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March, 2024

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First decent road bike, on a budget?

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Spic-N-SpaN
Posts: 2002 - Karma: 1,465
Hoping someone on here knows about bikes, but I'm looking for a commuter for the summer. I'm thinking of going use but let me know if thats a bad idea, I found a Specialized Allez Elite for $699, alright deal? If not thats the price range I'm looking at.
Mar 16 2013 11:55PM
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spliff.Life
Posts: 7847 - Karma: 1,549
Do you have any hills to bike up?


Buy an old bike off craigs and make it a single/fixed to save money/time. I live 2.5 miles up a hill and still bike it on a 56/16 ratio, not that bad and i virtually never have to do any bike work besides keeping it clean
i know yall gon hate but thats my 2 cents
Mar 17 2013 12:06AM
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Spic-N-SpaN
Posts: 2002 - Karma: 1,465
towns relatively flat but I found gears are really nice for long rides, I had a fixed gear and it was a lot of fun for short trips but long rides to work or having to go down hills on the side of the road w/traffic whizzing by being about to coast/freewheel would be nice. Plus you don't get douche bags trying to clip you while yelling hipster.

If I had money and space for a few bikes a fixed gear would find its way into my garage again I'm sure. But right now I need to limit myself to a road bike and a mountain bike. and even then my Transitions too heavy and not geared for xc and I'd like another for that.
Mar 17 2013 12:22AM
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will_powder
Posts: 3194 - Karma: 5,445
You are an absolute animal if that is your real ratio. Like straight beast mode. You have to be lying. Must be a 46/16.
Mar 17 2013 12:30AM
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uosdwiSrjewoH
Posts: 4220 - Karma: 121
if you're looking to buy a new road bike, this year is a pretty good year to do it, because the new shimano sora components got a huge upgrade while staying at the same price. so the allez sport, which comes in at about $950, probably $900 by late spring, would be a huge upgrade over the base model you're talking about. before this upgrade, if you were buying new i would have suggested a budget of minimum $1200, and that's minimum, but now you can get something almost as good (only difference you'll notice is probably 9spd vs. 10spd, but on a budget you'll live) for under a thousand.
Mar 17 2013 12:42AM
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spliff.Life
Posts: 7847 - Karma: 1,549
just looked and its 52/16, but yeah haha, ive been biking up my hill for 10+years now, during the spring when i dont have biking muscles i definitely get raped the first few rides up, like standing up the whole way and ridiculously out of breath but by the start of summer i can usually do most or all of it sitting down


but thanks for making this point, i dislike low ration singles/fixies, they are pointless if youre trying to get anywhere
Mar 17 2013 12:42AM
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uosdwiSrjewoH
Posts: 4220 - Karma: 121
didn't see that you said elite rather than base model, could be a pretty good deal, but what year is it and what size is it/how tall are you?
Mar 17 2013 12:44AM
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Spic-N-SpaN
Posts: 2002 - Karma: 1,465
The guy didn't say but maybe you'll be able to recognize it
Click for larger image

And its a 56cm, I'm 6 foot with a 33" inseam, I think 58 would be ideal though, right? can I get away with a 56 or would I be hating it
Mar 17 2013 12:52AM
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will_powder
Posts: 3194 - Karma: 5,445
Yeah have a hill between my house and work so I have a 44/16. I spin a fair bit on flats though so I'm thinking 52/16 (just came into possession of a really nice 52 ring), but I don't want to screw my knees by riding too big a gear. I've been riding geared here in Vancouver though, kinda miss the simplicity of my single.

I was picturing you like this beast haha:

Click for larger image
Mar 17 2013 12:52AM
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grapejuice3000+
Posts: 2132 - Karma: 1,985
I've found some pretty cheap older celeste blue bianchis on craigslist, you could go retro and rock a steel straight frame 10-speed, i think i might this summer.
Mar 17 2013 1:21AM
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Spic-N-SpaN
Posts: 2002 - Karma: 1,465
also found a 2008 Specialized Tricross 58cm for $850, which would be nice cause roads here are shit and small sections of the bike path from my house to town is unpaved..
Mar 17 2013 1:39AM
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grown-ninja
Posts: 3031 - Karma: 175
It's not just the cost of the bike you need to add at least 250$ on top of that for shoes and peddles, than at lease another 200 for tax, padded shorts, a jersey, water bottles... You get the idea add between 400-500 on top of the base coat of your bike is a general rule in my opinion. I got a k2 Mach 1 in highschool about 7 years ago or so, it's a step up from rahlies or however you spell it aluminum forks might be carbon actually who knows cost me close to 800 maybe a g after shoes peddles tax shorts jersey it all adds up. Pretty light though pretty good bike too some derailment problem same with the gears even though it had good shaniun gear. I dont really know what I'm talking about, but from experience it adds up quick
Mar 17 2013 2:25AM
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*rkp*
Posts: 8198 - Karma: 257
honestly, buy used.

check out consignment at local bike shops, or craigslist/cycling forums.

any new road bike is going to be relatively crappy under 1400$.

there are so many amazing deals out there by people who buy a new rig every few years.


