Hi all. This is my first post to the forum and im just looking for some quick advice. I'm only sixteen and have been trying to break into cycling for a little while. I was inspired to start after watching a discovery special where they took some average riders, and gave them professional training until they were able to ride a single mountain stage of the Tour. Combined with stories of my father's cycling when he was younger and just watching The Tour itself, I decided to try to get started in the sport. The problem comes with the expense. Just buying the gear to start riding costs hundreds of dollars, never mind the bike itself.
I started riding on my father's old bike: a 1978 Fuji Special Road Racer. While it does work, i'm really frustrated with it and would like shifters and brakes from this decade. After working for a summer, I finally have a little money to spend, and am looking for a new bike. I'm trying to stay in the sub $1000 dollar range (preferably sub 900 range). While i know this really limits my options, i'm sure there's something out there that will work. As a minimum i'd like shimano 105, none of this Sora or Tiagra bs.
So far i've found a few potential bikes:
2011 Scattante r-570
Nashbar AL-2 (exactly the same bike as the scattante I think, just without the decal on the frame)
I found some tantalizing offers on bikes direct, but i'm apprehensive of the brands and the site.
So if anyone can point me in the direction of any sub $1000 bikes with a minimum of a shimano 105 group that would be great, as well as give me some advice on the ones i've already found. Thank you very much.
I started riding on my father's old bike: a 1978 Fuji Special Road Racer. While it does work, i'm really frustrated with it and would like shifters and brakes from this decade. After working for a summer, I finally have a little money to spend, and am looking for a new bike. I'm trying to stay in the sub $1000 dollar range (preferably sub 900 range). While i know this really limits my options, i'm sure there's something out there that will work. As a minimum i'd like shimano 105, none of this Sora or Tiagra bs.
So far i've found a few potential bikes:
2011 Scattante r-570
Nashbar AL-2 (exactly the same bike as the scattante I think, just without the decal on the frame)
I found some tantalizing offers on bikes direct, but i'm apprehensive of the brands and the site.
So if anyone can point me in the direction of any sub $1000 bikes with a minimum of a shimano 105 group that would be great, as well as give me some advice on the ones i've already found. Thank you very much.