New bicycle
Monday, June 30th, 2008 - 4:04pm
So I want to get excited about the new bicycle I'm getting ready to buy. But its pretty hard since it is so expensive. So here are the two I am looking at after having ridden the relaxed geometry models in Trek, Felt, Giant, Specialized, and Cannondale.
Felt Z35
http://www.feltracing.com/08/product.asp?catid=1515&pid=8674
Cannondale
http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/08/cusa/model-8RCS3C.html
I'm leaning more toward the Felt since I think it fits me just a bit better, but I can get the Cannondale decked out with ultegra for $350 more. Ah its so hard, because its so much money. You other bikers, help me spend some money. 
Spiderman wouldn't sneak, Spiderman would go. -Elysium
XBL: TheZedian
Get the better fit. Hands down.
*Legion* wrote:
You can change everything about a bike except the frame. Get the one that fits you better. Plus, you won't notice the difference between 105 and Ultegra.
There is only an up or down--up to a man's age-old dream, the ultimate in individual freedom consistent with law and order--or down to the ant heap totalitarianism,... those who would trade our freedom for security have embarked on this downward course.
That felt - that's a sweet ass bike.
If you're not going to spring for Italian, i agree, the 105 isn't what's going to slow you down. I used to be much more of a gearhead about bike weight, but I still come back to the age old wisdom: a pound on your bike is much less important than a pound on your body. You don't have to push blood through your bike.
The 105 stuff is completely rock solid from what I've seen. But then, I'm a campy guy. If you DID have extra room in the budget, I'd focus on saddle (unless your moving yours) and pedals and shoes. Those three have so much more impact than groupo. (If anyone cares, I'm partial to Diadora shoes and speedplay pedals.)
Gamertag: GWJ Rabbit | Last.fm | Twitter
"Think of it as 'grinding SO rep in the Kitchen instance.' " - Montalban
I looked at this thread because I've toyed with the idea of buying a bike for the last couple of years (I haven't had a bike since high school and haven't regularly ridden since middle school), but this is obviously the "Cycling 400 - Terminology you can't even comprehend" thread rather than the "Cycling 101 - Metal thing with wheels and maybe even a gear or two" that I need to be in.
Kinda like in college when a freshman biology student wandered into our CSC 420 Operating Systems class the first day. I like to think she was scarred for life.
Fletcher wrote:
Heh. Sorry kaos. Bike Porn.
Gamertag: GWJ Rabbit | Last.fm | Twitter
"Think of it as 'grinding SO rep in the Kitchen instance.' " - Montalban
*Legion* wrote:
I just bought a bike to commute to work. I went with the Trek 7300.
http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/2008/bike_path/7000_series/7300/
I've only ever ridden Schwinns and the like before, the difference is amazing.
Red Foxx, standing by.
Holy crap, well I never would have thought it, but I ended up buying this:
http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?a=b&minisite=10029&spid=331...
So yeah, its a bit more expensive. But I rode it and the felt back to back, and for riding all the time the roubaix is just so much more soft and supple. I'm swapping out the saddle for something a bit heavier and with more padding. The other good thing is that specialized is giving me $250 dollars of free gear which I would have to spend anyway. Please tell me I am not crazy.
Spiderman wouldn't sneak, Spiderman would go. -Elysium
XBL: TheZedian
I'm always a bit surprised at how much some bikes cost. I love riding bikes and believe that you need to spend a fair amount of money to get a good bike. However, I've just never been able to spend a couple grand on a bike. That's a sweet bike, though, and it should serve you well.
Getting killed, though? In a way that you don't like? Suck it up, Gertrude.
Yeah, I can't imagine you won't love it.
As for pedals, there's always adapters. Gives you the best of all worlds.
Gamertag: GWJ Rabbit | Last.fm | Twitter
"Think of it as 'grinding SO rep in the Kitchen instance.' " - Montalban
*Legion* wrote:
While I hear you, I can't imagine riding hard in sneakers for more than 10 minutes. My feet go numb off and on as it is. I also can't imagine standing up on hills.
Gamertag: GWJ Rabbit | Last.fm | Twitter
"Think of it as 'grinding SO rep in the Kitchen instance.' " - Montalban
Yeah I got $250 dollars of gear for free with the bike. Specialized is running a "Tour de France" deal. I got mountain bike shoes/pedals, because I'm going to use it for commuting quite frequently and want the tread. I also got a computer, pump, patch kit, shorts, etc. If the computer is right, which it should be, I can easily get the bike to 30+ mph on small hills. I don't think that's too bad considering I wasn't really trying.
Spiderman wouldn't sneak, Spiderman would go. -Elysium
XBL: TheZedian