I've caught the road cycling bug in a big way over the last couple months. I'm currently riding my first road bike in over 20 years, a 1978 Schwinn Varsity Sport 10 spd. Prior to that were low-budget mountain bikes. I actually like it a lot...it's a 66cm (c-t) that suits my 6'5" all-legs frame very comfortably. However, it's heavy at 41 lbs, some of the original parts such as wheels and freewheel are showing age (the only non-original items on it are tires, tubes, brake pads, and my recently added grip tape), and as much as I really dig the idea that I'm riding a classic, well-built piece of equipment the fact is that it's on loan from my Dad and he's made it clear that he'll want it back in the Spring. I considered buying a virtually identical bike at the local thrift store (for the excellent-condition frame only) and building it up with new components, but that plan fizzled pretty quickly. So I'm looking at something new. Right now I just ride for fun and fitness, 15-20 mile rides 2-3x per week. I don't have any plans to get into racing, since at 6'5" 200 lbs I'm just not built to compete with guys who'd be hauling around 100 fewer lbs of bike and rider, but I would like to do things like the MS 150 and such. My weight, if not necessarily my intended use, dictates quality components.
So now the part that will make eyes roll: my budget is pushing me inexorably towards bikesdirect.com, specifically towards these two options:
http://bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/knight_x.htm
http://bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/fens_xi.htm
To summarize my debate, the Knight is available in a 64cm with full Ultegra components for $150 more than the full 105 62cm Fens. Seems like a no-brainer except that my absolute top budget is $1000. My research has been inconclusive on the benefits of Ultegra over 105 for someone like me. The extra $150 would be nice to have for additional gear or (more likely) a basic mag trainer. That said, it's not that hard to add gear a little at a time, whereas once I commit to a component set I'm pretty well stuck with it. Sure, the easy answer seems to be that Ultegra would be money well spent, but only if I'm looking at real benefits over the 105. I don't want to pay extra for components if that money would be BETTER spent on gear of which I have absolutely none beyond a helmet. Component weight is not a consideration. Again I don't intend to race, and even if I did the 1/2 lb difference represents only .2% of my combined rider/bike weight.
I know all the arguments for (and against) going with a name brand from my LBS over BD so I would like to avoid beating that horse. My budget forces me to more or less choose between a sexy name frame or quality components. I'm choosing the latter because I suspect it will be easier to upgrade the frame later if my riding dictates while the components give me immediate benefit. So please keep the comments on topic. /img/vbsmilies/smilies/smile.gif Thanks in advance for everyone's time!
So now the part that will make eyes roll: my budget is pushing me inexorably towards bikesdirect.com, specifically towards these two options:
http://bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/knight_x.htm
http://bikesdirect.com/products/windsor/fens_xi.htm
To summarize my debate, the Knight is available in a 64cm with full Ultegra components for $150 more than the full 105 62cm Fens. Seems like a no-brainer except that my absolute top budget is $1000. My research has been inconclusive on the benefits of Ultegra over 105 for someone like me. The extra $150 would be nice to have for additional gear or (more likely) a basic mag trainer. That said, it's not that hard to add gear a little at a time, whereas once I commit to a component set I'm pretty well stuck with it. Sure, the easy answer seems to be that Ultegra would be money well spent, but only if I'm looking at real benefits over the 105. I don't want to pay extra for components if that money would be BETTER spent on gear of which I have absolutely none beyond a helmet. Component weight is not a consideration. Again I don't intend to race, and even if I did the 1/2 lb difference represents only .2% of my combined rider/bike weight.
I know all the arguments for (and against) going with a name brand from my LBS over BD so I would like to avoid beating that horse. My budget forces me to more or less choose between a sexy name frame or quality components. I'm choosing the latter because I suspect it will be easier to upgrade the frame later if my riding dictates while the components give me immediate benefit. So please keep the comments on topic. /img/vbsmilies/smilies/smile.gif Thanks in advance for everyone's time!