Buying a road bike

I've got 2x mates who've recently gone to road bikes from MTBs.
My recomendation is to go for 3x chainrings on the front. Schimano 105 with only 2x chainrings up front is geared pretty high for commuting & riding with a load (bigarse backpack etc). Hills might baulk you if there's a red light half way up too.
I don't know how 'good' you are, but alway better to go for a more flexible package, than street-kudos of 'race-spec' ratios only.
Nothing is as bad as stopping half way up a climb & walking it, I would rather fall off into the roadside bushes.

A couple of brands and models worth a look are Felt with the SR 71/81/91 and Giant with the new CRX 1/2/3, both have 105 and Ultegra in the range, 3 rings on front, and 25/26 on the rear, etc, good comfortable Sports/Touring bikes.

Brano, i just bought a Giant ocr1 compact with full 105 groupset and r 540 shimano wheelset for $1600 aussie dollars. BAAARGAIN. if you look around NOW youll find that a lot of bike shops are trying to get rid of their 2004 models in anticipation of the 05 gear. NOW is the time to buy cos in the next six to eight weeks they will be getting their new stock in. give us a yell if you need more info.

Has anyone had any experience with Avanti, Merida or Specialized?

all well repected brands of racing pedigree here in australia. Avanti from NZ i think. merida sponsored jayco pro team and specialized, well anyone remember M cippolini and Acqua e Sapone???.

Try a Giant OCR Zero 2005 model, 2200 bucks, shim 550 wheels, ultegra groupset - except cranks and break calipers... i just bought one and rate it highly, this bike is great to ride - especially for the price....

Ssushi said:

Try a Giant OCR Zero 2005 model, 2200 bucks, shim 550 wheels, ultegra groupset - except cranks and break calipers... i just bought one and rate it highly, this bike is great to ride - especially for the price....

Thanks. I'll check it out.

I rode a Merida MTB for 5 years and just bought an Avanti Vivace. I couldn't be happier with it. I also looked at the Giant OCR 0, 1 and 3 and the quality of all 4 bikes is identical.

Well I've just bought my first road bike as well... It was a new 2003 model Raceline Peleton and i picked it up for $1100au. The guy at the LBS couldn't stop raving about how good it was at that level of componentry. It is fully tiagra equipped down to the hubs. Came with Michelin carbon axial tyres as well. I know this isnt the level of specs you're looking for, but going by what I've heard, the 105 isn't that much drifferent (except price) to the tiagra level. You might as well go ultegra to really feel the difference. Thats what my LBS told me anyway.

Anyways, bascially have a look at raceline bikes. They seem to be really good for value and quality

See Avanti thread in the Cafe'

I recommend Avanti Blade Elite, $1600 for commute/fitness.

http://www.avantibikes.com/bikes_detail.asp?id=171&t=4

Brano said:

I'm currently looking at upgrading from my touring bike to a lightweight road bike in the $1,500 to $2,300 price range. As a minimum I would want 105 componentry. Should I get a triple chainring? Can anyone provide a bike recommendation?

I've just seen a LearSport 8000 and I was very impressed. It's full 105 with carbon forks and Shimano 540 wheels as an option. I notice their website has a pre-order special of AU$1999 for the LearSport 8500 which has the new 10 speed Ultegra, carbon forks and seat stay... not bad.

Dominic Sansom said:

I've just seen a LearSport 8000 and I was very impressed. It's full 105 with carbon forks and Shimano 540 wheels as an option. I notice their website has a pre-order special of AU$1999 for the LearSport 8500 which has the new 10 speed Ultegra, carbon forks and seat stay... not bad.

i was looking at the learsport 8500 and i was wanting to know if they are good bikes or not.

bluebird said:

i was looking at the learsport 8500 and i was wanting to know if they are good bikes or not.

I have an a cquaintance who bought one of these. he is very happy so far (after 6 months). He weighs about 110kgs and feels it's strong underneath him.

I ride a merida sport line 907 and it is a great bike, ultegra rear, hubs and shifters, plus dura ace front. It cost me $1200 second hand, look around and you will find something good 2nd hand sometimes!! Just make sure yo know what you are looking for. As for doubles or triples, what ever you are most comfortable with, i went from a mtb to a road bike, and didn't have any troubles with a race set up of doubles, and dont mind hill climbing, but i have always been a bit of a sprinter, so could turn bigger gears.

See whats around, and you never know what you will find!!

