Road racing bikes bikes?

[13oots2]

Cafe, have you considered buying secondhand, there are good bargains to be had as in the vinyl world. I picked up a handbuild roadbike with Reynolds 531 and Campagnolo components for a modest £150. It needed a few bits and pieces changing but will be a nice bike once I have finished, back in the 80's it would have been near top of the range and is still a nice light and lively ride.

[cafe latte]

The problem is here in north QLD Aus there are slim pickings. I am really enjoying my rides (apart the hill from my house to the millstream ). I just dont want to waste money by making a mistake.
Have you been out on your bike yet?
Regards
Sore bum

[davidsss]

Not sure about Reids, equipment does look good. To compare prices I would look at Bikexchange.com and for advice you could ask on BNA forums: www.bicycles.net.au

DS

[Jim Leach]

I don't know how much my comments will help/hurt, but here you go:

I used to ride a lot. Never tracked mileage, but as I drive around the same areas of CT these days, I realize it was a lot.

Anyway, the best road mike I had was steel. It was a Univega Grand Sprint. I went in to get a grouppo for a used Vitus I was thinking of picking up, and after I rode this, I bought it. VERY stiff, but you could feel that every ounce of energy was going to the back wheel. I got more into mountain biking, and went full-hog on that.

I started out with an off-brand aluminum frame. 7000 series, so maybe not the best aloy for a bike frame, but the quality of welds, milled bottom yoke, square seat and chain stays and ovalized/rectangular down tube with gussets looked impressive on paper. Weight was low as well. But, the bike suffered from serious flex in the rear triangle. I would frequently use my 'granny' gear to climb with this frame in spite of the low weight, because a lot of frame flex was eating up my power. The components were absolutely top shelf. XT/XTR, Paul's brakes, Cook Bros cranks etc. It was stolen from my garage one day, and it was the best thing that could have happened! I order a hand-built Ibis Mojo that I still have. Steel, but lighter than the aluminum frame. No flex in the triangle, but not abusive. Tubing was 1mm thick in the center, single butted (to 2mm). A lot of the guys racing these bikes at the time wrapped the top tube with a piece of PVC pipe because the bars coming around in a crash would collapse the top tube! I never used the granny gear on this bike, and in fact increased the mid and large front cogs for more speed, because I could turn more gear on this bike. Night and day really...

What does this long-winded e-mail mean? Don't buy a bike based on the material or specs alone- you need to ride one. And, although Carbon is inherently stiff, properly engineered, it can have very controlled stiffness, which means a less abusive ride, with no power loss to the ground. When test riding, be sure to come out of the saddle in 'too-high' a gear and really *crank* on the bike. That is a good simulation of a steep hill, and you want to have a feel of that before you buy it- and riding around a bike shop parking lot does not replicate this well otherwise.

My friend just bought a new MTN bike (about $4,000.00 I think he spent), and with that he was able to rent it for a weekend before buying. It was a good experience, as he was looking at a 29" vs. 26" traditional MTN frame. That is something you have to try to decide for sure... Bottom line is, go visit your bike shops, check out whatever seems good, and listen to their suggestions. rent the bike (or bikes) if you can before you buy. If you buy the one you rent, often that cost can be applied to the purchase.

You may spend a bit more that way, but you will avoid owning a bike you could own for a long time that is not the best it could be for your taste within your budget. Also know that many shops might be willing to swap a grouppo around for you. If you 'dream' bike is too expensive, see if a step down on the grouppo would bring you into your price range... The mid grade stuff is so good 99% of people wouldn't notice the difference, and are a few grams of weight worth the huge jump in price? Generally not.

Happy hunting!

[Rob998]

Sore bum

Gel padded cycle shorts are the answer. I use them on my Boardman hybrid which has got a saddle like the proverbial razor blade. I also use them on the Ducati when I'm going to be putting in long days. They're really good, but decent ones aren't cheap, be looking to pay at least the equivalent of £50-60 and up. Of course, your bum will toughen up over the course of a few weeks if you keep at it.

I remember during the summer holidays (god, 30 yrs ago now ) I used to cycle on my old Bianchi from Widnes to Rhyl or Llandudno, have an ice cream & a go on the fair & then ride back home . Easily 100-120 miles in a day. I must have had an arse of steel back in those days cos I don't remember it hurting at all!

[Bran Kulez]

Jim Leach wrote: ...Don't buy a bike based on the material or specs alone- you need to ride one.... you want to have a feel of that before you buy it and riding around a bike shop parking lot does not replicate this well otherwise....
If you 'dream' bike is too expensive, see if a step down on the grouppo would bring you into your price range... The mid grade stuff is so good 99% of people wouldn't notice the difference, and are a few grams of weight worth the huge jump in price? Generally not

Very good advice!