Mar 17 2013 9:49AM
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Spic-N-SpaN
Posts: 2002 - Karma: 1,465
I'm not really planing to go full road biker with the lycra and everything. I'll get the shoes but I'm just trying to get to work a tank top and cut offs will probably be the extent of my aerodynamic-ness
Mar 17 2013 11:39AM
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t-roy
Posts: 4041 - Karma: 52
almost every bike i see on craigslist is way overpriced

last fall i was looking for my first road bike and i got the 2nd lowest end Giant for about 750 bucks and it works great.

i think you would be wasting money to get anything more than antry-level ride just for commuting
Mar 17 2013 12:44PM
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fragglemuffin
Posts: 3312 - Karma: 444
Good call. There is no need for the whole roadie getup for commuting. For a bike, look for something with the Sora groupset. As noted earlier, Shimano really stepped their game up with their price-point roadie stuff, but even the older Sora isn't all that bad if you're just riding for fun and commuting. I have a Cannondale CAAD 8 (I got it pretty cheap because I'm a mechanic at a local shop) and it has done me great for both commuting and 50+ mi rides. As for shoes/pedals, unless you're planning on eventually becoming a full blown roadie, either stick to the toe basket pedals that come on cheap road bikes, or get a used set of Crank Brothers eggbeaters and shoes like these:
https://www.dzrshoes.com/ (There's nothing worse than trying to walk on tile/linoleum floors in real roadie shoes.

If you find a bike on craigslist or something, feel free to PM me the link and I'll tell you if it's a good deal or not.

Good Luck!

Mar 17 2013 1:01PM
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Gnarwall
Posts: 1180 - Karma: 50
Single speeds are idiotic. Get a ten speed. That's the most versatile bike you can get. Commuting to work? check. Go on a century? check. Go on a bike tour? Throw some racks on it and boom, you've ridden from Seattle to California in a week.
Mar 17 2013 3:15PM
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grown-ninja
Posts: 3031 - Karma: 175
Depends on how Long your commute is, even a five mile ride I'd want to have riding shorts, if not your butt/taint is gonna be on fire. SAme with shoes and clips, it make rides at Least 50% easier in my opinion
Mar 17 2013 5:04PM
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.AR6rider.
Posts: 15976 - Karma: 8,799
This isn't exactly related to the thread, but I just need to put it out there:

Fixies are fucking retarded and if you ride one I pretty much automatically hate you. Not only do you look like a fucking moron riding one 99% of the time, but I'll pass you every time riding both up and down hills, and by the time you've worked your ass off to get to your top speed on flat, I'll be looonnnggg gone. You're not a cyclocross superstar, you're a hipster idiot.
Mar 17 2013 5:30PM
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Laurent.
Posts: 10054 - Karma: 25,277
Best bike:

Click for larger image
Mar 17 2013 5:53PM
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45.
Posts: 3164 - Karma: 170
I would suggest a used CAAD 8 or 9 if you can afford it.. You didn't really throw out a budget.
Mar 17 2013 5:56PM
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monkatizer
Posts: 4704 - Karma: 1,518
surprised no one has suggested bikes direct.

i bought my first road bike there and will be buying another soon. it may seem like a weird site, but they are 100% legit and the bikes are super good for the price. def spend at least 600 on there, anything below that isnt that great, and the more u spend, the better deal you get.

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/road_bikes.htm


hit me up if u have any questions!
Mar 17 2013 6:31PM
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uosdwiSrjewoH
Posts: 4220 - Karma: 121
if you plan on going for any kind of distance ride, you're going to want bike shorts, endo story.
Mar 17 2013 7:54PM
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.AR6rider.
Posts: 15976 - Karma: 8,799
This for sure. Although, if you don't want to go full spandexed out, you can always get some nice MTB shorts. For casual rides or if I'm taking my bike somewhere instead of my car I have a few pairs of Pearl Izumi cargo shorts that I wear and I just stick some regular shoes in a backpack. You can't even tell the difference from regular shorts but you get some nice padding.

