| Road bikes will range in price from $500
| |
| | expensive, but will dampen road vibration
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| to over $5000, and vary greatly in
| |
| | over long rides. Titanium is even more
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| design, materials, and performance. The
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| | expensive, and is no longer the lightest
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| first decision you need to make is road
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| | most exotic material. If you buy a ti
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| bike or tri set up. What type of riding
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| | frame you are buying a long term
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| are you going to be doing? Are you
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| | investment. I prefer the latest
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| purchasing the bike for multi-sport
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| | technology (I buy a bike every 2 years).
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| competition or strictly for road riding,
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| | Aluminum is going to give you the most
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| training, and / or racing? A tri bike is
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| | bang for the buck. Manufacturers are
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| used in triathlons and other multi sport
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| | starting to use a combination of aluminum
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| events, has aero bars and a more forward
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| | and carbon fiber in their frame sets.
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| (less comfortable) position, can be
| |
| | Another consideration is geometry-
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| slightly heavier than a road bike, and is
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| | compact or traditional. The industry has
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| generally less comfortable. The position
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| | moved towards (sometimes) lighter compact
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| puts your body more forward over the
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| | frames. These frames have a sloping top
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| front wheel and has your torso almost
| |
| | tube and look smaller. There advantage is
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| parallel to the ground. The more forward
| |
| | quicker more precise handling, but you do
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| position makes the bike less stable and
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| | not want to take your hands off the bars.
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| harder to handle. On some tri handlebars
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| | The disadvantage can be that they often
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| your hands are far from the brakes, and
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| | do not come in as many sizes, and can be
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| the handling is quick and less
| |
| | more challenging to fit. My preference is
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| controllable. I do not recommend this
| |
| | a compact, but I am a smaller rider and I
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| type of bike for beginner riders. You may
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| | find a good fit with these bikes.
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| sacrifice a bit of weight for
| |
| | New or used? Buying a new bike is like
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| aerodynamics, but unless you are moving
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| | buying a new car. As soon as you drive it
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| pretty quickly, the aerodynamics will not
| |
| | off the showroom you are out considerable
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| pay off much... About 80% of your
| |
| | money, but there is nothing like that new
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| resistance while cycling comes from the
| |
| | bike feel. If you are not handy, it is
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| air around you, but you must be moving
| |
| | going to need regular maintenance (I
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| above 20 mph to gain the full advantage.
| |
| | recommend you learn the basics). Some
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| If you are a slower beginning cyclist the
| |
| | shops offer a free lifetime maintenance
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| more aerodynamic position is not as much
| |
| | policy. This is a good deal; a full
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| of a factor. I would start off with a
| |
| | adjustment can run $40+ a pop. If you buy
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| road bike.
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| | a used bike off of Ebay or from an
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| Second decision; recreation or
| |
| | individual, you may get a lot more bike
|
| competition? This is really more about
| |
| | for the money or you may get a piece of
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| your budget and how competitive you are.
| |
| | junk. If you want to pair the price down,
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| A $500 road bike can actually be pretty
| |
| | go used, but don't go cheap. If you are
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| reliable, but is heavier, requires more
| |
| | not sure if you are going to stick with
|
| maintenance, is not as ergonomic, and the
| |
| | cycling this may be the way to go. Either
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| parts wear out faster. There is a trickle
| |
| | way I highly recommend you get
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| down in technology from top of the line
| |
| | professionally sized, and that does not
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| road bikes, and an entry level bike can
| |
| | necessarily mean the sales guy at the
|
| be of surprisingly good quality.
| |
| | shop. An expert will spend a good hour
|
| Furthermore some entry level bikes can be
| |
| | with you examining every aspect of the
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| easily upgraded to make them perform
| |
| | bikes fit (as many as ten different
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| better. An example of an upgrade would be
| |
| | aspects).
|
| switching to a better wheel set, which
| |
| | I believe you get your best value with
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| perhaps will have the biggest effect on
| |
| | large manufacturers such as Giant, Trek,
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| increased speed. Competition level bikes
| |
| | and Cannondale to name a few. The bikes
|
| usually start at around $1000.
| |
| | are mass produced, but are generally very
|
| Competition level bikes usually start
| |
| | high quality and offer the highest
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| with a Shimano 105 component group or
| |
| | component level for the price. Think of
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| better. Shimano 105 has all the features
| |
| | them as the Hondas'. The European models
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| of the more expensive groups (Ultegra and
| |
| | generally have more "panache" with custom
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| Durace), is fully race able and durable,
| |
| | colors and even custom fitting. The
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| but is a little heavier. Campagnolo also
| |
| | Porshes' can run up to $8000 but are
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| makes excellent bicycle components, but
| |
| | beautifully hand crafted works of art. A
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| they are usually found on more expensive
| |
| | personal recommendation of mine; the
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| European models. I have had 105 bikes and
| |
| | Giant TCR2 which I think is one of the
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| full race Durace bikes. The differences
| |
| | best bike values. I believe they are
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| are definitely there, but will not be
| |
| | going for around $1300. This puts a world
|
| significant to the newer rider. If you
| |
| | class, extremely light bike in your hands
|
| are just getting into the sport, an entry
| |
| | for not a lot of money considering the
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| level bike may be good enough for you.
| |
| | weight and features. The fall is a great
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| But if you think you are going to stick
| |
| | time to buy a bicycle because shops are
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| with it, and want to be competitive, you
| |
| | clearing out the old models to make room
|
| should spend the extra money.
| |
| | for the next years and the Christmas
|
| Third decision; frame type and material.
| |
| | rush. You are also going to need shoes,
|
| I believe your best value is aluminum.
| |
| | helmet, water bottle cages, computer, a
|
| Aluminum is extremely light, stiff, and
| |
| | good pump, flat kit, padded shorts,
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| relatively inexpensive compared with
| |
| | perhaps a rack, and tool kit. Be
|
| titanium and carbon fiber. Some complain
| |
| | prepared, this is not a cheap sport even
|
| that aluminum transmits road vibration
| |
| | for the beginner, and there is an initial
|
| more than other materials, but
| |
| | investment. You can find good prices
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| manufacturers have gotten much better
| |
| | online for accessories at Nashbar.com,
|
| with this. Carbon fiber is more
| |
| | Performancebike.
|
