Compare Cannondale RW 1000 vs. Trek 7700 - Page 6 - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

04-19-2004, 07:32 AM

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (Warren Ginn) wrote in message
>
> By the way, did your bike come with the thinner Shimano HG53 chain? I
> heard that there used to be some problems with chatter on the
> crossover gears and that it was fixed by using the narrower chain.
> What's your experience?

Warren,
Frankly, I'm not sure what type of chain came with the bike. It could
have been the HG93, but can't swear by it. Regardless, I've not had
any problems with chattering in any of the gears. Except for the
humming of the tires on the road, the bike is as quiet as you would
expect a bike to be.

Art

04-19-2004, 07:32 AM

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (Warren Ginn) wrote in message
>
> By the way, did your bike come with the thinner Shimano HG53 chain? I
> heard that there used to be some problems with chatter on the
> crossover gears and that it was fixed by using the narrower chain.
> What's your experience?

Warren,
Frankly, I'm not sure what type of chain came with the bike. It could
have been the HG93, but can't swear by it. Regardless, I've not had
any problems with chattering in any of the gears. Except for the
humming of the tires on the road, the bike is as quiet as you would
expect a bike to be.

Art

04-19-2004, 07:32 AM

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (Warren Ginn) wrote in message
>
> By the way, did your bike come with the thinner Shimano HG53 chain? I
> heard that there used to be some problems with chatter on the
> crossover gears and that it was fixed by using the narrower chain.
> What's your experience?

Warren,
Frankly, I'm not sure what type of chain came with the bike. It could
have been the HG93, but can't swear by it. Regardless, I've not had
any problems with chattering in any of the gears. Except for the
humming of the tires on the road, the bike is as quiet as you would
expect a bike to be.

Art

04-19-2004, 07:32 AM

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (Warren Ginn) wrote in message
>
> By the way, did your bike come with the thinner Shimano HG53 chain? I
> heard that there used to be some problems with chatter on the
> crossover gears and that it was fixed by using the narrower chain.
> What's your experience?

Warren,
Frankly, I'm not sure what type of chain came with the bike. It could
have been the HG93, but can't swear by it. Regardless, I've not had
any problems with chattering in any of the gears. Except for the
humming of the tires on the road, the bike is as quiet as you would
expect a bike to be.

Art

04-19-2004, 08:56 AM

"Rocketman" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:n9Lfc.151735$K91.399841@attbi_s02...
<snip>

> Well said, Steve. Personally, I'm not in favor of the "cafe racer" road
> bikes with flat handlebars.

Well I think that part of the reason that there are more of these appearing,
is because many of the "real" road bikes have abnormally low handlebars,
which results in a very uncomfortable riding position. You can fix this with
extenders and adjustable stems, but most people don't.

> There's nothing like a real road racing bike. I recommend the Bianchi
Brava
> unconditionally as an excellent value (I own one of those, too...) It
won't
> hold you back in any way, and I think they still put fender and rack
eyelets
> on 'em.

The Bianchi Brava is indeed an excellent value. They're going to have to
wreck it somehow because it's too good of a deal, and buyers recognize this!
I was at one of the premier shops in my area during a recent sale, and they
were selling the Bravas like crazy at $510, but even at $600 they're a good
deal. Trek, Specialized, and Canon have nothing to compete with it. The 2003
Marin Portofino
([Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
7932&page=1&sortOrder=0) is similar to the Brava.

I must have sold about fifteen Bianchi Bravas to colleagues that have
inquired about road bikes to buy after being frustrated with the Trek,
Specialized, and Cannondale offerings. They see the classic road bike I ride
to work, and want to know where they can buy something like it.

Maybe next year Bianchi can go to an aluminum frame, compact geometry, and a
threadless headset.

But the bottom line is that the original poster is not going to have a good
time on a century ride with either of the two choices he's looking at. He'll
be much happier with a Brava, and a mid-range mountain bike such as the 2003
KHS Crest ST, and will spend about the same money, maybe less.