Dominic Sansom said:

I've just seen a LearSport 8000 and I was very impressed. It's full 105 with carbon forks and Shimano 540 wheels as an option. I notice their website has a pre-order special of AU$1999 for the LearSport 8500 which has the new 10 speed Ultegra, carbon forks and seat stay... not bad.

did you order one? 😉

I picked up an Avanti Giro 2004 with full 105 for $1550. No complaints apart from for those long hill climbs, a 3rd chain ring at the front would have been nice. My suggestion is, if you're gonna do some climbing, go for 3 chain rings, if not, 2 is fine. It also depends on if you ride with a high or low cadence, its really a personal prefence. Mine has a 25T as the lowest gear on the back, but a 27 would be nice - I reckon if I had on lower gear on the back, I wouldn't need a 3rd chain ring. I may investigate a new cassette when $$$ permits. I read in a magazine that 3 chain rings is more popular in the US, but hasn't really taken off in Australia, so you may be limiting your choice of bikes if you really want 3.

steve said:

did you order one? 😉

No. Very happy with my current bike.

But if I was looking for a new bike I'd definatley consider it. I'm thinking of building a bike from scratch and if I can fine the right frame (probably carbon - I like the Specialized Roubiax Pro) at the right price, I may buy a Lear 8500 10sp and use all the parts for the Roubiax. At 2 grand you get wheels, full Ultegra 10sp group, stem, saddle... and a spare frame with carbon forks and carbon seat stay. No a bad deal.

I had a sneek preview of the Lear with the 10sp Ultegra when I saw a couple of guys wheeling one round Queen St in Brisbane a couple of months ago. It turned out to be the GM of LearSport and his sales manager on a sales trip.

i have just bought a learsport 8500 and it is very nice to ride and i'm very happy with it.

Dominic Sansom said:

No. Very happy with my current bike.

But if I was looking for a new bike I'd definatley consider it. I'm thinking of building a bike from scratch and if I can fine the right frame (probably carbon - I like the Specialized Roubiax Pro) at the right price, I may buy a Lear 8500 10sp and use all the parts for the Roubiax. At 2 grand you get wheels, full Ultegra 10sp group, stem, saddle... and a spare frame with carbon forks and carbon seat stay. No a bad deal.

I had a sneek preview of the Lear with the 10sp Ultegra when I saw a couple of guys wheeling one round Queen St in Brisbane a couple of months ago. It turned out to be the GM of LearSport and his sales manager on a sales trip.

Brano said:

I'm currently looking at upgrading from my touring bike to a lightweight road bike in the $1,500 to $2,300 price range. As a minimum I would want 105 componentry. Should I get a triple chainring? Can anyone provide a bike recommendation?

Hey Brano,

I'm interested to hear if you've bought your bike.

I'm also in the market for a bike in the same price range and am considering the follwing bikes. I've never done any serious road riding and am thinkin of competing in sprint distance tri's next summer. I'll be doing my first "Brooks fun tri" in a couple of weeks with my Shogun MTB (tank).

Any information anyone has would be appreciated.

Cannondale R700 - $2500 neg
cannondale.commodel 5RR7D.htmlOpen ↗
My cyclist friends are pushing me to buy this one but it appears that their opinion is based purely on "brand name" as the components on this bike are a mix of 105, Ultegra, SRAM and other stuff. Doesn't really seem like a value for money bike. Borsari in Carlton is also trying to sell me the 04 model of this bike (Ultegra 9sp) for around $2k)

Giant TCR1 - $2600 neg
giant-bicycle.com030.000.000.aspOpen ↗
I love this bike - Full Ultegra 10speed groupset, Shimano R500 wheelset etc - LBS reckons they can do it for aroud $2300. I'm leaning towards this one.

Giant TCR2 - $1700 (reduced from $1999)
giant-bicycle.com030.000.000.aspOpen ↗

Nice bike also - with full 105 and Shimano R500 wheels (except SRAM rear cassette).

Speciallized Allez Elite Double INTL - $1800
specialized.comSBCBkModel.jspOpen ↗
This one's just popped up on the radar and looks like a really nice bike - also full 105 with I think Alex ALX-330 rims and comes in blue as well. Don't know anything about these wheels - how do they compare to the Shimano R500's?

LearSport 8500 - $2200
learsport.com.auview product.phpOpen ↗
I also like the sound/look of this bike - seems pretty hard to beat in terms of value for money??

Thanks,
Svatze. 🙂