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Thu Jun 19, 2008 7:13 am

I'm in the process of getting back into biking daily and doing long rides on the weekends.

Right now I'm riding a cheap walmart special mountain bike to get me around but am looking at doing an upgrade to a road bike.

Budgets going to be $8-$900 and I've been reading as much online and going to different bike shops in the area.

Right now I'm looking at a Bianchi Via Nirone7.Alu/Sora Mix Triple. Link

It's in my price range and according to what I've read will last me a good long time.

Looking to see if anyone has experience with road bikes and may be able to point me to a different bike or have some recommendations.

I'm looking at a daily ride of 2-3 miles to work, from home to the train then from the train to work, and then longer rides on the weekend. Hopefully I'll work up to doing the 64 mile ride from folsom to downtown and back.

Let me know.

Thanks.

Thu Jun 19, 2008 7:27 am

My son does triathlons and is currently using a Specialized Allez Elite road bike, but is already eying a Tri-bike.

I think he got it at the end of the season and being last years model he paid around $900. Then you have to ad the pedals, shoes, helmet and other gear.

It's a really nice bike.

Here it is for $900.
http://www.mikesbike.com/pages/06allezelite.html

Thu Jun 19, 2008 8:21 am

I rode various Schwinn touring bikes for years- after the last one was stolen I got a Bianchi Veloce used for $500.

Its like driving a porsche after driving a new chevy. I've had it for about 6 years and have yet to have to adjust anything beyond tuning the rims once.

Thing about a racing bike vs touring bike is the touring bike frames are longer- so they take up more road shock than a racing bike will- which might matter when all day touring with gear (I used to camp overnight on weekend rides)

There's an article in the NY Times today about road bikes

Thu Jun 19, 2008 11:38 am

my59 wrote: Thing about a racing bike vs touring bike is the touring bike frames are longer- so they take up more road shock than a racing bike will- which might matter when all day touring with gear (I used to camp overnight on weekend rides)
True, racing bikes have a compact geometry and are optimized for speed and endurance. Besides getting a correctly sized bike you need to have it fitted and adjusted correctly. There are different setups for time trials, endurance and triathlon. My son has a 3 hours custom session to get it adjusted for optimum performance and he noticed it the next time he went for a ride followed by a run.

Thu Jun 19, 2008 1:21 pm

I have a drive shaft bicycle (no chain!), comfortable, keeps the clothes clean, easier to maintain.

available at:
http://www.abikestore.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?S...e_Code=abs

Thu Jun 19, 2008 1:43 pm

Bianchi's are nice- (until i got hit by a GI turning into a McDonalds..while stationed in Germany) - picked up a mountain bike,..maybe $450 or so in '89..i probably put 30-40 miles per day on it riding it like a road bike.
I now have an older Paramount MBS- that I got in '93, haven't riden much lately. But Glenn is correct- go get "fitted" and if they know what they are doing you will probably be there for 30-45 mins or so. I designed a bikeshop in Indy, www.neboridge.com and got really educated on all the considerations in purchasing a bike. Check out their site- there is some fitment info on the menu bar. Plus, they have some really...nice Moots, if you have 5-8K to spend... :lol:

Thu Jun 19, 2008 1:53 pm

Glenn - That's awesome your boy is doing triathlons. I'm so far from that point its not even funny. lol

my59 - I just finished reading that article in the NY Times, good information about training and how to ride.

Rick73super - Thats a sweet bike. Never seen the drive shaft bikes...

mynameismud - Those bikes are sweet! just a TAD over my budget! lol

In my short time researching I'll definitely be getting fitted to whatever I buy.

I'm going to look at a few more bikes tonight, the shop is going to fit me to them and let me ride them for a bit to get a "feel" for them.

I'm stoked...another new hobby to add to the list I guess.

Thu Jun 19, 2008 4:37 pm

ive been riding a bit lately, but the heats got me down right now
and two flats

Thu Jun 19, 2008 5:06 pm

When I ride a bike to work, it's a recumbent:

No funny pants required! :)

Thu Jun 19, 2008 5:23 pm

Here is my road bike:

It is a 2007 Dawes Lightning Sport (generic ebay bike).
I love it though!

Thu Jun 19, 2008 6:05 pm

GeorgeL wrote: When I ride a bike to work, it's a recumbent:

No funny pants required! :)
My family was resting on the bike trail one day when a fellow flew by and tried to turn on one of those bikes. He dumped the bike in a fashion far more spectacular than an average crash on a conventional bike. :shock:
We rode away, trying to hide our embarassed laughter. I don't think I want to ride one of those.

