Road Bike $2000-$3000

Dave80

Well i've been doing the rounds of the LBS...

Damn you cwebs! I had a look at Cervelo Team Soloist today and it is one sweet looking bike. Frame looks really nice and from the reading I've done they are very well regarded. The shop I visited indicated they could do a fairly competitive deal on some shoes and pedals also...(still above my budget but who needs to eat)

I had a look at a Pinarello Angliru (@ $2600). It seemed to me like a disproportionate amount of the budget would be going on the frame and Italian brand name but i've added it to the list for further consideration.

Trek 1500 looked good as a mid range option that ticks all the minimum spec requirements.

This weekend I’m going to have a look at the Avanti Corsa and San Remo Pro, Specialized Allez Elite and Gitane Mach 2200.


Hopefully will be able to shortlist 3 or so bikes for further consideration soon. Its been very interesting to go to so many (7 so far) LBS in a short amount of time. I've learnt heaps and of course heard a reasonable amount of BS. Is making the customer feel stupid a common sales tactic?

cwebs

The LBS in Darwin who stocks the Cervelo is selling it for $3245... so I'm thinking an LBS in a big metro would be able to cut you a good deal on it.... perhaps even under your max budget.

Keep us updated.

Dave80

Now have my eyes on some Scott bikes (s10 & s20), found a bike shop that I really like (its got to be one of the most important elements - who wants to buy a bike from a rude, arrogant ahole?), and I really like the value and look.

I'm now looking at the options for swapping out the wheels (R550) as was very helpful suggested by others in this thread (thanks guys). I've asked the ? in the equipment folder (seemed like a better place to put it) so if you have any suggestions I would love to hear them (the wheels suggested so far in this thread are a bit over the price range). Budget is around $700 (max) (for a max swap over cost around $400).

Options so far:
Velocity Deep V $320
Mavic Aksium $350
Mavic Ksyrium Equipe $650


I'm sure i've buggered up 'forum' conventions by posting in both threads - who knows?

Cheers

mrkott3r

Me personally I would get something built up at the shop. The base option is always open pro rims + ultegra hubs + DT spokes. Strong and not a whole heap of dollars. Then you can go up from there. Sit down with them and see what they think and do some reading/searching.

__________________

cwebs

Are the Aksiums a quantum enough leap over the stock 550's to warrant its inclusion in a wheel upgrade? Not worth the expenditure if it's 'like for like'.

Dave80

I agree its a like for like, but I haven't seen a heap of critisism directed at the Aksiums.

Dave80

First, a big thanks to everyone who provided feedback and advice.

I've made a decision to purchase now and enjoy the bike whilst at uni rather than buy one when I'm done and have less hours in the day to enjoy it.

A dark horse, not on the original list, won the race:
Scott Cr1 Team (06) (for those interested details at: www.scottusa.com the 07 is v. similar to the 06 - different colours etc).

I made the decision to swap the Mavic Ksyrium Equipe wheels for some handbuilt shop wheels (mavic rims, DT spokes - heaps of them). Doing this swap got me a set of 105 pedals, Scott Pro shoes (same colour as the bike) and change for a case of beer.

All in all I'm really happy, being an 06 model it was a great value, the staff were awesome (spent hours going talking about options etc) and I didn't blow my budget (in the end it was about at the mid point of my price range).

I struggled with the decision to go to a carbon frame (vice Ultegra groupset on an Alu/Carbon) but I'm fairly happy that I made the right decision - when the components eventually start to wear they will be replaced with Ultegra bits.

I'll do the fit adjustments and pick it up in a bit over a week (had to schedule it after exams or I would fail every subject ). Suffice to say I can't wait.

Jono L

It's gonna be the longest week of your life!

__________________
Classic1-
Don't get me started on triathletes. Sluggo wearing, mechanically inept, dirty, dribbling, elbow steering spawn of Satan. Anyone who sticks food to their bike is a disgrace IMHO.

roshea

Great choice! Where are you getting it from and what size is it? I am still waiting for a driver's insurance Co to process my claim, but the Scott is at the top of my list if I can find a 2006 one in Medium.

PS - the 2007 is listed as slightly heavier than tyhe 06 - anyone know which changes cause the increase?

Dave80

Hey, sorry its taken me so long to reply to your questions, I've been studying for exams.

I'm getting the bike from Melbourne Bicycle Centre in Clifton Hill (website: www.melbournebicycle.com.au) ticket price in shop for the Scott CR1 is $2850 from memory not $2999 as per the website. They still had a fair few last week - I'm not a medium so not sure if they have that size.

I found the staff to be really good: knowledgeable, willing to give you their time and didn't pressure sell upgrades/extras.

At the end of the day I was struggling to separate a few bikes by spec or a 5 minute test ride and the fact that I trusted the staff and were able to chat with them at length/ask any stupid question (without being made to feel like an idiot) was a big factor in deciding to buy this particular bike. Also, I felt that they told it 'how it was' with no BS. The BS meter was really over the redline at some other shops I visited: "your better on a carbon OCR than any other alu or alu/carbon bike, everyone buys carbon these days" (I thought this was a bit of a generalisation, particularly as I was looking at a Cervelo Team Soloist) or "you don't know X brand??? Everyone has heard of X" (no, no I haven't, that’s why I asked you the question about it).

One week till I pick up the bike – can’t wait. Did the Sorrento – Melbourne ATB on the Shogun as its retirement ride (i'll still use it as a wet weather/commuter bike). It was a great day for the ride (despite some isolated showers, I actually got a bit burnt).

Good luck with the insurance claim and bike shopping!

Dave80

Got fitted and picked up the new bike today - bloody awesome (Scott Cr1 Team). The custom wheels look great and although I only had time for a quick 20 minute ride it went like a bullet. Can't wait to find some hills and open roads to really get it going. The switch from SPD to SPD-SL cleats got the brain working. I become so use to the old pedals that it was completely sub conscious - not any more.

Two exams to go then its going to be a long summer of cycling.

Thanks all who contributed great ideas.

Jammyjames

Hi peoples...first post...into a stale thread, so hopefully someone will pick up...


I am looking around for a new road bike in this price range too - have had a Wheeler MTB for 10 years, so completely out of touch with road bikes. Wow, has technology changed since I was a lad !

Ideas are Orbea Vuelta, Argon 18 Radon (both ally/carbon), Trek 5000, OCR-C1.

Love the idea of the Specialised Roubaix's ...but $$'s tight.

JeremyP

If you have time you can build quite a good bike with $3000.

Try Ebay and Probikekit.

Giant TCR Advanced LE M/L Frameset with Deda Stem New (Ebay earlier this week): $1225
Ultegra/Centaur Groupset (PBK): $800
Mavic Aksium (PBK/Ebay): $300
Vittoria Evo Corsa CX (PBK/TC): $100
Selle Italia SLR XP (PBK): $100
Deda Tape (PBK): $12
Deda Handle Bar (PBK): $90
Cateye Strada (Ebay): $50
Bike Build: $200

Total: $2877

If you're building it yourself, then you could probably get Dura Ace and it will cost approx $3000.

Jammyjames

ooooohhh - not so sure I want to go down that track. I suppose it's not hard to do, but is there a saving to be had? Like, what would that bike, assembled, retail for? $4000? more? Less? I think for now I just want to get on one and ride it.