Hey all - long time reader, sometime poster here. I'm gonna have to whisper this, because I don't want my wife to know - but i've decided to buy a new bike !! I bought a Trek 1400 / 105 9 speed almost 5 years ago. I have put 20,000 km on it. I have not upgraded it, apart from putting DT Swiss spokes into the back Matrix Aurora rim. I am 6'4, so it is a big bike, it is a little heavy, a little flexy...BUT it has been a great bike AND it has taken me on some AWESOME rides both solo and with bunch's.
I am 6'4 (yes, i know - i may have mentioned that) I'm 77kg. I live in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney. I ride around 8 hours per week and average 30 - 32 kph. I don't race (competition makes me sickly nervous) but I train as if I were an A grader. I humbly share the front with the best in the bunch, with silent pride that you CAN make a "Cheap Trek" go fast. I'm not into brand names and I don't drink coffee.
I don't want to spend any more than $3000. I'd REALLY like to buy something a little different. I'd also like to support a local LBS. Which brings me to my first choice - a PRINCIPIA frameset with 105 10sp - I'm gonna use 105 again, I don't care what anyone says, I've put 20,000 on the last one and all i've done to it is replace chains - it NEVER fails me. The local guy imports PRINCIPIA and PRO-LITE components. Now, i've spent hours trying to gather some reviews/info on both, and have found stuff-all, all I know is that PRINCIPIA is a Danish company that now contracts to Taiwan like everyone else, and PRO-LITE is pure "Made in Taiwan" affordability. The frames look real nice, the components - to me - look pretty cool.
My second choices are from two not so local bike shops, but local enough. They do Cannondale, Giant and I'm sure I saw a Jamis in the window of one of the shops the other day. I must say, that on visiting the Jamis website, I was quite tickled by the look of their Steel/Carbon things - very nice.
I don't care about weight - if it's a little heavy then I just need to train a little harder. I'd rather buy a good aluminium frame than a bottom-of-the-line carbon frame. I appreciate that carbon is more comfortable, but here in the mountains I want a STIFF frame, especially because I need a big bike.
I DO apologise for the length of this post. For those of you who have made it to this apology, thankyou for your persistance - that is a couple of minutes of your life that you will NOT get back. But - seeing that you have come this far - please give me your open opinion on my options.
Long days, pleasant nights.
gm