flat bar road bikes decision

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

__________________
Rob

www.bikenorth.org.au

'07 Giant OCR Composite 3 - R550s with Michi Prorace2

'06 Giant CRX1

'96 Apollo Himalaya commuter - Rigid Fork, slicks, fully racked

DMR Switchback Reynolds 520- Velocity Cliffhangers, SRAM X-9, Easton bar/stem


DMR Trailstar 2 4130- Mavic117, Dice Whiplash, SCUD DH bars, LX 9spd, DMR Crisis Cranks.

'04 Giant VT3 frame - SOLD

Avanti Blade Sport !!!

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

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.

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Cheers,
George.

noone owns a raceline or tried one out?

thanks for the replies so far..

__________________
Rob

www.bikenorth.org.au

'07 Giant OCR Composite 3 - R550s with Michi Prorace2

'06 Giant CRX1

'96 Apollo Himalaya commuter - Rigid Fork, slicks, fully racked

DMR Switchback Reynolds 520- Velocity Cliffhangers, SRAM X-9, Easton bar/stem


DMR Trailstar 2 4130- Mavic117, Dice Whiplash, SCUD DH bars, LX 9spd, DMR Crisis Cranks.

'04 Giant VT3 frame - SOLD

is avanti and specialized the same?

lightest? how can i work that out?

__________________
Rob

www.bikenorth.org.au

'07 Giant OCR Composite 3 - R550s with Michi Prorace2

'06 Giant CRX1

'96 Apollo Himalaya commuter - Rigid Fork, slicks, fully racked

DMR Switchback Reynolds 520- Velocity Cliffhangers, SRAM X-9, Easton bar/stem


DMR Trailstar 2 4130- Mavic117, Dice Whiplash, SCUD DH bars, LX 9spd, DMR Crisis Cranks.

'04 Giant VT3 frame - SOLD

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.

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Cheers,
George.

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 ****e

........ 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....

__________________
Rob

www.bikenorth.org.au

'07 Giant OCR Composite 3 - R550s with Michi Prorace2

'06 Giant CRX1

'96 Apollo Himalaya commuter - Rigid Fork, slicks, fully racked

DMR Switchback Reynolds 520- Velocity Cliffhangers, SRAM X-9, Easton bar/stem


DMR Trailstar 2 4130- Mavic117, Dice Whiplash, SCUD DH bars, LX 9spd, DMR Crisis Cranks.

'04 Giant VT3 frame - SOLD

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.

__________________
Cheers,
George.

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...

__________________
Rob

www.bikenorth.org.au

'07 Giant OCR Composite 3 - R550s with Michi Prorace2

'06 Giant CRX1

'96 Apollo Himalaya commuter - Rigid Fork, slicks, fully racked

DMR Switchback Reynolds 520- Velocity Cliffhangers, SRAM X-9, Easton bar/stem


DMR Trailstar 2 4130- Mavic117, Dice Whiplash, SCUD DH bars, LX 9spd, DMR Crisis Cranks.

'04 Giant VT3 frame - SOLD

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

__________________
Rob

www.bikenorth.org.au

'07 Giant OCR Composite 3 - R550s with Michi Prorace2

'06 Giant CRX1

'96 Apollo Himalaya commuter - Rigid Fork, slicks, fully racked

DMR Switchback Reynolds 520- Velocity Cliffhangers, SRAM X-9, Easton bar/stem


DMR Trailstar 2 4130- Mavic117, Dice Whiplash, SCUD DH bars, LX 9spd, DMR Crisis Cranks.

'04 Giant VT3 frame - SOLD

decision made.... here it is

http://www.phantomcycles.com.au/prod...productid=2889

__________________
Rob

www.bikenorth.org.au

'07 Giant OCR Composite 3 - R550s with Michi Prorace2

'06 Giant CRX1

'96 Apollo Himalaya commuter - Rigid Fork, slicks, fully racked

DMR Switchback Reynolds 520- Velocity Cliffhangers, SRAM X-9, Easton bar/stem


DMR Trailstar 2 4130- Mavic117, Dice Whiplash, SCUD DH bars, LX 9spd, DMR Crisis Cranks.

'04 Giant VT3 frame - SOLD

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.