Compare Cannondale RW 1000 vs. Trek 7700

Steven M. Scharf

"Warren Ginn" <warrenginn@erols.com> wrote in message
news:27f93351.0404150545.486e92e8@posting.google.com...

> Is speed and wind resistance the only reason to use drop bars? My
> perception is that the weight distribution for drop bars is like
> you're doing "push-ups" while riding whereas using bars that place
> more weight on the seat like the ones I use keep me from placing too
> much stress on my shoulders in exchange for possibly a sore butt on
> long rides. Is this your impression?

Note that on many road bikes sold these days, the drop bars are way too low.
This has led a lot of riders to think that they'd be happier with flat bars
(though often these are too low as well).

If you find one of the few road bikes or touring bikes that still use
threaded headsets and non-compact frames, they have a better riding position
without the need to add extenders to raise the bars. However, threadless
headsets are okay, but you will usually need to make changes from the way
the bike is sold, to get the proper riding position.

Look at:

Bianchi Brava
Fuji League
Fuji Road
Fuji Touring
Marin Portofino 2003

All these are good choices in the $600ish range. Unfortunately, there isn't
anything from Trek, Specialized, or Cannondale in this range.

The best bike, if price were no object, would be the $1500 Rivendell
Romulus.

See http://nordicgroup.us/bikerec/ for advice

Steve
http://nordicgroup.us/bikerec/

David Kerber

In article <mESgc.371$eZ5.207@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net>,
scharf.steven@linkearth.net says...
> "Rocketman" <rocketman@bikerider.com> wrote in message
> news:n9Lfc.151735$K91.399841@attbi_s02...
> <snip>
>
> > Well said, Steve. Personally, I'm not in favor of the "cafe racer" road
> > bikes with flat handlebars.
>
> Well I think that part of the reason that there are more of these appearing,
> is because many of the "real" road bikes have abnormally low handlebars,
> which results in a very uncomfortable riding position. You can fix this with
> extenders and adjustable stems, but most people don't.
>
> > There's nothing like a real road racing bike. I recommend the Bianchi
> Brava
> > unconditionally as an excellent value (I own one of those, too...) It
> won't
> > hold you back in any way, and I think they still put fender and rack
> eyelets
> > on 'em.
>
> The Bianchi Brava is indeed an excellent value. They're going to have to
> wreck it somehow because it's too good of a deal, and buyers recognize this!
> I was at one of the premier shops in my area during a recent sale, and they
> were selling the Bravas like crazy at $510, but even at $600 they're a good
> deal. Trek, Specialized, and Canon have nothing to compete with it. The 2003
> Marin Portofino
> (http://gallery.bcentral.com/Gallery...4038672&PID=189
> 7932&page=1&sortOrder=0) is similar to the Brava.

Fuji's Ace and League also fit into that category.

.....

--
Remove the ns_ from if replying by e-mail (but keep posts in the
newsgroups if possible).

Steven M. Scharf

"David Kerber" <ns_dkerber@ns_ids.net> wrote in message

> Fuji's Ace and League also fit into that category.

The 2004 League fits the category, but not the 2004 Ace. The 2003 Ace was
good, but Fuji decontented it for 2004.

I expect that the economics of decontenting are so strong, that it's
virtually impossible to resist it. In the case of the League, they probably
have a big stock of frames to use up, but they may decontent the League when
those are used up (all conjecture). Ditto for the Bianchi Brava. It makes no
sense for the least expensive models to have the best features.

At least Fuji doesn't appear to have gone to compact frames, and they still
have a good selection of Chro-Moly frame models.

The Rivendell web site used to have a great quote: "If you find something
you really, really like, buy a lifetime supply; because it'll either be
changed for the worse or go out of production."

Kind of sad to see what's become of Trek and Specialized.

David Kerber

In article <l4bhc.3838$e4.2003@newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net>,
scharf.steven@linkearth.net says...
> "David Kerber" <ns_dkerber@ns_ids.net> wrote in message
>
> > Fuji's Ace and League also fit into that category.
>
> The 2004 League fits the category, but not the 2004 Ace. The 2003 Ace was
> good, but Fuji decontented it for 2004.

Are you sure about that? They are both still listed on their 2004 web
site, with a MSRP of $370 for the League (which has D/T shifters), and
$560 for the Ace (the Ace is cheaper than that in my LBS).

.....

--
Remove the ns_ from if replying by e-mail (but keep posts in the
newsgroups if possible).