Cycling Thread

[pylon]

Originally Posted by JonDuke

Looking for some advice on buying a new bike...

With bikes, you don't really have that level of price separation for vanity. Bike buyers are fickle and the difference between a Trek (which would be a Seiko) and a Pinnarello (Which would be like an Omega) and a Colnago (Rolex) isn't that large. If you were to buy all three manufacturers equivalently spec'd Dura-Ace bike, the price separation would be say $6000 - $8000 from the Trek to the Colnago. And you are getting next to nothing for the extra 2k. In watches, you are going from a $500 Seiko to a $12000 Rolex for the same separation.

When you get into brands like Trek, Specialized, Giant and Canondale however, they tend to offer some nice entry options to start you out on. The bizarre thing about road bikes though, is the cheaper they (to an extent) the more durable they are. That "cheap" road bike though, will be around $1200. Once you go below 105 spec, then it is iffy what you are getting. Those $600 Jamis road bikes at Sport Check are that iffy zone. They look the part, but are junk. All show, no go, and you will spend half your time adjusting stuff on them. You will need to budget about $12-1500 dollars though.

If I was planning a cross country trek, I would want a $1300 105 spec'd aluminum or steel bike, not a $6000 Dura-Ace Di-2 spec'd Full carbon bike. You always hear about how "bulletproof" 105 bikes are, and that is fact. 105 is typically trickle down of Ultegra, with all the little bugs worked out, and with less exotic, more durable materials. I put 6000 kms on my 105 spec'd Trek 2.1, and never had to make one adjustment from the day I got it, except for brake pads. I regret selling it, as my 3X the price Carbon Madone has had a lot of little issues.

If you are a big guy, I would be a little weary buying a road bike without getting to sit on it, be fitted. If your road bike doesn't fit, you won't ride it, period. It is a lot easier to adjust a bike to fit a smaller person, than a bigger person. The adjustments and part swap outs are much smaller to make, and there is only so far you can go either way.

Personally, my favorite new category is the fitness bike category. Basically they are flat barred road bikes, that make wicked commuters as well. Basically I built my own by doing some major upgrades to my Devinci Oslo, and even though I have a $3500 all carbon Trek Madone collecting dust, I still ride my Devinci 90% of the time that isn't on dirt. As far as watches go, this would be the equivalent of putting your Omega Seamaster, on a Nato strap. The best, and coolest looking version of what I am talking about IMHO is the Cannondale Quick SL1 raw.

If I knew I was going to put so much into my Devinci, I would have just bought this out of the gate and saved a ton of money. The thing looks badass, and has a full road 2 X 10 powertrain.



http://www.cannondale.com/2013/bikes...-sl/quick-sl-1

Utility, and durability, with no care of vanity. I will post pics as to where my Devinci ended up.

[pylon]

I basically have the bike set up as 100% road power train now. Apex compact cranks, Tiagra derailuers. 700c Mavic Aksium wheels, 25 X 700 continental sport contacts, heavy duty tubes. Everything was done with durability in mind, as this is my summer commuter, and I don't want problems. Even with that in mind, it still weighs in at 21 pounds (22 if I put my rack on it). The stupid thing is, I am usually faster on it on long rides (2 hours +) as it is so much more comfortable than my 17 pound Madone. I have also had it up to 78 KM/H coming down the 10th St hill. I cruise at around 30 KPH effortlessly, and I can get it up to the mid 40's if I pound on it. It is stupidly fast. Just a road bike, with a flat bar and mountain trigger shifters basically.

I love this thing, and over the last 2 years I have had a few offers to buy it from just randoms I have run into out riding, because there isn't much like it out there. Anyway, IMHO this is the type of bike you want, if you really want to ride a ton. You don't have to gay yourself out in a bunch of Lycra, but you will be just as fast as the roadies.

[JonDuke]

Huge thanks for those replies Pylon.

[Coys1882]

Originally Posted by JonDuke

Huge thanks for those replies Pylon.

Pylon is the king of this thread IMO.

Only got one ride in on my new Diamondback but it was great - had to make some adjustments to the seat and bars for comfort but it feels faster than my old hybrid. The stock saddle was horrid but I knew that going in based on the reviews on the Jensen website.

It's early but under a $1000 shipped seems like a good buy for a 105 set bike with a carbon front fork.

[pylon]

Lol. And I didn't even address the Diamond Back. The DB looks like an awesome deal. I am considering one myself. I just have to determine if there is enough clearance for it to be able to take cyclocross tires. Put it this way, if the DB didn't work out, you could part the bike out for more than what you paid. The only gamble is the sizing issue.

