Stepping Up

rdport63

Finishing school this May and have been riding a Trek 1000. Any suggestions for a next setp bike?

kdelong

Since I don't know you or your cycling habits, your best bet would be to go to your LBS and see what they have to offer. Try out a few bikes and then make your own choice.

__________________
One life, one chance. Don't waste it!

Peter@vecchios

No bad bikes, only bad bike shops. See one that knows how to do anatomical fits and then buy the one that 'feels' the best to you.

alfeng

FWIW/IMO. Don't worry about changing (or, be in a hurry to change) your bike for at least a year ...

You'll probably be living in an apartment in an urban area where NOT having a really nice bike increases the likelihood of not having your bike liberated while you are at work ...

For under $200 (and, as little as $100 if you are a wise-shopper on eBay), you can get a pair of 10-speed Campagnolo ERGO shifters which can be used with either 9-speed or 7-/8-speed Shimano drivetrains ... use the hubbub.com alternate rear derailleur cable anchor position for 9-speed Shimano cassettes & a normal connection for an 7-or-8-speed cassette.

After using the Campagnolo shifters for a year-or-two (if not within the first 15 minutes), you'll find that simply changing various components to make the bike operate more nicely OR to make the bike a little lighter (tires/wheels, first, after changing the shifters) will be money better spent than buying a "new" bike.

If you get lucky in the first couple of years out of school you'll find that shop that Peter hopes you can find who can sell you the right bikes/components from in the future ... by then, you may just want a particular frame that YOU choose the components for rather than an off-the-shelf bike.

rdport63

I am sorry but it's not undergrad - I am in dissertation writing and with a wife and two kids (one a teenager) riding time has been limited over the past 3 years. I live in the suburbs and I am not too concerned about the liberation of the bike. The Trek has about 2500 miles. I want a new one to start training for my first century and to ride for Tour-de-Cure (diabetes).

alfeng

I know it's probably hard to believe, but at 2500 miles, you've just begun to break-in your bike ...

Unless the frame doesn't fit, I still recommend you just consider changing the components and/or wheels ...

I'd opt for either Campagnolo (any "level" of components) OR Shimano 105-or-Ultegra components -- whichever suits your sensibilities.

If you MUST have a new bike, go for something that will set you apart from the rabble -- get a Bianchi w/ Campagnolo components if you want a ready-to-ride bike ...

If you figure your kids can go to a junior college or a State University, then get a Colnago Master X-Lite (steel) frameset + Campagnolo components (allow about $3000+, depending on the components & wheels) ... OR, a Pegoretti frame + Campagnolo components if you want to drop a few hundred more.

ALL three will be bikes people will appreciate & (depending on the Bianchi) probably wish they also had.

What is your budget for your new bike? Besides the Century ride, what other types of riding do you hope to do in future years?

There are a lot of pretty nice bikes, but they probably aren't that much nicer than your current bike. The rejuvenated Raleigh has some really nicely priced bikes (i.e., certainly nice-enough frames with good components) -- again, you probably want to aim for 105-or-better components if they are Shimano; or, almost ANY Campagnolo group (they are ALL good & except for a small shifting "detail" which probably won't impact you, how much you choose to spend is a a matter of how much bling-factor you want to display) on the few brands that may have them on their ready-to-ride bikes.

oldbobcat

At 2500 miles I imagine the nibs have worn off the sidewalls of your tires. I suggest splurging on new tires and handlebar tape. And maybe a nice Italian saddle.

alfeng

Yes, a new saddle (Selle Italia OR San Marco) may be THE thing you are actually looking for ... the differences in shape between them can be significant ... so, finding the "right" saddle could itself become a quest. I've been pretty lucky with San Marco saddles ...

A saddle to consider is a BROOKS B.17 -- "standard" if you're a bigger guy (or, just want a potentially, slightly more comfortable saddle) OR a so-called "narrow" (which will still be wider than most "plastic" saddles) if you are under 5'10" (just a randomly selected height, BTW) ... a BROOKS Professional saddle's width is in-between the two. About the only way a BROOKS (or, other leather saddle) is uncomfortable is if it set up incorrectly ... the disadvantage is that they are really porky (generally, OVER 500 grams) & require periodic maintenance (i.e., application of SnoSeal or Proofide or Beeswax + elbow-grease).