08-24-2004, 10:56 PM
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#29 (permalink)
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| | Re: Road, touring or cross bike?
ndamtns@hotmail.com (Yellowstone Yeti) wrote in message news:<30bdaaee.0408240546.4a28b272@posting.google. com>...
> I need some help deciding on a new bike. Here's the story: I made a
> deal with my wife. If I can lose 53# and my Clydesdale status, she
> will buy me a new bike. I'm almost there and looking to save some $
> by buying a closeout 2004 model. My limit is $1000 for a complete
> bike. I would like 105 as the minimum component group. My question
> is: do I buy a touring bike, road bike, cross bike? I've done quite
> a bit of touring in the past on a mountain bike. In fact, that is my
> "road" bike right now-an early 90s steel Fisher mtn bike with slicks.
> It is heavy, slow, and the perfect bike for losing weight. Do I keep
> it as my touring bike and buy a faster, lighter road bike? Or do I
> buy a decent touring bike and use it for all of my road riding? Will
> I notice the difference between a road bike and a bare touring bike,
> especially at my size? If it matters, I've never ridden a "real" road
> bike since I've been a mtn biker for 20 of my 42 years.
>
> Secondly, can anyone recommend some models for me to check out? I
> think I would prefer steel, due to its durability and longevity. I
> plan on keeping the bike for a long time. I realize that fit will be
> a big part of the decision but I'm just looking to narrow the field a
> bit. The brands available locally are: Trek, Specialized, Lemond,
> KHS, Marin. I'd be willing to drive a bit if you have recommendations
> other than these brands. If anyone can point me to a source that
> breaks down bikes by steel, aluminum, etc., I would appreciate it. By
> the way, I'll be using the bike primarily for fitness rides of 20-60
> miles, but working up to a century ride. I'll also be doing 1 or 2
> two week fully loaded tours/year.
>
> Thanks for the help!
You can certainly keep your mtb for touring, but it shouldn't be hard
to get a bike that can do it all. All the brands in you mention make
perfectly fine road bikes around your price range, but only some are
suitable/adaptable for touring. They can be called "touring", "sport
touring", "cyclocross", whatever. If you want touring (triple) gears
and a steel frame you might look at:
Specialized Sequoia
Lemond Poprad
Jamis Aurora
It may be tough to get full 105 for under $1K, but I wouldn't get
fixated on the component group. Road riding is not as hard on
components as mountain biking so Tiagra will work fine. The major long
term failure point is the STI shifters, but there doesn't seem to be
any consensus that 105 or ultegra versions are significantly more
durable. The major things are the frame and the fit.
Cross/hybrid bikes are not ideal for the kind of riding you describe
(relatively long rides). Too much weight on the seat and too few hand
positions for long term comfort.
As a longtime mtb rider, you will probably not notice a dramatic
difference between a standard road bike and a more tour/sport oriented
road bike. Both will go faster and accelerate better what you are
riding now. But the touring-type bike will probably feel better at
mile 80.
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