Beginner rider needs help.

[abranaugh]

Hey Everyone,

I need a lot of help. I am a 20 year old student and am looking for a bike that I will be able to use for fitness and eventually ride in some charity rides and hopefully, eventually get up to a century ride. I started riding last summer on my Dads Mongoose Crossway 250 (I think that is the model). Lately I have been doing a lot of biking on one of the upright bikes in the weight room here on campus. I would love to get a bike of my own and I would like a road bike. I like to bike on trails and the roads around here. Now I have no idea where to even start to begin looking. I know people have suggested going to my LBS and see what they say. I was just wondering though, what are some of the things I should be looking at when I am there? Also one of the major concerns is price. I would be willing to spend around $1,000 on everything (bike, accessories, electronics, all that stuff). Again I don't know exactly what I need to buy regarding that.

If someone could take the time and make a list of everything I would need to start biking around here, that would be very much appreciated.

Thanks,
Adam

 

[64Paramount]

Besides the bike I would plan to buy:

Padded shorts
Helmet
Shoes
Floor pump
Chain lube

Small bike bag
Extra tube
tube patch kit
Co2 Inflator or mini-pump
Water bottle Cage and bottle

That should get you started. Then as you have the money to spend you can buy things like a bike computer, jerseys, etc.

 

[abranaugh]

So I priced that all out, didn't go for the top of the line stuff but more mediocore and I have a few of those items, I have the following listed:

Paddd Shorts - $40-50
Helmet - I have
Shoes - $50-75
Floor Pump - $20
Chain lube - $5

Small bike bag - $10-25
Extra Tube - $5-10
Tube Patch Kit- $5
Co2 Inflator/mini pump - $15
Water bottle cage - $10
Bring a total of $160-$215

Do those prices seem resasonable?

Also with that it leaves a bike for around $800 or so. I was looking online and it looks like some of the MSRPs in that range are: Trek 1.1, Trek Lexa S (older model), Trek 1.5 (older model), Giant Defy 3, Cannondale CAAD 7 Sora, Cannondale Synapse Alloy 7 Sora/Tiagra (Either One).

As far as I can tell, the difference is in the Shimano Components that are used. I am wondering now what are the major differences between the different sets. Everything I see keeps recommending the 105, what seperates the 105 from the Tiagra or the Soras? Will I notice a difference between the sets being that I am new to cycling and road bikes?

One last question, would it be worth it to pay the extra $300-$400 for a complete 105 bike like the Trek 2.1 or the Giant Defy 1?

Thanks,
Adam

 

[wotnoshoeseh]

You've got to go ride them to find out if the difference is noticeable to you. Basically the pecking order Shimano wise for components is 2200/2300, followed by Sora, then Tiagra, then 105, Ultegra and Dura Ace.
Have you looked at last year's models? Although the window of opportunity is small now, I saw a few weeks ago a CAAD9 with Tiagra that I could have picked up for ~$800.

Ride bikes with the different components to see if you can notice the difference. If you can notice a difference and want the nicer components then it is cheaper to do that now, than buy the bike with the cheaper components, then upgrade.
My bike has a 2300 font der., Sora rear derailleur and 2300 levers. It works fine. Buy from a good LBS and some of them will throw in adjustments for life, which will keep everything runnning sweet anyway.

Good luck.