Click for larger image
Mar 17 2013 7:59PM
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grapejuice3000+
Posts: 2132 - Karma: 1,985
ive ridden 30+ miles in levis, and vans. you are a fudgeball.
Mar 17 2013 8:11PM
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grown-ninja
Posts: 3031 - Karma: 175
This is one of your best posts. I can't stand when people defend fixed gears, some places are flat but the majority of places you ride will have some grade to them regardless of if it's up or down, why make your life harder to look cool. Every fixie riders response is hhho there's less to go wrong they don't break. I was putting 100m on my road bike every few days and there was never a problem outside of the chain popping once but that was my fault for maintenance issues. When I see people on fixed gears I want to jab large pieces of wood in their wheels
Mar 17 2013 8:29PM
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grapejuice3000+
Posts: 2132 - Karma: 1,985
fixies are meant for the city, durable, compact, simple bikes that can stop quickly and regain speed fairly quickly are so nice in a bigger city, and get you around much faster than a geared bike or even a car will. That being said if you live in the suburbs and ride fixies to school you ought to die.
Mar 17 2013 9:46PM
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Gnarwall
Posts: 1180 - Karma: 50
God, this is full of retard. A geared bike will get you around a city faster than a fixie. There is no way one universal gear is going to be as efficient as having multiple gears that cover multiple situations. AR6 hit it on the head. Also "more compact?" What the fuck? it's the same sized frame regardless of the gearing. Fixies are meant for the track.
Mar 17 2013 10:02PM
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uosdwiSrjewoH
Posts: 4220 - Karma: 121
if you need more than one gear to get around a city, guess what, you're probably a shitty cyclist. fixies weigh less, cost less, require next to no maintenance and give you a superior pedal stroke for when you return to a road bike. if you hate hipsters that ride fixies, say so, but leave the bikes out of it. sure, it's not a replacement for a road bike, but as an inner city commuter, it's a great option. so calm your jets.
Mar 17 2013 10:10PM
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JIB_WALRUS
Posts: 671 - Karma: 130
So much more goes into bike fitting then your inseam. If you really want to get a good fit and be happy with your bike find a shop or a physical therapist in your area that fits people on bikes. You are not going to be able to do a proper fit yourself. Having a bike that fits well is probably more important then the bike that you choose to get. Make the right choice spend the extra money and in the end you will be much happier and much more comfortable on your bike.
Mar 17 2013 10:11PM
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StickDonkey
Posts: 284 - Karma: 2,456

Check Craigslist every day and make sure you search for the right size and one should come up if youre persistant. The most important thing to pay attenton to is the components especially the front derailer and shifter because if you go cheap your'e gonna eventually end . I.E Shimano Tiagra, Ultegra, Dura-ace all good. I got a Giant OCR 2 on CL for $500 and I love it.  

Mar 18 2013 1:17AM
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will_powder
Posts: 3194 - Karma: 5,445
Shimano 105 is usually pretty great. Especially this year, the 105 groupo looks really nice.
Mar 18 2013 2:11AM
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uosdwiSrjewoH
Posts: 4220 - Karma: 121
some solid irony in the use of the word pretentious here.
Mar 18 2013 8:51AM
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onLINE
Posts: 1013 - Karma: 423

I just bought my first road bike for commuting this summer. I went the hipster route as my commute isnt very far (5km) and its pretty flat. Ive always paid top dollar for my bikes i built a black market mob for dj'in and spent around 3k on it...with my commuter i went as entry level hipster as possible picked up a mongoose sinsure for $149 lol will upgrade parts like the crank and bb as they brake and ill ditch the freewheel and flip it over to fixed most of the time...but for $149 i couldnt say no for a commuter.

Looks decent for the price.  

