands and who can
give product numbers.

Thanks,

Peter

Peter said:

I'm looking for a bike that has these characteristics:

1. will be used exclusively on paved roads
2. lightweight (25lb, or the less the better)
3. flat handlebars, with shifters on the bars (not on frame tube)
4. medium or high-quality shimano drive train components

Specialized Sirrus
Trek FX series

Lots of others....

Peter said:

Bill Sornson said:

Hybrid. Go to some bike shops.

Yeah, thanks. I'm looking for some actual model numbers that I can
research on the web.

Specs on bikes in a similar price range are going to be virtually
identical. Get the one that's got the right color and feels right.

Why flatbar bike? I understand if it's a city bike, as I've got such
bars on my urban scoot, but if you're under the assumption that they're
more comfortable than drop bars, you'll be sorely disappointed after an
hour or so on the bike path.

If you pressed me for a personal fave...
I like the Jamis Coda series as they're made from handsome small gauge
traditional double butted cromoly. Would make a good city scoot or bike
path bike--especially if you add bar-ends or a trekking h-bar. $600
for the Sport version:
http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/bikes/06_codasport.html Only criticism of
the spec are the lowly 2200 hubs. It's almost worth repacking them
first thing with good ball bearings as a prophylactic measure.
Otherwise, it's specced with no-nonsense stoff that does the job
without ruining your finances. 25.5 pounds, drop the half a pound with
lighter tires, as the stock Hutchinsons are a pound each.

There are many other choices. Ride and fit matter. Go to bike shops
and ride a few. Frame material matters little. I like steel better, but
there are some comfy aluminum bikes out there these days, I own one of
each material. Eschew "upgrades" like low spoke count wheels and carbon
rear triangles. For a go fast 25 pounder you don't need them.

Peter said:

Quoted message said:

Going to bike shops is a very slow and ineffective way of gathering
info, as each shop only carries info on one or two brands.

My experience is that it is a very effective way. Specs let you compare
numbers. Actually going to shops let you compare bikes. Not always the
same thing.

And going to bike shops and actually seeing/trying various models is
fun.

Peter said:

Bill Sornson said:

Hybrid. Go to some bike shops.

Yeah, thanks. I'm looking for some actual model numbers that I can
then research on the web.

Going to bike shops is a very slow and ineffective way of gathering
info, as each shop only carries info on one or two brands.

I am looking for more knowledgable people who might have recently
bought such a model, or are familiar with a range of brands and who can
give product numbers.

Thanks,

Peter

I agree that going to shops is fun and helpful. I went in with a
certain idea and tried a couple bikes. Then, just for the hell of it,
I just went in kinda described waht I was looking for and tried some
bikes I'd not heard of before and weren't in my "category." It was
kinda cool.

It also might help the group, if you stated what the purpose of the
bike is. Is it only for commute? If so, how far? Are you getting into
triathalons? Looking at doing some centuries or the AIDs ride? Etc...

Quoted message said:

It also might help the group, if you stated what the purpose of the
bike is. Is it only for commute? If so, how far?

It's for commute only, 8 miles each way.

"Peter" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm looking for a bike that has these characteristics:

1. will be used exclusively on paved roads
2. lightweight (25lb, or the less the better)
3. flat handlebars, with shifters on the bars (not on frame tube)
4. medium or high-quality shimano drive train components

nice to have:
1. seat post suspension

should not have:
1. front fork suspension (unwanted weight)
2. rear suspension (unwanted weight)

I'm OK with buying this new or used. Does anyone have any suggestions
for bikes made in the last 5 years, and available in California, that
meet this profile? Budget is open but certainly under $1000, and maybe
well under.

Thanks for your suggestions.

Peter: find a high quality 80's vintage road racing bicycle and convert it
to a flat-bar bike. Best value for the dollar: Japanese framesets. The
Japanese-made Bianchi's were good.

I have recently done 2 of these conversions, and the total cost came in at
less than $175 Canadian Pesos each. Steel-frame road bikes sell for next to
nothing, especially among the racing crowd.

Buying an older race bike will allow you to avoid the following:

- The useless suspension systems found on current hybrids (front or
seatpost). If you are riding on the road, you don't need shocks, and you
don't want to be drag around 4 pounds of of extra weight that saps your
energy due to suspension bob.
- The tight frame-tire clearances found on current road bikes. Older bikes
had space for fatter tires and even fenders
- Dysfunctional wheels with low spoke-counts and cartridge bearing hubs
- Gimmicy and misguided MTB cross-overs such as as disk brakes and compact
framesets

"Peter" <[email hidden]> wrote in news:1154019386.084648.24130
@b28g2000cwb.googlegroups.com:

Quoted message said:

I'm looking for a bike that has these characteristics:

1. will be used exclusively on paved roads
2. lightweight (25lb, or the less the better)
3. flat handlebars, with shifters on the bars (not on frame tube)
4. medium or high-quality shimano drive train components

nice to have:
1. seat post suspension

should not have:
1. front fork suspension (unwanted weight)
2. rear suspension (unwanted weight)

I'm OK with buying this new or used. Does anyone have any suggestions
for bikes made in the last 5 years, and available in California, that
meet this profile? Budget is open but certainly under $1000, and maybe
well under.

Thanks for your suggestions.

Most people will respond with a 'Hybrid'. Better to go to your LBS, buy a
lower priced road bike and swapp out the classic bars with cow horns.
Higher quality components

--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

Dave Mayer said:

Peter: find a high quality 80's vintage road racing bicycle and convert it
to a flat-bar bike. Best value for the dollar: Japanese framesets. The
Japanese-made Bianchi's were good.

Might be easy to find a used Trek Antelope 830 or 850 series too.
There are some advantages over older road cycles for short haul
commuting...

Double eyelets on dropouts for fenders and racks
Modern rear axle spacing (135 mm)
Uses standard mtn/cross drive trains/groups (think Shimano LX,XT,XTR)
Canti-posts for V-brakes