Timofey said:
rooman wrote:
>*I'd get a good fit then do the custom.*
>You'll save a heap in pain, anxst and bucks in the long run ..cheers
>
Thanks for the reply. I agree, but the custom is beyond my budget at the
moment.
So I'll just visit all the good shops and try all the off-the-shelf
bikes that seem to fit my riding.
I want something good for rides around the city and with all the holes
for racks and fenders and within $1000.
So far I see only Jamis Coda Sport, Giant CRX3 and Specialised Sirrius
meeting the above requirements.
And all the touring ones like Fuji Touring or are severely overpriced.
a good touring bike is at least $2000, but there are plenty of so so's below that with all the braze-ons and drill outs for panniers etc...BUT
Do the fit and see what you really need first , Fuji make a good low priced entry level road bike under $1000 ( $950) with ShimaNO 105, depending on your size and needs, and a few others around 1150-1400 range retail..( at least they make stable bikes for comfortable long rides and good angles. ( avoid steep angles and short chainstays (less than 41.5) - unless you are tiny .Personally I would avoid any Avanti, Learsport, Cervello and most Giants ( except the larger Hybrids which are stable bikes but heavy) so maybe something like the Elwood, Cypresse SE from Giant ( around $600) these are basic flat bar bikes, with lousy tires , (Kenda's), so some new Vittoria Randonneurs and bar ends, new grips and basic speedo/trip device and some spd pedals and you'll be set...The front fork is suspended, you may not want that....
But knowing what you need in fit is paramount, you may spend a grand first and have huge hassles and toss the bike only to start again....A custom may not be much more than your current budget with an entry level ensemble and strong reliable wheelset...
But if your budget is $1000, max....then you will probably have to get e 2nd hand that fits you ( if you can find a genuine one) and use the balance to get kitted out. ( Good fit is 200+, knicks, jersey, shoes and gloves and decent helmet (UNO probably can kit your budget for $200ish, so that leaves $600 for the bike.....remember it more than just top tube and seat tube dimensions....vital to know what you need in angles of seat stay, cockpit reach and angle of headtube, plus vitally, the length of chainstay to ensure correct postition ( frame wise, and stability wise)...
the words are not just from me...they are Andersons, Le Mond's, Armstrongs, Cookes, Merckx and Indurain's, all finally figured out through pain and suffering overcoming the ignorance of production bike makers to determine what performance and recreational riders need for optimal comfort, output and riding longevity... too many people have been elite riders suffering horrendous injury and putting themselves out of the sport and riding after trying to overcome ill fitting machines......your knees and back will thank you!
good luck