 Click for larger image

Mar 18 2013 9:58AM
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I_liketobutter
Posts: 2664 - Karma: 997
you just don't get it but...

i have a fixed, and still can't stand 90% of people who ride them. i just shake my head
Mar 18 2013 10:17AM
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TheBigD
Posts: 250 - Karma: 10
chances are, the 56 is going to be too small of a bike. ideally, you should go to a shop, be fitted by someone who knows what they're doing, and buy a bike in that shop. realistically, you're not going to do that so get a friend and do this: http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CCY?PAGE=FIT_CALCULATOR_INTRO

I don't know how bad the roads are where you live, but you can ride almost anything on a 25, or 28mm tire, both of which will fit in most modern road bikes. I really don't think that there's a better mass produced bike than the caad10(price/quality) so I'd opt to stay in the caad family with a 10 speed derailer, especially if you think that you may get into cycling.
Mar 18 2013 10:31AM
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uosdwiSrjewoH
Posts: 4220 - Karma: 121
not sure why everyone thinks a guy that's 6 foot should be on a 58cm frame. I'm 5'11 and my 56cm fits fine, and I can fit on a 54cm pretty comfortably. on a 58 you'll be reaching like crazy.
Mar 18 2013 1:22PM
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B-runge
Posts: 16558 - Karma: 360
People hating on fixed gears are the ones saying you need to buy a ton of silly shit in order to go biking (you need a bike, shoes, and a helmet). It's clear you guys already dont understand simplicity when in comes to the sport so why would you understand single speed bikes. Dont knock it until you try it you fucking cum guzzlers. Also i commute on a mtb so i'm not being defensive
Mar 18 2013 2:33PM
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Spic-N-SpaN
Posts: 2002 - Karma: 1,465
Costumes
Mar 18 2013 2:36PM
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fujarome
Posts: 8630 - Karma: 1,561
its also hilarious when I see some hipster on a fixie fly by while I'm walking, only to get cut off by a dump truck and have no real means of breaking, and his 4 inch handlebars don't allow him to turn very well, so he eats shit into the side of a building.


I have no problem with any type of bike for commuting, so long as you don't ride like a dumbass. Every time I hear about some 24 year old being killed on a bike in the city, it's because he blew through a red light or was doing something outrageous like bombing down a one way hill, the wrong way.
Mar 18 2013 2:40PM
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uosdwiSrjewoH
Posts: 4220 - Karma: 121
"Attempting to impress by affecting greater importance, talent, culture, etc., than is actually possessed."

do you understand how "hipsterdom" as it's understood today works? you're wearing shitty jeans riding your single speed, and for some reason you feel as though you have greater importance, talent and culture when you sprint past some appropriately dressed cyclists, only to drop off at the record store out of breath while they continue on for another 100k, not caring that some hipster passed them for 1km thinking he's better.
Mar 18 2013 2:43PM
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Laurent.
Posts: 10054 - Karma: 25,277
Cyclingwear is overrated.

We Dutch don't need it.


Mar 18 2013 3:05PM
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tacotom
Posts: 454 - Karma: 479
Trek Speed Concept 9 is a really nice one, take a look it wont disappoint!
Mar 18 2013 3:08PM
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J.D.
Posts: 21362 - Karma: 5,141

http://www.jensonusa.com/Road-Bikes/Diamondback-Podium-Sport-Road-Bike-12

Super cheap yo.

Mar 18 2013 3:10PM
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Spic-N-SpaN
Posts: 2002 - Karma: 1,465
Makes me want one of those bikes for riding in town haha.
Mar 18 2013 3:11PM
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onLINE
Posts: 1013 - Karma: 423
I bet elgato's fixie is pimp and could handle track abuse...i put it out there that im buying a 150$ pos mongoose sinsure from walmart and i get no hate or hipster bashing! cracks me up lol
Mar 18 2013 3:28PM
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uosdwiSrjewoH
Posts: 4220 - Karma: 121
sorry chief, you lists aren't doing anything for me. you assume that you're in some way better than other cyclists because you're on a single speed in jeans. do you think they're wearing biking gear because it makes them look cool? nope, nobody really want to wear spandex. They're wearing biking jerseys, shorts and shoes because they're all fucking ideal for cycling, and if you've ever gone on a proper distance ride you'd know it too. I have no problem with single speeds, they're fun, light, simple, awesome commuters. And I don't fully kit up if i'm just commuting or riding to a buddy's, there's absolutely no need for it. But if you're judging other cyclists for what they're wearing, and if you feel superior for wearing jeans, no matter how nice, and riding a single speed, you're being a hipster. it's not even the bike that you're riding, its the mentality that you apparently hold while you're on it. you might not have the glasses, you might now have the tattoos, but you're a hipster, and you don't really get cycling as a sport.
Mar 18 2013 3:29PM
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uosdwiSrjewoH
Posts: 4220 - Karma: 121
nice finishing move, you're really good at this.
Mar 18 2013 3:36PM
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Laurent.
Posts: 10054 - Karma: 25,277
Great for posture.


Mar 18 2013 3:37PM
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