Thu Jun 19, 2008 6:34 pm

typesoneandtwo wrote: GeorgeL wrote: When I ride a bike to work, it's a recumbent:

No funny pants required! :)
My family was resting on the bike trail one day when a fellow flew by and tried to turn on one of those bikes. He dumped the bike in a fashion far more spectacular than an average crash on a conventional bike. :shock:
We rode away, trying to hide our embarassed laughter. I don't think I want to ride one of those.

Well, I don't crash often, but if I do fall from a recumbent the first thing to hit the ground is my legs and butt and I fall about 2 feet. If one crashes from a conventional bike, the first thing to hit the ground is one's arms and face and you fall about 4 feet... :shock:

What's really fun is passing a gaggle of "sporty" riders out for their Sunday loop. Due to the lower aero drag of the recumbent it's a bit faster. The spandex boys really don't like to be passed by what they think of as a wheeled chaise lounge and they'll just about kill themselves trying to keep up! :)

Thu Jun 19, 2008 7:21 pm

Besides VW's, bikes are my other sickness. I would seriously consider getting a cyclocross bike for everyday use. Slightly better geometry than a true road bike for long rides or touring, plus the beefy tires and brakes do better for all weather riding. Besides racing 'cross, I ride my 'cross bike on some of the smoother MTB trails, and it works great. Whatever you do, stay away from the Wal Mart bikes. If you think the vintage VW parts being made in India or China right now are crap, wait till you try to work on one of those POS's. I work in a bike shop, and people bring in a $150 Wal Mart bike and it costs another $100 to rebuild it correctly. For $300, you can get a real bike at your LBS.

Fri Jun 20, 2008 4:33 am

GeorgeL wrote:
Well, I don't crash often, but if I do fall from a recumbent the first thing to hit the ground is my legs and butt and I fall about 2 feet. If one crashes from a conventional bike, the first thing to hit the ground is one's arms and face and you fall about 4 feet... :shock:

When I got the Bianchi it was the first time I'd ever had clip in shoes. Going up a hill, I downshifted and had too much pressure on the chain; sure enough, it popped of the sprocket. There I was, slowing down, unable to get my feet free, thinking oh shit this is gonna suck.

Still trying to get my feet out, I waited for the bike to stop and before I started rolling backward leaned over to the roadside, held on, and rolled over on my shoulder, flipping the bike completely over in the air.

The guy behind me and I just started laughing as I got my feet free after landing.

Fri Jun 20, 2008 6:18 am

Chain? We don't need no stinkin' chain!

I've done the same on my shaft drive, it just refuses to shift until you let up on the pedal. Despite what it looks like on a map, Philadelphia is far from flat.

Fri Jun 20, 2008 6:52 am

I tested a cyclocross yesterday it was pretty cool, but WAY over my price range...

I tested out a Felt road bike last night that was pretty sweet, still a little over my price range but nice.

The Bianchi that I originally posted is in my price range and I rode that last night and it was smooth. shifted and road great.

Speaking of cheap walmart bikes, I took my cheap Walmart bike out last night for a ride, rode about 3 miles from home and it felt like the chain fell off the gear, so I looked down and it was still on there, so I continued riding. It slipped again, so I stopped and looked at the front gears and everything looked fine until I looked closer. Some of the teeth on the rear wheels had broken off and was causing the chain top skip if I pedaled too hard. The gear wheel had rusted apparently, although I did keep it inside a garage it still rusted. so I had to put it in the highest gear, since that was the only gear that had all its teeth, went about another mile and my rear break cable snapped, that was rusted too apparently. lol.

So I guess I'll be moving up my bike purchase schedule. LOL

Fri Jun 20, 2008 7:32 am

runslikeapenguin wrote: ive been riding a bit lately, but the heats got me down right now
and two flats

that's an early 70's Nishiki International....classic!

Fri Jun 20, 2008 7:52 am

Check out a Trek 7.6FX

I am getting one for the times I do not want to ride my 5200 (trips to the bar, store...). The carbon stays and fork will give a comfy ride and the relaxed geometry will be more performance/commutor oriented than a full on crit bike. Good mix of Deore and 105 parts. Don't let the reduced spok count wheels scare you, I have been riding a set of the lighter ones and I am no lightweight. You can put wider agressive tire and do some trail riding if you wanted too. We sell a boatload of these bikes to commuters.

Fri Jun 20, 2008 4:38 pm

barrysmith wrote: runslikeapenguin wrote: ive been riding a bit lately, but the heats got me down right now
and two flats

that's an early 70's Nishiki International....classic!

yes it is 73 to be exact. its a fast bike, in need of a little TLC but a great bike, it will be for sale if anyone is interested.

Sun Jun 22, 2008 8:14 am

I use to ride my bike to work, at least twice a week.

From Andalusia, PA to Princeton, NJ. 84 miles round trip. But, thanks to a back injury, I had to stop...for a little bit. At the present time, I'm building up the miles, to get back in shape.