Road Bicycles

[29dinosaur]

Have been riding last 12 months with MTB (Giant Trance 2) but now am interested in getting a road bike (bicycle) - any suggestions appreciated.

[GuyG]

Keep the Giant and put slicks on it or get another set of wheels/tyres so you can easily swap if you still want to do some single track riding. I have 2 bikes both MTB one hard tale for road riding and the other full suspension for cross country etc

[Dave_S]

Agreed. I put a set of 1.75 slicks on the Blur and ride it to work during the week. The tyres still have plenty of grip and are beefy enough to be thrown around a bit.

[Scallops]

Have been riding last 12 months with MTB (Giant Trance 2) but now am interested in getting a road bike (bicycle) - any suggestions appreciated.

As a former Qld champion cyclist and coach, I would make a few recommendations. Brand as such is not so important.

Here are some things to consider..

- get a proper fit on a road bike. Top tube length, stem length, bar width and saddle height will make a huge difference to your comfort.

- look at getting reasonable quality components - get complete groupsets if you can - 105 (Shimano) or Veloce (Campag) would be a minimum for longevity.

- depending on your build - 32 spoke wheels are more durable than low spoke count racing type wheels.

Think about how committed you are to cycling - a full carbon frame is a joy to ride - as are quality steel frames. Cheaper aluminium frames are not as "comfortable".

Dan.

[Mick-Kelly]

I am one step away from my dream bike. I am waiting on a new headset coming from the states. Its a Bianchi with full Campagnolo Chorus groupo. Roadbikes are where quality components shine. My Mtb is a Giant full suspension XC style for running around single track. We need more bike riders so congratulations you'll love it whatever you do.

[Cameron_Def]

just keep off my road .. I hate sundays when you guys get out in packs of 20-30 and take up 1.5 lanes and think you own the road ..

1 lane is fine, but taking up the other half of the highway .. Not good.

[Scallops]

just keep off my road .. I hate sundays when you guys get out in packs of 20-30 and take up 1.5 lanes and think you own the road ..

1 lane is fine, but taking up the other half of the highway .. Not good.

Just keep off my road... you guys think you own the road

Who thinks what??? This thread was asking about road bikes - do we really need to start another divisive argument concerning cyclists/motorist issues?

[5teve]

slicks work ok agreed, but hey if you want to spend the money... then theres plenty of options.

myself i prefer to build or get a custom one made up, and to be fair i get most of my bits from the UK, as they are so much cheaper than here (and you get no VAT so its 17.5% less than normal uk price too :)

theres a couple of good sites, ChainReactionCycles.com - Europes largest Online Bike store - Buy Online (http://www.chainreactioncycles.com) Ribble Cycles (http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk) and www.wiggle.co.uk

i got my frame from wiggle but unsure if they do international delivery, i know chainreaction and ribble do..

i basically buy anything that is a year old cause you save about 50% on it at least..

theres plenty of pre made custom bikes too... if that makes sense ie not big brand ones.. although the big brands once again seem to be catching up with the smaller makers in terms of price and quality..

my advice if you want to buy one... go ride several then see what you like, see if you can build it (if your happy doing that) , if not buy whatever feels comfortable and is in budget :)

if i remember i'll get some pics of it posted, it didnt cost a packet and its pretty durable with me at 105kgs sitting on top of it, never straightened a wheel yet..

as scallops says.. Steel is very comfortable to ride, getting rarer to find tho... ally is hard as due to the rigidity, and never rode a full carbon so cant comment :) carbon bars, stems, and forks certainly tame an ally bike tho!

Thanks

Steve

[Cameron_Def]

Just keep off my road... you guys think you own the road

Who thinks what??? This thread was asking about road bikes - do we really need to start another divisive argument concerning cyclists/motorist issues?

I pay rego, not to be held up by a bunch of guys going way to slow in way to tight bike pants.

If you were able to keep up with traffic, payed rego on your bikes and stopped wearing things that allowed me to see if your jewish or not, I wouldnt have a issue.

If I drove my car as quick / slow as bikes do, I would be pulled up for hindering traffic ..

Around my area there is a nice bike track, that my tax's pay for .. why not use that.

Or pay to be on the road, your slowing me down on ...



Sorry to sound rude, but living south of Sydney / Royal National park, I have to contend with rude bike riders nearly everyday... its my pet peeeve.

Anyway, I think I just came across as a prat ;) ah well!

[29dinosaur]

This thread was asking about road bikes - do we really need to start another divisive argument concerning cyclists/motorist issues?

Thankfully I live in an area with plenty of quiet country roads and the old hume highway which has plenty of room.

[29dinosaur]

... I think I just came across as a prat..

yes you did - please keep on task (as my school teacher wife would say...)

[Scallops]

I am one step away from my dream bike. I am waiting on a new headset coming from the states. Its a Bianchi with full Campagnolo Chorus groupo. Roadbikes are where quality components shine. My Mtb is a Giant full suspension XC style for running around single track. We need more bike riders so congratulations you'll love it whatever you do.

A Chris King, by any chance MK?

[Xavie]

I pay rego, not to be held up by a bunch of guys going way to slow in way to tight bike pants.

If you were able to keep up with traffic, payed rego on your bikes and stopped wearing things that allowed me to see if your jewish or not, I wouldnt have a issue.

If I drove my car as quick / slow as bikes do, I would be pulled up for hindering traffic ..

Around my area there is a nice bike track, that my tax's pay for .. why not use that.

Or pay to be on the road, your slowing me down on ...



Sorry to sound rude, but living south of Sydney / Royal National park, I have to contend with rude bike riders nearly everyday... its my pet peeeve.

Anyway, I think I just came across as a prat ;) ah well!


