Best road bike for under $1500 (US dollars)

[Bob]

My 2003 Giant OCR-3 just suffered a cracked frame in the seat tube
area after only 6000 miles of riding (FWIW, I weigh 230 lbs.). I did
like the adjustability and comfort and want to stay with a triple
chainring, not to mention upgrade from Shimano Sora. I think the
OCR-1 fits the bill, though i'm leary of another frame going out. I
already know that it would be a great fit as I do believe the '03
OCR-3 frame is identical to the current model OCR-1 frame. I'm open
to opinions. Thanks, Bob in So. Cal.

 

[SMS]

Bob wrote:
> My 2003 Giant OCR-3 just suffered a cracked frame in the seat tube
> area after only 6000 miles of riding (FWIW, I weigh 230 lbs.). I did
> like the adjustability and comfort and want to stay with a triple
> chainring, not to mention upgrade from Shimano Sora. I think the
> OCR-1 fits the bill, though i'm leary of another frame going out. I
> already know that it would be a great fit as I do believe the '03
> OCR-3 frame is identical to the current model OCR-1 frame. I'm open
> to opinions. Thanks, Bob in So. Cal.

Stay away from aluminum frames if you want to avoid the frame cracks,
and while you're at it, avoid compact geometry frames as well.

Aren't you getting a new bicycle for free under the lifetime frame
warranty? The whole deal with aluminum is that the lifetime frame
warranty is supposed to mitigate the problems with cracking.

Look at the Surly Long Haul Trucker, i.e.
"http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/surly/longhaul.htm".

 

[[email protected]]

On Apr 15, 8:25 pm, Bob <[email protected]> wrote:
> My 2003 Giant OCR-3 just suffered a cracked frame in the seat tube
> area after only 6000 miles of riding (FWIW, I weigh 230 lbs.). I did
> like the adjustability and comfort and want to stay with a triple
> chainring, not to mention upgrade from Shimano Sora. I think the
> OCR-1 fits the bill, though i'm leary of another frame going out. I
> already know that it would be a great fit as I do believe the '03
> OCR-3 frame is identical to the current model OCR-1 frame. I'm open
> to opinions. Thanks, Bob in So. Cal.

I like FETLs. There are 105/Ultegra felts in that price category.
Can't swear by 6000 miles, since I only so far have ~3000 on the two I
own.

 

[Bill Sornson]

SMS wrote:
> Bob wrote:
>> My 2003 Giant OCR-3 just suffered a cracked frame in the seat tube
>> area after only 6000 miles of riding (FWIW, I weigh 230 lbs.). I did
>> like the adjustability and comfort and want to stay with a triple
>> chainring, not to mention upgrade from Shimano Sora. I think the
>> OCR-1 fits the bill, though i'm leary of another frame going out. I
>> already know that it would be a great fit as I do believe the '03
>> OCR-3 frame is identical to the current model OCR-1 frame. I'm open
>> to opinions. Thanks, Bob in So. Cal.

Isn't the frame under warranty? If not, buy a new one and build it up with
your current components (upgraded here and there).

> Stay away from aluminum frames if you want to avoid the frame cracks,

Disagree. I have an aluminum Klein road bike with almost 12,000 miles on
it, and a carbon Trek with 10,500. Any frame material can fail, and almost
any can last indefinitely. Luck of the draw as well as factors like design
and application. (And no, I'm not some skinny roadie. I've broken every
single mountain bike frame I've owned, aluminum and steel.)

> and while you're at it, avoid compact geometry frames as well.

Disagree. Has nothing to do with anything. (The Klein is compact; rides
just great.)

> Aren't you getting a new bicycle for free under the lifetime frame
> warranty? The whole deal with aluminum is that the lifetime frame
> warranty is supposed to mitigate the problems with cracking.

Agree. Take it to a dealer (preferably where the OP bought it).

> Look at the Surly Long Haul Trucker, i.e.
> "http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/surly/longhaul.htm".

Get the red one.

BS

 

[[email protected]]

"Bill Sornson" <[email protected]> wrote:

>> Look at the Surly Long Haul Trucker, i.e.
>> "http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/surly/longhaul.htm".

says they are sold out

 

[Bill Sornson]

[email protected] wrote:
> "Bill Sornson" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>> Look at the Surly Long Haul Trucker, i.e.
>>> "http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/surly/longhaul.htm".
>
> says they are sold out

Please watch your attributions. I did not write what you quoted.