Rob998 wrote: ...Of course, your bum will toughen up over the course of a few weeks if you keep at it.

That's right. Keep in mind that when you sit on the saddle, it's actually muscle that provides the padding. The more you ride hard, the stronger those muscles will become and the soreness will diminish. A good quality leather saddle broken-in will be very comfortable.

[cafe latte]

Thanks guys! The guy in shop locally is apparently a very keen rider so I should get good advice there and for sure I will get my bike fitted properly. What is annoying though is that shop in Ireland is selling the top model Giants (about 2500 dollars in Aus) for the same price as what I can but the Giant defy 1 in Aus leaves a bit of a bad taist. I realise though it is important to get a bike that fits you correctly and also get one you can live with too. The bike I borrowed is a piece of junk going down a steep hill I still needed to pedal as the bike was stealing so much momentum and the gears are just horrible it threw the chain yesterday too. Whatever I buy is going to feel amazing after this beast of a thing but I want it to be right also in the long term.
I think half of my seat problems are the seat is as cheap as the bike and it is basically presses steel covered in a thin piece of foam and plastic, but the foam gave up 10 years ago so now I am sitting on a thin unpadded metal seat an interesting experience.
Regards
CL

[13oots2]

Hi Cafe,

Not had a chance to get out today as planned, we had really heavy showers all day and I fancied a nice ride on a sunny day. I think you have a slightly better deal with the weather in your neck of the world.

Am going to slowly rebuild this bike as the frame is nice but the parts are a little dated. Am going to go for a respray from Argos and will hopefully have a nice looking machine too at the end of it all. At the end of the day am not going to be competing again and I really don't need an uber bike to spin the back lanes.

[cafe latte]

Hi Cafe,

Not had a chance to get out today as planned, we had really heavy showers all day and I fancied a nice ride on a sunny day. I think you have a slightly better deal with the weather in your neck of the world.

Am going to slowly rebuild this bike as the frame is nice but the parts are a little dated. Am going to go for a respray from Argos and will hopefully have a nice looking machine too at the end of it all. At the end of the day am not going to be competing again and I really don't need an uber bike to spin the back lanes.

How about some before and after pics?
Here it is the sun that is the problem either you ride around 5pm or first thing in the morning or you cook. I like riding around 5 too as the massive trucks going out west on the main highway have stopped. On my first day I went out a bit earlier and a road train passed me Gulp , Ge gave me plently of room but it still scared the life out of me. Here they are only allowed two trailers it is not until they get a bit further out bush that you get the 40m long ones but two is more than enough when they pass at speed. When I get onto the local estate it is really pleasant though and I can always take the bike there in the car if I wish.
Regards
CL

[cafe latte]

Day three and butt is not so sore and things were a lot easier today so it seems I am over the worst. I am now looking at Cube attempt and Giant defy 1 as possibilities but things may change as i am still doing research Already I am feeling better for my efforts and sleeping better too but this may be my evening ride wearing me out
Regards
CL

[Jim Leach]

This is great news.

I really need to be spining more but I have no time for much of anything these days, so I have to sit on the sidelines and aquire all the fat you loose.

It's al about the balance...

[13oots2]

Finally managed to get out for a very short spin today, probably no more than 3km. I must be one of the most unfit people on VE, I have had 3 strokes, my knee is shot and I am in the process of giving up smoking, I also weigh about 18st. Having the saddle a bit too high added to my discomfort and am set to adjust it shortly, it also looks from the picture that the saddle is tilted up and will sort that out too.

The bike seems to be coping admirably and aside from a few spoke twangs on the front wheel, I had it trued yesterday, all seems well.

Both the bike and I are going to be a work in progress and have taken a shot of the bike before, I have added new pedals and saddle due to the junk that was on it. There is one glaring mistake in the picture and I only noticed after I got back from my short ride.

[Rob998]

I am now looking at Cube attempt and Giant defy 1
CL

My MTB is a Cube Aim Disc & is really well put together, with excellent running gear for the money (£500, the most I can get through my cycle to work scheme) except for the crappy "get you home" pedals. The Attempt (called the Peloton Pro over here for some reason) looks ace value for £800, the Giant not so much at £1k...

I've just remembered another good thing about Gel shorts too. You can put them in the fridge overnight & they keep your bum cool...

[Rob998]

There is one glaring mistake in the picture and I only noticed after I got back from my short ride.

Front wheel on wrong way round!