Steve
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

04-19-2004, 08:56 AM

"Rocketman" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:n9Lfc.151735$K91.399841@attbi_s02...
<snip>

> Well said, Steve. Personally, I'm not in favor of the "cafe racer" road
> bikes with flat handlebars.

Well I think that part of the reason that there are more of these appearing,
is because many of the "real" road bikes have abnormally low handlebars,
which results in a very uncomfortable riding position. You can fix this with
extenders and adjustable stems, but most people don't.

> There's nothing like a real road racing bike. I recommend the Bianchi
Brava
> unconditionally as an excellent value (I own one of those, too...) It
won't
> hold you back in any way, and I think they still put fender and rack
eyelets
> on 'em.

The Bianchi Brava is indeed an excellent value. They're going to have to
wreck it somehow because it's too good of a deal, and buyers recognize this!
I was at one of the premier shops in my area during a recent sale, and they
were selling the Bravas like crazy at $510, but even at $600 they're a good
deal. Trek, Specialized, and Canon have nothing to compete with it. The 2003
Marin Portofino
([Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
7932&page=1&sortOrder=0) is similar to the Brava.

I must have sold about fifteen Bianchi Bravas to colleagues that have
inquired about road bikes to buy after being frustrated with the Trek,
Specialized, and Cannondale offerings. They see the classic road bike I ride
to work, and want to know where they can buy something like it.

Maybe next year Bianchi can go to an aluminum frame, compact geometry, and a
threadless headset.

But the bottom line is that the original poster is not going to have a good
time on a century ride with either of the two choices he's looking at. He'll
be much happier with a Brava, and a mid-range mountain bike such as the 2003
KHS Crest ST, and will spend about the same money, maybe less.

Steve
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

04-19-2004, 08:56 AM

"Rocketman" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:n9Lfc.151735$K91.399841@attbi_s02...
<snip>

> Well said, Steve. Personally, I'm not in favor of the "cafe racer" road
> bikes with flat handlebars.

Well I think that part of the reason that there are more of these appearing,
is because many of the "real" road bikes have abnormally low handlebars,
which results in a very uncomfortable riding position. You can fix this with
extenders and adjustable stems, but most people don't.

> There's nothing like a real road racing bike. I recommend the Bianchi
Brava
> unconditionally as an excellent value (I own one of those, too...) It
won't
> hold you back in any way, and I think they still put fender and rack
eyelets
> on 'em.

The Bianchi Brava is indeed an excellent value. They're going to have to
wreck it somehow because it's too good of a deal, and buyers recognize this!
I was at one of the premier shops in my area during a recent sale, and they
were selling the Bravas like crazy at $510, but even at $600 they're a good
deal. Trek, Specialized, and Canon have nothing to compete with it. The 2003
Marin Portofino
([Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
7932&page=1&sortOrder=0) is similar to the Brava.

I must have sold about fifteen Bianchi Bravas to colleagues that have
inquired about road bikes to buy after being frustrated with the Trek,
Specialized, and Cannondale offerings. They see the classic road bike I ride
to work, and want to know where they can buy something like it.

Maybe next year Bianchi can go to an aluminum frame, compact geometry, and a
threadless headset.

But the bottom line is that the original poster is not going to have a good
time on a century ride with either of the two choices he's looking at. He'll
be much happier with a Brava, and a mid-range mountain bike such as the 2003
KHS Crest ST, and will spend about the same money, maybe less.

Steve
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

04-19-2004, 08:56 AM

"Rocketman" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:n9Lfc.151735$K91.399841@attbi_s02...
<snip>

> Well said, Steve. Personally, I'm not in favor of the "cafe racer" road
> bikes with flat handlebars.

Well I think that part of the reason that there are more of these appearing,
is because many of the "real" road bikes have abnormally low handlebars,
which results in a very uncomfortable riding position. You can fix this with
extenders and adjustable stems, but most people don't.

> There's nothing like a real road racing bike. I recommend the Bianchi
Brava
> unconditionally as an excellent value (I own one of those, too...) It
won't
> hold you back in any way, and I think they still put fender and rack
eyelets
> on 'em.