 

[SMS]

Bill Sornson wrote:
> [email protected] wrote:
>> "Bill Sornson" <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>>> Look at the Surly Long Haul Trucker, i.e.
>>>> "http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/surly/longhaul.htm".
>> says they are sold out
>
> Please watch your attributions. I did not write what you quoted.

Not sure who wrote the "sold out," obviously someone in my kill-file!

The LHT tends to be perpetually sold out, as QBP can't keep up with the
demand. A sub-$1000, non-compact frame, 4130 CroMoly steel, road bike is
a very rare commodity these days, and there's a long waiting list.

It would be unthinkable for Trek, Specialized, Giant, etc, to build
something like the LHT.

 

[Bob]

I thought I remembered something about a lifetime warranty but
couldn't find any documentation, even on Giant's website. Glad you
mentioned it. I called the dealer today and they said to bring it
in. I think they're going to honor the warranty. As long as it's in
the shop i'm going to do some wheel and gear upgrading. It looks like
a win-win situation for both the bike shop and me.

> Aren't you getting a new bicycle for free under the lifetime frame
> warranty? The whole deal with aluminum is that the lifetime frame
> warranty is supposed to mitigate the problems with cracking.

 

[Mike Jacoubowsky]

| It would be unthinkable for Trek, Specialized, Giant, etc, to build
| something like the LHT.

The Trek 520 pre-dates the LHT by a couple of decades. You can argue about
the wider-than-needed gearing, but it's a very conservative design with,
heaven forbid, a steel frame.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com



"SMS" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
| Bill Sornson wrote:
| > [email protected] wrote:
| >> "Bill Sornson" <[email protected]> wrote:
| >>
| >>>> Look at the Surly Long Haul Trucker, i.e.
| >>>> "http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/surly/longhaul.htm".
| >> says they are sold out
| >
| > Please watch your attributions. I did not write what you quoted.
|
| Not sure who wrote the "sold out," obviously someone in my kill-file!
|
| The LHT tends to be perpetually sold out, as QBP can't keep up with the
| demand. A sub-$1000, non-compact frame, 4130 CroMoly steel, road bike is
| a very rare commodity these days, and there's a long waiting list.
|
| It would be unthinkable for Trek, Specialized, Giant, etc, to build
| something like the LHT.

 

[SMS]

Mike Jacoubowsky wrote:
> | It would be unthinkable for Trek, Specialized, Giant, etc, to build
> | something like the LHT.
>
> The Trek 520 pre-dates the LHT by a couple of decades. You can argue about
> the wider-than-needed gearing, but it's a very conservative design with,
> heaven forbid, a steel frame.

It's not 4130, and it's not sub-$1000 (at least MSRP).

Yes, the gearing is wrong for a touring bicycle as well, though okay for
a road bike.

Here's a good thread on the 520,
"http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=7090".

 

[Mike Jacoubowsky]

>> | It would be unthinkable for Trek, Specialized, Giant, etc, to build
>> | something like the LHT.
>>
>> The Trek 520 pre-dates the LHT by a couple of decades. You can argue
>> about the wider-than-needed gearing, but it's a very conservative design
>> with, heaven forbid, a steel frame.
>
> It's not 4130, and it's not sub-$1000 (at least MSRP).
>
> Yes, the gearing is wrong for a touring bicycle as well, though okay for a
> road bike.
>
> Here's a good thread on the 520,
> "http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=7090".

Yes, I remember that thread. The usual anti-threadless stem crowd coming out
en masse. But your comment about the Trek not being "4130"... what's that
all about? 4130 is usually a reference to a generic form of Chrome-moly
steel.

--Mike Jacoubowsky
Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReaction.com
Redwood City & Los Altos, CA USA


"SMS" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Mike Jacoubowsky wrote:
>> | It would be unthinkable for Trek, Specialized, Giant, etc, to build
>> | something like the LHT.
>>
>> The Trek 520 pre-dates the LHT by a couple of decades. You can argue
>> about the wider-than-needed gearing, but it's a very conservative design
>> with, heaven forbid, a steel frame.
>
> It's not 4130, and it's not sub-$1000 (at least MSRP).
>
> Yes, the gearing is wrong for a touring bicycle as well, though okay for a
> road bike.
>
> Here's a good thread on the 520,
> "http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=7090".
>