bang for your buck $1000-$1200 road bike.
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Bianchi Eros is a pretty decent bike if you like steel and low end campy. Ride quality is good. You can usually find prior model years at significant discounts, at least you do around Boston.
Note that the tires on bikes in this range often suck. Definitely invest in some high end clinchers - you will not believe the difference in ride.
Note though that this price for the 2003 model which I believe are now gone. The 2004 is $1599. Still not a bad price, but I would be wary of ordering a mail-order bike when they will not provide anything but the incomplete 2003 frame geometries (they 2004 is a totally different tubeset). And even at that they refuse to provide information on specific request for such basic things as standover height.
Pretty ****-poor customer relation policy.
Many of you have polled but only a couple offer your opinion. I have the Mercier. I have put a couple hundred miles on it and am satisfied. I did not buy it mail/internet order but got it at Cycle Spectrum, which is the retail outlet for bikesdirect. The only things I did not like about it were the crappy pedals and grip tape. I put stainless eggbeater pedals and Bar Phat grips on it. I have a 60cm and it weighs 20lbs.
The OCR 1 is good. Several bike/outdoor magazines have said it is a very good value. For full ultegra, the Mercier does sound good, although I don't really know much about the specs of any of the bikes. I've read good reviews about the Specialized Allez Elite in this forum too.
Anybody know if "Xero" has a website? I've tried to learn about the Xero XSR-2/3/4 wheelsets that come with the Giant OCRs, but can't find anything. Or, for entry-level bikes, are they decent/durable?
Anybody know if "Xero" has a website? I've tried to learn about the Xero XSR-2/3/4 wheelsets that come with the Giant OCRs, but can't find anything. Or, for entry-level bikes, are they decent/durable?
keydates said:
I was also looking for the Xero stuff... I kept looking for Formula (I thought that was the brand name, and Xero was a model or something)
It's darn difficult to dig out the info, even from the web!
Anyway, had managed to locate it (whew!)
www.xerowheel.com
Quite a nice Flash web to say the least
** Can't find there older 02/03 models
ENJOY!
I am planning to get a Alloy TCR 2... after my 2 weeks call up in the army
Can't wait to get my hands (and butt) on it!
The Felt's I've looked at in my LBS seem really attractive from a value standpoint. The Specialized allez get's my vote though for it's handling and feel (although I've only ridden the felt, OCR, orbea, and cannondale on that list). I think within a dollar range of 100-200, your decision should come down to which feels best, and which turns you on the most, vs. pure value.spacefuzz said:
capwater said:
I've seen the Douglas Fusion up close and it seems like a very sweet ride. The trick would be getting one that fits when ordering online.
blah blah said:
The Cannondale has by far the best frame (=It won many pro races) and is the best suited to upgrading. The way Cannondale downprices old frames by putting them in their low range is AFAIK unique. The other parts are not as good as the competitors though.
If you can stand the look of the C-dale and plan on upgrading if you have the cash, the C-dale can be the best pick. If you don't see yourself upgrading it rapidly looses merit (who needs a pro-frame anyway?) as it does make for a slightly unbalanced bike IMHO.