That's like moving next to a church and having a go at the patrons for signing loudly.

Even if they (cyclists) payed, people with that mind set would still be cranky. When I lived down there I very rarely saw a rude cyclist. Some things could be interpreted as that but that's only because the driver was being selfish.

Xav

P.s. sorry for going off topic.

[PCH]

Just a tip about buying from recent experience.

Go to a good local bike store get measured up for the right frame size. Get an idea about frame type, group set and wheel set you want from talking to a few LBS and researching on the internet then go and look at e-bay. For a high end bike you will find some real bargains that are a matter of weeks or months old for less than 50% of what it may have cost to build up. Preferrably find one in your State and go and see it before you bid.

I recently got back into biking after a lay off of more than 15 years. I raced road at club and state level and had a Litespeed titanium road bike with full Durace ensemble. I love high end bikes and components and wanted to get a light XC MTB - I was staggered at the prices LBS sell the catalogue high end MTB's for, I was looking at $6-8K for what I was after.

So I looked at the 2nd hand market and stuck a bargain on e-bay. I picked up exactly the frame set I was after that was already custom built by the owner for XC racing and weighed 9.7kg (pretty light for a full suspension MTB) and was only 2 months old and in perfect nick . The stock fully built MTB weighes 11.2kg and was $1500 more. So you can imagine to drop 1.5kg off a bike how much $$$ that wil cost.

So go and check out e-bay or bike forums before buying new.

Chris

[Rayngie]

Aha!!,

Now we are talking my pet love, 1, my mtb's 2, my Kombi, 3 my Landrover...that's the order and the way it shall always be.

Stay off road, road riding is damn silly, I tried it, whilst o.k and gets you places quick...the bitumen is boring, and the other road users freakin stupid, and on an mtb, all you get is sweet single track and nature..

i'm currently piloting a Giant Reign 0 for the x-country, and have a back up Cannondale Gemini 1000 with boxxer triple clamps for the fun days...which are getting fewer as i'm 37 and don't bounce of rocks quite like i used to!

remember....stay off road...always!

Ray

[rick130]

A Chris King, by any chance MK?


I built up my dream Mtb wheel set about five years ago using CK hubs and C-Xray spokes.
Nothing like the buzz from a King hub ! :D

(roadie uses DT Hügi hub )

[rick130]

<snip>
was already custom built by the owner for XC racing and weighed 9.7kg (pretty light for a full suspension MTB) <snip>
Chris


that's light :eek:
and I'm speaking from experience as a bona fide weight weenie

[Scallops]

I built up my dream Mtb wheel set about five years ago using CK hubs and C-Xray spokes.
Nothing like the buzz from a King hub ! :D

(roadie uses DT Hügi hub )

Roadies also use Chris King headsets. ;)

[rick130]

BTW 29Dinosaur, Ritchie make 1" slicks for 26" mtb wheels, it could be the ticket if you want to see if you really want to get a road bike, and the gearing will teach you to spin :twisted:
I did this years ago before buying another road bike.

[rick130]

Roadies also use Chris King headsets. ;)

I realise that. A certain 7 times TdF winner used to use one, too :D

[moose]

When I was fitter and looking at road bikes (a while ago now), I took a mate that knew about these things and bought a second hand bike. All checked out ok, rode very nicely and saved hundreds on a bike that ultimately got sold off again due to declining use.:)

[Scallops]

I realise that. A certain 7 times TdF winner used to use one, too :D

Lance, Lance... something or other - Hey - I used a CK headset! :p

[29dinosaur]

Aha!!,

Now we are talking my pet love, 1, my mtb's 2, my Kombi, 3 my Landrover...that's the order and the way it shall always be.

Stay off road, road riding is damn silly, I tried it, whilst o.k and gets you places quick...the bitumen is boring, and the other road users freakin stupid, and on an mtb, all you get is sweet single track and nature..

i'm currently piloting a Giant Reign 0 for the x-country, and have a back up Cannondale Gemini 1000 with boxxer triple clamps for the fun days...which are getting fewer as i'm 37 and don't bounce of rocks quite like i used to!

remember....stay off road...always!

Ray

Yes I hear what you are saying. At 51yo I also don't bounce that well. Did some tracks up at Glass House Mts and Mapleton recently - great! All went well until I decided at last moment to change a line towards a low jump and ended up on top of my head. Thank goodness for the helmet - it cracked but my noggin was intact.

(By the way - there are some pretty gnarly looking 4wd tracks around the glasshouse mts area - you'd need a rig with pretty good kit up that way...)

[Xavie]

Depending on the bike you want if your not buying straight away and considering waiting a couple of months you might be able to have my old one. Nothing flash- in its day (about 8 years go) it was worth $3,500. Now probably bugger all but I have just put new running gear on it and tyres etc. If I ride it for the next few weeks and still don't like it it's yours for the taking. I just want to make sure I'm still not keen on it. I prefer bashing around the bush and seeing it's on my doorstep it's not hard to get too.

The brand is Wheeler.

I don't think they were ever all that popular but I was a velodrome rider so I always had a road bike to get to and from training and use in the off season for staying in shape.

Xav

[rick130]

Lance, Lance... something or other - Hey - I used a CK headset! :p

LOL.
sadly neither of my bikes can use a CK headset. The mtb uses a zero stack HS, and the road bike uses a Head Shock.
It's the old Saeco/Cannondale Paris-Roubaix frame, carbon forks and 15mm of hydraulically damped front suspension, just the ticket for the crap roads around here.




(Ok, it's getting on a bit, I like it, and I can't afford a new bike to replace it.......:p)

[Mick-Kelly]

A Chris King, by any chance MK?

Nah, Campy all the way. Its for an old school Bianchi frame (steel is real) 1 inch threadless.