The Bianchi Brava is indeed an excellent value. They're going to have to
wreck it somehow because it's too good of a deal, and buyers recognize this!
I was at one of the premier shops in my area during a recent sale, and they
were selling the Bravas like crazy at $510, but even at $600 they're a good
deal. Trek, Specialized, and Canon have nothing to compete with it. The 2003
Marin Portofino
([Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
7932&page=1&sortOrder=0) is similar to the Brava.

I must have sold about fifteen Bianchi Bravas to colleagues that have
inquired about road bikes to buy after being frustrated with the Trek,
Specialized, and Cannondale offerings. They see the classic road bike I ride
to work, and want to know where they can buy something like it.

Maybe next year Bianchi can go to an aluminum frame, compact geometry, and a
threadless headset.

But the bottom line is that the original poster is not going to have a good
time on a century ride with either of the two choices he's looking at. He'll
be much happier with a Brava, and a mid-range mountain bike such as the 2003
KHS Crest ST, and will spend about the same money, maybe less.

Steve
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

04-19-2004, 08:56 AM

"Rocketman" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:n9Lfc.151735$K91.399841@attbi_s02...
<snip>

> Well said, Steve. Personally, I'm not in favor of the "cafe racer" road
> bikes with flat handlebars.

Well I think that part of the reason that there are more of these appearing,
is because many of the "real" road bikes have abnormally low handlebars,
which results in a very uncomfortable riding position. You can fix this with
extenders and adjustable stems, but most people don't.

> There's nothing like a real road racing bike. I recommend the Bianchi
Brava
> unconditionally as an excellent value (I own one of those, too...) It
won't
> hold you back in any way, and I think they still put fender and rack
eyelets
> on 'em.

The Bianchi Brava is indeed an excellent value. They're going to have to
wreck it somehow because it's too good of a deal, and buyers recognize this!
I was at one of the premier shops in my area during a recent sale, and they
were selling the Bravas like crazy at $510, but even at $600 they're a good
deal. Trek, Specialized, and Canon have nothing to compete with it. The 2003
Marin Portofino
([Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
7932&page=1&sortOrder=0) is similar to the Brava.

I must have sold about fifteen Bianchi Bravas to colleagues that have
inquired about road bikes to buy after being frustrated with the Trek,
Specialized, and Cannondale offerings. They see the classic road bike I ride
to work, and want to know where they can buy something like it.

Maybe next year Bianchi can go to an aluminum frame, compact geometry, and a
threadless headset.

But the bottom line is that the original poster is not going to have a good
time on a century ride with either of the two choices he's looking at. He'll
be much happier with a Brava, and a mid-range mountain bike such as the 2003
KHS Crest ST, and will spend about the same money, maybe less.

Steve
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

04-19-2004, 09:02 AM

"Warren Ginn" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:27f93351.0404150545.486e92e8@posting.google.c om...

> Is speed and wind resistance the only reason to use drop bars? My
> perception is that the weight distribution for drop bars is like
> you're doing "push-ups" while riding whereas using bars that place
> more weight on the seat like the ones I use keep me from placing too
> much stress on my shoulders in exchange for possibly a sore butt on
> long rides. Is this your impression?

Note that on many road bikes sold these days, the drop bars are way too low.
This has led a lot of riders to think that they'd be happier with flat bars
(though often these are too low as well).

If you find one of the few road bikes or touring bikes that still use
threaded headsets and non-compact frames, they have a better riding position
without the need to add extenders to raise the bars. However, threadless
headsets are okay, but you will usually need to make changes from the way
the bike is sold, to get the proper riding position.

Look at:

Bianchi Brava
Fuji League
Fuji Road
Fuji Touring
Marin Portofino 2003

All these are good choices in the $600ish range. Unfortunately, there isn't
anything from Trek, Specialized, or Cannondale in this range.

The best bike, if price were no object, would be the $1500 Rivendell
Romulus.

See [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] for advice

Steve
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]