- Oct 8, 2003
- 17,524
- 9,454
I want to buy a road bike to get in shape since I have bad knees. Any suggestions on bikes or brands? Anything I need to know?
Cyclists Enter
- Thread in 'Sports & Training' Thread starter Started by niketalker23,
- Start date
- Nov 13, 2006
- 172
- 11
just make sure you go to a bike shop that will let you do some test rides. that is very helpful. also, make sure they will put you on the trainer and adjustthe bike to fit you. i bought mine at a performance bike store in dallas. they were super helpful. good luck and happy riding
- Jun 19, 2002
- 495
- 10
once u get fitted for abike u can probably save cash by hittin up craigslist too.
- May 29, 2008
- 1,907
- 11
start with a few goals first, how long will you eventually want to ride? how often will you ride? whats more important to you, a stiff frame or amore comfortable frame? will you want to ride in races eventually or keep it recreational?
goals can help you come up with a budget. for example, if you need a bike for semi-workout purposes and as an addition to a healthy lifestyle then youdon't have to worry too much about having the most expensive groupsets, wheelsets etc. and will perhaps look to a comfortable frame as opposed to a stiffframe which is more ideal for racing and climbing as you can accelerate better. stiffer frame = less energy lost to the flex. bike geometry also differes frombike to bike, some are geared more towards racing while others have a geometry thats fit for a more comfortable long distance ride. answering these questionswill help people suggest you appropriate bikes to try out.
- Nov 30, 2000
- 818
- 20
Get fitted for a bike. Most important thing you can do.
Look for the best components you can afford, don't look at brands of the bike (Trek, Specialized, Felt, Fuji...etc). Most frames regardless of company arenow made in Taiwan or China so the big difference at the entry level is the components. I would at least look for a Shimano 105 group as it is a great valuefor the price you pay versus a Tiagra or Sora group which is much lower in quality.
www.bikesdirect.com is a good resource, don't mind the brand names as they don't really matter at the entry level (sub $1500) At that price point youwill get a brand name aluminum frame with carbon fork and a 105 or Ultegra group. When you are up in the stratosphere of road bikes then worrying about brandslike Colnago makes sense as that is where the more established and successful bike company's research and unique frame implementation come into play.
Look for the best components you can afford, don't look at brands of the bike (Trek, Specialized, Felt, Fuji...etc). Most frames regardless of company arenow made in Taiwan or China so the big difference at the entry level is the components. I would at least look for a Shimano 105 group as it is a great valuefor the price you pay versus a Tiagra or Sora group which is much lower in quality.
www.bikesdirect.com is a good resource, don't mind the brand names as they don't really matter at the entry level (sub $1500) At that price point youwill get a brand name aluminum frame with carbon fork and a 105 or Ultegra group. When you are up in the stratosphere of road bikes then worrying about brandslike Colnago makes sense as that is where the more established and successful bike company's research and unique frame implementation come into play.
- May 29, 2008
- 1,907
- 11
word of caution about bikesdirect though, some models are hit or miss. there are numerous instances where people's frame have been sub-par quality. theframes BD gets are made by reputable manufacturers that make frames for other big names but the issue with BD supposedly has been the quality control. there isa reason they can afford to sell at the prices that they do, which really is too bad because its a great deal. getting fitted for a bike is the most importantthing, its like a pair of running shoes for long distance runners. if the equipment doesn't suit you, you will not like the activity. having said thatabout BD, there are cases where people have gotten a very well built frame and are very happy. then there are also people whos frames have a shotty weld job,they say the frame had a very dead feeling. so it seems like you have to take your chances and hope the one you bought is from the good batch.
do you live somewhere where it gets too cold to be biking in the winter? if yes you can get amazing deals on 09 models from local bike shops. local shops dohave a premium on their products but when it comes to a bike they also provide a service thats justifiable. if you can get an 09 model for 25-30% off theregular retail + free bike fitting and then they throw in a few small goodies like bottle cage, pedals etc then you've got an awesome deal. testing out abike will give you a better idea than words ever could. there are a lotta good entry level bikes. I've personally test rode the Cannondale CAAD9-6,CAAD9-5, Fuji Roubaix n Roubaix Pro, Trek 1.2, Giant Defy 3, couple Devinci's and Specialized Allez. they're all entry level bikes and I ended upbuying the fuji roubaix because it was an 08 model when i got it in the spring of 09 and it was a very comfortable fit for me. the cannondale would've beenmy first choice but it was an 09 model and so 30% pricier than the fuji. the CAADs are very solid bikes, fantastic performance to price ratio. the giant defy3and specialized allez are also very good bang for your buck. the allez has a slightly more of a racing geometry, same with the CAAD to an extent. the giant isa bit more of a relaxed ride imo. try and get an entry level frame with at least the shimano 105 or SRAM rival rear derailleur. the front derailleur isn'tas big of an issue. same with shifters, the difference between 105 and the lower tiagara is pretty significant. 105 and Rival are good groupsets for starters.you can always upgrade to ultegra/force or a campy in the future as you ride more.
do you live somewhere where it gets too cold to be biking in the winter? if yes you can get amazing deals on 09 models from local bike shops. local shops dohave a premium on their products but when it comes to a bike they also provide a service thats justifiable. if you can get an 09 model for 25-30% off theregular retail + free bike fitting and then they throw in a few small goodies like bottle cage, pedals etc then you've got an awesome deal. testing out abike will give you a better idea than words ever could. there are a lotta good entry level bikes. I've personally test rode the Cannondale CAAD9-6,CAAD9-5, Fuji Roubaix n Roubaix Pro, Trek 1.2, Giant Defy 3, couple Devinci's and Specialized Allez. they're all entry level bikes and I ended upbuying the fuji roubaix because it was an 08 model when i got it in the spring of 09 and it was a very comfortable fit for me. the cannondale would've beenmy first choice but it was an 09 model and so 30% pricier than the fuji. the CAADs are very solid bikes, fantastic performance to price ratio. the giant defy3and specialized allez are also very good bang for your buck. the allez has a slightly more of a racing geometry, same with the CAAD to an extent. the giant isa bit more of a relaxed ride imo. try and get an entry level frame with at least the shimano 105 or SRAM rival rear derailleur. the front derailleur isn'tas big of an issue. same with shifters, the difference between 105 and the lower tiagara is pretty significant. 105 and Rival are good groupsets for starters.you can always upgrade to ultegra/force or a campy in the future as you ride more.
- Sep 23, 2008
- 11,910
- 515
Bump 
Went to a bike shop today and talked to a sales rep. I think I'm going to end up getting a road hybrid. Does anyone have any experience with these? How do you like it? How much did it run you? Pros cons? Thanks.
Went to a bike shop today and talked to a sales rep. I think I'm going to end up getting a road hybrid. Does anyone have any experience with these? How do you like it? How much did it run you? Pros cons? Thanks.
