Hi folks,
I just ordered my road/bicycle today. I've been going crazy trying to find a bike that can do more then just go fast. It's been three months since I decided to get back into bicycling. I like to go fast, but I like long rides at around 18~23 miles per hour too. 😉
Boy, these last three months have been like purchase a road bike boot camp. I've been on Fuji roubaix and the Pro too. The Cannondale R 1000 and the Six13 Pro 2. The Specialized Allez Comp Double and Expert Double, the Specialized Roubaix Comp Double. The Gaint TCR and OCR,. the Felt 75 and 65, and last but not least, the Kestrel Talon. 🙄
I road the Fuji Roubaix for a little over two weeks. I went through two of them, and they both had front deraillleur issues. Which the folks at the shop couldn't fix. Thay were Shimano 105/Tiagra mix. I alomost upgraded to the Fuji Roubaix Pro, but dicided that I'd like to get a bike with Shimano Ultegra's through out. :p
This is where the fun begins, trying to find the right bike with the right equipment on a budget is a living nightmare! Silly me, thought I could spend about $1000~$1200 and get a real sweet ride. The more I researched the more sober I became. :eek:
Then if that's not bad enough, I find these wonderful bike forums and Wa-la! Aluminum vs Carbon, Aluminum vs Steel and Carbon vs Steel! Ooo boyeee! The more I read the more confused I became. 😕
Since my wonderful understanding wife had me on a strick bike diet, it became much harder to reach out for that elusive dream bike. Mind you, I need a road bike that can be more then just a road bike. 🙁
So, I went through a whole bunch of bikes and very frustrated bicycle dealers. Either, thay had the right stuff and more money than I could spend or the right money with having to upgrade in the future. I want a bike that I don't have to up grade, just want to purchase it and ride it. 🙂
Then my wonderful wife says to me. Why don't you find a bike store that'll build one for you the way you want it. Dang! Why didn't I think of that! 😄
Now that I had reneged on three bike orders. I called and cancelled the orders the following morning on all three bikes. One at a time, mind you. the first to go was the Fuji Roubaix Pro, then the Cannondale R 1000, then but not the least the Kestrel Talon. The last one really hurt to cancel, I really liked that Talon a whole lot. But, it just wan't a practical bike for my needs. :o
I searched high and low for the right bike and lord behold. I found through all my web surfing that a steel frame bike could still be had at an affordable price. So I went and found a dealer near my home that builds bike from the frame up, with everything just the way I want it, with no upgrading! 🙂
I just spoke to the shop, they are going to fit me this coming Friday. Then I'm going to pick the frame and color and the components. Then it's just a matter of waiting for them to build it. O' by the way, the frame I went with is SOMA designed in my home town of San Francisco Ca. 😎
Here's the web site if anyone is interested in checking them out. Sorry to have such a long thread for my first post. I'm really excited about what's to become my lil ole dream bike. I'm going with the green color of the two Smoothies road bikes. 😄
Peace