[Max Cow Disease]

I'm looking to get my exceedingly crappy mountain bike greased and tweaked (ew?) in the next couple of days. Can anyone point me in the direction of a place in Calgary that's good for a relatively quick/affordable tune-up?

[Northendzone]

my guess is that most places you call now will have a wait of about a week. i suppose you could try Mtn Equip Co-Op

[onetwo_threefour]

http://ridewithgps.com/trips/1268635

My ride yesterday, nice to be back on the road, but I've got a question. My left knee is sore with a grinding sensation during flexing. I think it's chondromalacia based on the symptoms and location of pain. I'm thinking of getting some flexoplex. Anybody tried it? Thoughts?

[Devils'Advocate]

I had MEC do my spring tune-up. The nice thing was that they told me that there was a 1 week wait time so they said "you are booked for May 6th". I dropped it off last night and it was good-to-go right after work today.

-=-=-=-=-=-

My road bike is absolutely AWESOME on paved paths and roads, but ever since wiping out last year and breaking my collar bone, I'm hesitant to take it on gravel and dirt roads. Even now, going slow, I really feel the lack of traction. But there are some nice rural paths that I'd like to explore. So I'm thinking of getting a second bike for these conditions. Plus it will give me a back-up for the days when the other bike is out of commission (such as today). I still want something relatively fast, so would I be looking at a hybrid? Do they handle much better on crushed gravel than a road bike?

[OffsideSpecialist]

I have a hybrid, and I personally have never had issues riding on gravel or dirt pathways. I hit a couple in particular just about every day.

[onetwo_threefour]

Hybrid is good on gravel, grass, dirt etc. You can get wider tires with more aggressive tread that gives you more grip. I have both and the only thing I find 'challenging' is getting used to the riding position on the rare occasions I pull out the hybrid because I put so many miles on the road bike in comparison.

[Northendzone]

Cyclepath on Macleod also works on an appointment basis.

[jschick88]

Originally Posted by Max Cow Disease

I'm looking to get my exceedingly crappy mountain bike greased and tweaked (ew?) in the next couple of days. Can anyone point me in the direction of a place in Calgary that's good for a relatively quick/affordable tune-up?

Sportchek is another option. When I bought my hybrid it had a free year of tune ups. I believe they charge $99 for a full tune up. Brought my bike in on last Friday and was done the following Monday.

[cDnStealth]

It's been a long time since I've owned a bike but I've been thinking about getting back into it for some time. I use to ride mountain bikes but I don't plan on going over any crazy terrain. I'd probably end up using it to ride around Fish Creek or something similar. Should I be looking at a hybrid instead of a mountain bike?

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by cDnStealth

It's been a long time since I've owned a bike but I've been thinking about getting back into it for some time. I use to ride mountain bikes but I don't plan on going over any crazy terrain. I'd probably end up using it to ride around Fish Creek or something similar. Should I be looking at a hybrid instead of a mountain bike?

i would say yes, a hybrid is likely the right chioce for you.

[bossy22]

For bike service call mechanahands. Www.mechanahands.com. They're a service shop that guarantees their work and they'll do emergency repairs.

I should note I've never used these guys because I do my own repairs. I know a few people who swear by them. They where their mechanics for the trans Rockies.

[macker]

http://www.yellowpages.ca/bus/Albert...r/2120729.html

[Kybosh]

I would like to test ride some aluminum Devinci road bikes. Does anyone know which stores in town might have these in stock?

Failing that, recommendations for a decent road bike in the $1-1.5k range?

I've probably missed all the big sales until the fall now. . .

[Coys1882]

Originally Posted by Kybosh

Failing that, recommendations for a decent road bike in the $1-1.5k range?

I've got about 250km on my diamondback that I bought from Jensen and I'm extremely happy with it.

I've kept my open on other bikes with similar 105 components and carbon front fork and they are all in the $1200-$1600 price range. The seat sucked but I knew that going in - for $750 and $150 shipping to my door and 30mins of setup time how can you lose?

[Kybosh]

Originally Posted by Coys1882

I've got about 250km on my diamondback that I bought from Jensen and I'm extremely happy with it.

I've kept my open on other bikes with similar 105 components and carbon front fork and they are all in the $1200-$1600 price range. The seat sucked but I knew that going in - for $750 and $150 shipping to my door and 30mins of setup time how can you lose?

That does look like quality bike, but I really need to test ride whatever I might purchase. I'm even hesitant to buy clothes on the internet because I don't know what will fit.