Who rides road bikes and what do you have?

[rfritz]

Since you are on a BMW board, I can only assume that you prefer the best.

2 words - Seven Cycles.

End of story.

[RCWells]

Since you are on a BMW board, I can only assume that you prefer the best.

2 words - Seven Cycles.

End of story.

Prefer, yes. Afford, no, at least not right now. I DO drive an E30 so that may say something about my financial position currently. I've seen the Sevens and they are nice. Perhaps one day?

[FredK]

Since you are on a BMW board, I can only assume that you prefer the best.

2 words - Seven Cycles.

End of story.

Perhaps you thought this was m5board.com? :razz:

[FredK]

What's your budget?

If your budget is around $1200-1400 or so, I'd definitely try to get a slightly used steel / titanium bike with Ultegra 9 / Campy Chorus. That's just me, though. I know plenty of guys who'd give their left nut to get some euro trash fancy schmancy aluminum bike with hydroformed tubes and a carbon rear triangle.

The great thing about road bikes is that the frame geometry hasn't really changed over the years. I guess top tubes have gotten a little longer than they used to be, but this happened probably in the late 80s.

[MattE30]

Best advice is: get fitted properly.

Go into a a reputable shop and get someone who knows what they are doing to get you fitted properly. Unlike mountain biking, frame fit is so important. I wouldn't buy a bike off the internet unless you are absolutley positive it fits right. Otherwise you are wasting your money.

Side note: since lance is no longer racing, and an American will not be winning the Tour de France for a bit, how long will the road biking fad last? (not implying you or anyone here is following the fad)

[RCWells]

Best advice is: get fitted properly.

Go into a a reputable shop and get someone who knows what they are doing to get you fitted properly. Unlike mountain biking, frame fit is so important. I wouldn't buy a bike off the internet unless you are absolutley positive it fits right. Otherwise you are wasting your money.

Side note: since lance is no longer racing, and an American will not be winning the Tour de France for a bit, how long will the road biking fad last? (not implying you or anyone here is following the fad)

Will proper fit carry over from one bike to the next? I mean, if I get fitted for one bike, how can I be sure that I will fit another bike?

Oh, and I started this to get into shape, not because of the Tour. Sure I thought it was cool when dude won it for the seventh time, but I also followed Lemond way back when but didn't start biking then.

[FredK]

Yes. Once you get properly fitted to a bike, you'll have an idea of what size frame (seat tube and top tube length) and stem that you'll need to get the ideal body position. Of course, that's sort of a simplification, but in general, frames don't vary THAT widely. If you have a long torso, you need a bike with a longer top tube. If you have short torso, you need a bike with a shorter top tube.

6'1", 33" inseam are typical measurements, so you won't need to go crazy trying to find a super unique frame that is precisely fitted within a micron's tolerance.

[rfritz]

It took me forever (2 years) to get the bike put together after buying the frame. As for the fit, it is perfect. The only bad thing is if you want to sell it, no one will buy it since it is custom. I guess I can never buy another bike again, which is both good and bad.

[asubimmer]

the fitment thing is good to think about but there are lots of things you can adjust to make a bike fit you properly. One of the best things is to play w/ the handle bar stem. There are tons of sizes available.

I have a trek 1000. Its one of Trek's lowest models, I got it just for training though. I used to race MTB's for a local shop. I have a full carbon fiber MTB. Its a Schwinn S-10, XTR, Spin wheels (three spoke carbon fiber wheels), the works. Thats one reason I don't have a super expensive road bike ;) I had to stop racing though b/c it was just too hot where I lived. I'm gonna bring my bikes up to boone though when I get the house. I miss riding a lot. Its great exersize and tons of fun IMO.

[thejimlab]

Wow, a roadie bike thread. Roadie bikes suck, ride a mountain bike, it's way more fun. Now that I got that out of the way, everyone here is giving some pretty good advice. Fit is certainly the most important aspect. If it doesn't feel comfortable, you won't ride it ever again. You may also want to stay away from cheap aluminum bikes, they may look sexy, but they are pretty punishing. I ride a total piece of crap. It's an old Raleigh, one of the last from the UK factory. It's got mostly old ultegra 8 speed, one bar end shifter, one down tube shifter, and a sweet ass pair of wheels that I laced myself. I used to ride road a lot, got hit by a car, sold some of my other bikes, and now I road ride only when I have no time to hit the dirt. I mainly ride my singlespeed mountain bike. and Fred, I didn't know you were a filthy roadie.

[FredK]

and Fred, I didn't know you were a filthy roadie.

:finger: hahahaha! What can I say, I'm filthy roadie scum.

I started out on the dirt though! I got a road bike to get a little faster off road. Still, I am slower than molasses. :mrgreen: Also, I rarely get a chance to hit the trails, but the road is right outside my door! I can do a time trial, out and back in an hour, but riding off road takes a lot longer.

These days my mountain bikes just collect dust, and my road bike gets used every once in a while. At least my super beater bike gets used every day when I use it to ride a mile or so down the road from the subway to my work. Yeah, I'm lazy.

[WlknGenius]

I don't road bike much anymore, but I still go out on the weekends sometimes.

I have a LeMond Chambery from one of the last years they produced it. I chose an aluminum frame because I liked the tightness and the responsiveness. I tried riding the carbon fibers frames and they supposedly are tight but they just felt a little funny to me.
At the time I was debating between LeMond and Klein, since Klein seemed to make solid aluminum frames. I imagine they still do, so maybe look into them if you want aluminum. LeMond bikes were preferable to me over treks since they had a slightly different geometry. They have slightly longer crossbars on average, so they stretch you out a little more and I believe the crank is slightly lower compared to the center of the wheels.

My logic was that I am young and I can handle a slightly more uncomfortable ride.

The best bang for your buck is to buy a used cycle. There are so many guys who drop 2k on a bike, but 200 miles on it and sell it 2 years later.

I'm a big fan of the campy chorus components. But people have always given me the advice never to buy a bike built by an italian. They can make decent parts and components but they suck at putting them together. I don't know if other people have heard this too.

That's my 2 cents.

[RCWells]

I don't road bike much anymore, but I still go out on the weekends sometimes.

I have a LeMond Chambery from one of the last years they produced it.
The best bang for your buck is to buy a used cycle. There are so many guys who drop 2k on a bike, but 200 miles on it and sell it 2 years later.

Wanna sell me a Lemon D?

About the MTN bikes: I would love to ride off road, but don't really have many trails where I am. I could hit the pastures around here but that would get old quick. Also, I want to do Tris, and the mtn bikes just won't cut the mustard there. As it is, I ride a Giant Sedona SE, with some Kenda Kross hybrid tires which kinda sucks for what I really want to do, but it is getting the job done. As a matter of fact, IF I make this triathlon in Tupelo on Aug. 5th, I will have to ride the Sedona. UNLESS I can find a decently priced good condition used road bike before hand.

Thanks to all of you guys for all the advice. Keep it comin'.

Oh and pics of your rides would be great, at this point, mtn.and road bikes. :)

[RCWells]

C'mon guys, post some pics.

[MattE30]

'05 Gary Fisher Tassajara. All stock except for Crank Brothers Egg Beater clipless pedals.