flat bar road bikes decision

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I am looking at getting a flat bar road bike... my back and neck can't handle a drop bar road bike

what would you vote for in the $1K mark

Avanti Blade Sport !!!

Paid $729 for mine last January... excellant bike !!!!!!!!:D

any of those will be a good bike. go into the shop and buy the one that is lightest and agrees with your bum the best.

from memory the specialized is a bit lighter than the avanti or giant.

I went thru all this last year, i'm on my second FB Felt now. However the new Trevisa is too big for me so I am selling it. I would like to see disk brake mounts on FB Road Bikes (Trevisa has them) so you can opt for 26" wheels if you need to go off road or if you just prefer them.

noone owns a raceline or tried one out?

thanks for the replies so far..

is avanti and specialized the same?

lightest? how can i work that out?

is avanti and specialized the same?

lightest? how can i work that out?
Weigh them? (holding the bike and jumping on a bathroom scale is good enough to figure out which was is lighter).

Felt Racing have their weights on the USA web site. Probably on Felt de, but I don't read German.

Weigh them? (holding the bike and jumping on a bathroom scale is good enough to figure out which was is lighter).
a little hard to do that in the shop...

i went to woolyswheels and clarencestcyclery

the trek1200 flat bar was a sweet looking kit

i was a bit worried about the wheelset on the CRX2 cause i weigh in at 105kg and the bike mechanic reckon it wouldn't last with me on it

I only got to see the basic sirrus

the avanti was nice... think i was squizzing at the 06 range. there was one with a cromoly fork and hydro discs. i reckon it was overkill for a road bike but he said it was the convience of still being able to ride the bike if the wheels are not true

the jamis looked shite

........ i think i've decided to go with something with at least 105 running gear. i was told the sora/tiagra was only good for about 4000kms....

in other words, more time to save..... and research

indeed the specialized sirrus did feel light in comparision (the lift over shoulder test) and the actually "touch" componentry was nice... grips, seat, geometry....

It weight is an issue with wheels, go with the higher spoke count.

If you don't feel confident with stock wheels, contact Velocity in Brisbane, they can make custom wheels with 4 bearing hubs and deep V rims and stronger spokes with a high spoke count for not much more than the stock wheels.

Disc brakes are for the Sunday Morning riders, to park outside coffee shops. Maybe in a year or so they will be affordable for the ordinary people. Until then put the money into a better group and wheel set.

a little hard to do that in the shop...

Is it? Why? Just take your bathroom scales with you. I've never had a problem :).

i reckon it was overkill for a road bike but he said it was the convience of still being able to ride the bike if the wheels are not true

Sure, but if the rotors get bent then you're in exactly the same situation. I don't like discs on my XC mountain bike anyway (too much weight). For road bikes they are just crazy... if you want more stopping power why not use V brakes instead of cantis?

Is it? Why? Just take your bathroom scales with you. I've never had a problem :).



Sure, but if the rotors get bent then you're in exactly the same situation. I don't like discs on my XC mountain bike anyway (too much weight). For road bikes they are just crazy... if you want more stopping power why not use V brakes instead of cantis?
thanks, i never thought of taking my scales

i was considering another option of building up my own commuter BUT it is too damn exxy. i was going to build up a Surly Karate Monkey with a 700C wheelset I already own BUT just the frame and cranks/BB would costs as much as the FB road bike I'm considering.

i spoke with kerry at phantom and he is will to trade my rims in for me... so maybe i'll upspec to a CRX1... sweet bit of kit, composite fork, R550 wheelset, ultegra etc... :)

Weigh them? (holding the bike and jumping on a bathroom scale is good enough to figure out which was is lighter).
thanks for all your replies...

after toing and froing... losing sleep over it, phantom have done a deal i can't resist

i was very tempted to get the sirrus (2nd from the top) because blackmans was doing it for an amazing price.. $1799 -> $1300... it is the one with a 105 rear derailleur and carbon forks/seatpost

BUT the Giant CRX1 is just too hard to resist for the $$. I am going for the 2006 model with carbon forks/seatpost, R550 wheelset, Truvativ Elita Cranks, Ultegra rear deralleur

I won't say the price... but it is in price bracket...

C ya on the road burning up some Kays....

Gonna get it tomoz

so I'll be able to add to my stable

'06 CRX1 Giant :D

decision made.... here it is

http://www.phantomcycles.com.au/product.php?productid=2889

decision made.... here it is

http://www.phantomcycles.com.au/product.php?productid=2889
Congrats on your new bike. I was considering flat bar road bikes a few mths ago, and the Giants CRX was certainly one of bikes I was looking closely at.

well ridden it twice... WOW

it rides so smooth... not sure whether it is the fact it is a road bike or the carbon forks/seatpost

today, it knocked 10minutes off my normal 50minute 15km commute to work! avg speed went from 17km/h to 21km/h.. and i was using less energy... amazing!

and once when i rode my VT3 with knobblies, it took 1 hr!

only weakness is the tektro brakes... i think they are RX-5 ones.. maybe i have been spoilt with disc brakes on my mtb?

also, when descending, it doesn't feel as indestructible as a MTB... need to dodge potholes...

but all in all, very enjoyable bike to ride on smooth surfaces

I didnt vote for any of the above bikes, but I bought a specialized sirrus pro disc about 3 months ago. I changed the saddle to something that suited my butt more, put some nice carbon bar ends on and have been very happy with the bike. The carbon components take a lot of shock from the road and I think the ride is far smoother than my mountain bike.

Irrespective of what bike you get, The specialized armadillo tyres are awsome, I have the 23 mm width on mine and I have done 2000 Km without a puncture, whereas with my kevlar tyres on my mountain bike I have punctures a lot more often.

good luck on your selection.

Giant has posted some of the 06 range on the website. The new bike (CRX) is a little longer in TT, CS, WB and Front fork than the 05: http://www.giant-bicycles.com/au/030.000.000/030.000.000.asp?model=10017

I agree about the Giant. I'm about three weeks away from buying one and think it's got awesome bang-for-the-buck. I'm just waiting to see what the new Avantis are like. None of the shops around here has them yet.

I'm about to purchase one of these flat top roadster as a commuter/fitness bike first and a touring bike 2nd.

Deciding between the CRX2, Avanti Blade Comp and CRX1. Saw the 2005 CRX2 and Blade and both have front eyelets/braze-ons, but I think the 2006 versions of CRX1/2 is missing that. Can anyone verify that please for me?