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Tyler
I am in the market for a road bike but i don't know what to look for in a bike. Any suggestions would be appreciated
Answer
There are many variations of road bike based on a variety of factors, including (1) intended use and (2) material.
INTENDED USE
Ok, there a variety of different styles of road bikes and many people often call them different things. Here is my breakdown.
If you are planning on riding long rides but still want to have a fast race bike, the "Plush" category of bikes. Don't let the word "plush" fool you -- these are still high quality race bikes, they are just slightly altered to accomodate longer rides. These would include the Specialized Roubaix series (go to www.specialized.com) and the Cannondale Synnapse series (www.cannondale.com). These two bike series will range from about $1900 to about $6000 depending on the model. They are designed to be fast and compliant, but at the same time slightly more comfortable. Trust me, though, you won't be lacking in performance.
If you are going to be focusing on road racing, you might want to go with a Specialized Tarmac, a Trek Madone, a Cannondale SuperSix, or something similar. Again, a huge price range. (for a less expensive option, look at the Specialized Allez). These bikes generally will have a little more aggressive geometry (shorter head tubes, steeper angles, etc).
If you live in an area with flat ground and foresee yourself doing triathlons or bike time trials, then getting a time trial bike would be the way to go. These bikes focus on aeordynamics (although they are still really light) and pure straight speed (not as good on hills, curves, etc). Examples are the Trek TT, the Specialized Transition, the Cannondale Slice.
Many companies also make a variety of bikes in the "touring" category. These are not racing bikes, focus more on long haul comfort, but are still fast and fun to ride.
Cyclocross bikes may be a good choice if you want a limited ability to go off-road. They are generally not as light or fast as road bikes (although a really high end one will be), but still have a good sporty feel. They are generally geared a bit lower - in cyclocross you need the ability to accelarate over rough terrain and steep hills, not necessarily the ability to go 35 mph on a straightaway. I have a cx bike that I use for commuting, riding in bad conditions or going out with my kids -- situations in which I wouldn't want to take my carbon road bike.
As far as materials, the main ones are Carbon Fiber, Aluminum, Steel and Titanium. If you are going for a race bike, I personally believe that Carbon Fiber is the way to go. The material is stiff, light, and eats up road vibrations. I would guess that a vast majority of bikes on the pro tour are carbon. Aluminum can still be really light and is very stiff (and would be great for a time trial bike or criterium bike) but may not be as comfortable over a long ride. Steel is old school and is a popular material among bike messengers because it makes a statement (I don't need your fancy materials) and is very durable. It also is used on many cyclocross bikes. Titanium is a great material and generally the choice of middle age men (and older) who can drop some cash.
I hope this helps. Good luck.
Looking to buy a new mt. bike-Hardtail, $1000-$1300 price range. Any ideas?
ehiggens
I have already test road the Trek 6700 and liked it. Looking at reviews, it seems like the components arent that great though. Any suggestions as to other bikes I should check out in that same price range?
Answer
All bikes in that range will have similar components (lx/some xt or equivalent), unless you find one on sale. I like to look at last years model because you can usually find one at 30% off the current retail.
The one thing you failed to mention is what kind of riding you are looking to do, and where. All Mountain, XC, Downhill, freeride, dirtjump, cyclocross. Each will use a different type of MTB and will yield different suggestions from the crowd.
Make it a point to visit 3-4 bike shops. Tell the sales person your budget, your intentions with respect to riding style, and have them help show you what they have. Test ride them all without prejudice and make an objective choice.
just don't buy Trek...... Just kidding. Trek makes a good bike, so does Specialized, or Cannondale, or Kona, or Gary Fisher, the list goes on and on.
Things to consider along with the brand and components, is the feel of the shop where you spend your money. Do they answer your questions? Do you feel comfortable with them? What kind of after sale support is included? What is the warranty for the frame/fork?
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