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Advice on bike specs

Started by IzzyG · · Last activity · 5 posts · 807 views

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Cycling Equipment
Published
26 February 2006
Last activity
26 February 2006
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IzzyG
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  1. Original post
    IzzyG
    Archived post
    #1

    Heya guys, I have quite a few decisions to make and so I wanna open it up to advice.

    Question 1
    What do you guys think about a mix of front 650c and rear 700c on a road bike? Is it just dumb or is there any pros and cons to it? Reason I'm asking is because I have a front 650c wheel but my new road bike is 700c. The wheel is more aero though.

    Question 2
    If fitting isn't a question(it is important but I felt comfortable on all of the following options), which bike would you guys go for?

    Choice A: $1,300 from out of state bike shop
    Frame: 2004 Cannondale Saeco CAAD 7(app. 1000 miles)-no dents/scratches
    Der. : Dura Ace 9 speed(same mileage as frame)
    Crank : SI crankset(same mileage as frame)
    Fork : Time Slice Fork(carbon I think)(same mileage as frame)
    Seat
    post : Cannondale seatpost or FSA carbon seatpost(not sure)(Brand new)

    Everything else Ultegra and a cheap $150 wheelset(Brand new)

    Choice B:$1,550 from sponsored local bike shop
    Stock 2005 Felt F55 with Easton wheelset option

    Choice C:$1,500 from eBay
    Frame: 2005 Cannondale Saeco CAAD 7(app. 2000 miles)-no dents/scratches
    Complete Dura Ace 9 speed groupset
    Wheels: Mavic Ksyrium SL
    Everything else stock

    Choice D:$1,999 from online bike shop
    Fuji Professional stock(new)

    Choice E:$1,299 from eBay or directbikes.com(i think)
    Motobecane Professional
    Full Dura Ace with American Classic wheelset

    I'd like to ride the bike for roughly 3-5 years to come(realistically 3 years)

    Thanks in advance,
    Izzy G.

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  2. Retro Grouch
    Archived post
    #2

    Question #1. Are your brakes going to fit? Even if they did, I wouldn't do it because it'll look goofy.

    Question #2. I don't like to get into the middle of other people's quality comparisons. My general advice is to find a shop that you like, buy a brand they carry and you'll never go wrong. If you don't care about changing your personal relationship with your sponsoring shop you can buy from whomever you like. Long term, if you judge those choices to be closely comparable, I suspect you'll be happier if you keep the sponsoring shop in the loop.

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  3. CDAKIAHONDA
    Archived post
    #3

    Terry (probably others as well) makes some women's bikes with mis-matched wheel sizes. You would need a new fork for the 650 wheel, and probably a lot of spacers for the headset, steerer-stem junction to bring the bars up high enough. All the important measurements are really taken from the crank, like the "new" seat tube angle you'll create etc... On the aero question, the longer head tube area created by the new longer steerer spacer length would probably negate most of the benefit. Also, now you have to carry at least two tubes on your ride, have two sizes of tires as spares etc...

    You really can't buy a bad bicycle in the group you mentioned, the previous advice about a good LBS is still the most important factor besides a good "fit."

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  4. artmichalek
    Archived post
    #4
    CDAKIAHONDA said:

    Terry (probably others as well) makes some women's bikes with mis-matched wheel sizes.

    It's been done on quite a few track and time trial bikes to provide a more horizontal body position. In addition to looking silly, doing this to a road bike will effectively increase the head tube angle and make the bike very difficult to control. As for question 2, I have to agree with Retro Grouch. Plus, the F55 is very impressive for its price.

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  5. gclark8
    Archived post
    #5

    What size are you?

    If below 5'6" then a 650c wheel bike may feel and go better. There are many frames/bikes from 43cm to 54cm with 650c wheels. My TRY-Bike is 54m-650c, and my GF rides a Felt F100 47cm-650c.

    If this is not the desired choice, sell the wheel and buy better tyres. Look at Conti GP4000s, the reduced rolling resistance has to be experienced to be believed.

    I am buying a spare front 650c wheel for $40 today. 🙂

    Go for the Felt! 😄

    If you want more aero then consider other frame styles, B2, S25, S23.

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